What are we doing?

BNA Scholars Programme 

Early in 2021 we at the BNA have launched our inaugural Scholars Programme. We were delighted to receive 78 applications, from which an initial cohort of seven Scholars was selected. The purpose of this programme is the support students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, so that they can thrive in neuroscience. Additionally, we wanted to create a supportive community of like-minded individuals through networking opportunities, mentorships, and our bursary schemes. The Scholars Programme has now been running for several years, with additions and refinements made as part of its ongoing evaluation.

Scholar benefits (available for the entire 3 year programme length)

• Free membership to the BNA
• Free membership of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)
• Access to a BNA Scholars’ mentoring scheme administered through the BNA
• Networking opportunities through the BNA and BNA events
• Bespoke opportunities provided by the Programme's Supporter Organisations, including research presentations, career path demystification, specific skills-building workshops, and further networking
• Opportunities to connect with key individuals within the BNA, for instance members of the BNA Council and Committee, and the Editorial Board of the BNA Journal
• Writing opportunities for BNA blogs, news articles and other publications
• Complimentary BNA Festival of Neuroscience attendance
• Complimentary FENS Forum attendance (one opportunity per Scholar)

We are very grateful to the Gatsby Foundation for their ongoing support of the BNA which enabled us to start this Scholarship programme, launched in late 2020. We are also extremely grateful those who joined us as Founding Supporters, and to the the other organisations who continue to join forces and enable us to run this initiative.

We would also like to give our warm thanks to SfN for sharing their experience and advice during the planning and set up of the programme.

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Open Webinars 

‘Empowering and including you in UK neuroscience’

With an increase in international attention of the Black Lives Matter movement and the global positive reception to #BlackinNeuro, the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) recognises that more can be done to support Black and ethnic minority neuroscientists to join the field, navigate through the learning process and thrive in this dynamic discipline. 

This online webinar was held on 10th August 2020 as an open discourse to discuss experiences, views and aspirations for the future of UK neuroscience - with everyone included. 

Panellists:

Ayan Ahmed - BNA member at the University of Surrey

Anne Cooke - BNA Chief Executive

Emma Soopramanien - Students & Early Careers Representative, BNA National Committee

Emma Yhnell - Equal Opportunities & Diversity Representative, BNA National Committee

The BNA is aware that other groups of individuals are also under-represented or face barriers for involvement in UK neuroscience, including but not limited to LGBTQ, those with disabilities, socio-economic circumstances, or caring responsibilities.

To watch this open webinar click the link here: https://youtu.be/eUSipAJoHMY

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EDI Working Group

A dedicated working group was a key ask from our Empowering you and including you in neuroscience webinar, and since 2020 has been active in discussing, planning, and implementing EDI strategy and action within the BNA, oriented both internally and towards wider policy change. Significant achievements so far include the BNA Scholars Programme, BNA-Brain Carer Grants, submission of evidence to UK Government inquiries into diversity in STEM, and improving the BNA's demographics data collection in order to identify internal and external targets for improving equity, diversity and inclusion.

This working group is for anyone who is seriously interested in improving EDI in neuroscience, both inside and outside the BNA:

1. Are you a BNA member looking to get more active in the leadership of your organisation?
2. Are you from an underrepresented group and looking to help create a community where everyone can flourish in neuroscience?
3. Are you able to commit to regular Working Group meetings, and carrying out important actions between them?

If so, please contact the BNA's Membership & Communities Manager, Dani Wijesinghe, on dani.wijesinghe(at)bna.org.uk to get involved.

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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and ALBA Declaration

The BNA is committed towards equal opportunities and non-discriminatory procedures and practices throughout its work.

The BNA strives to avoid biases of any kind across membership, allocation of funding, print and online publications, and access to conferences and events, and when engaged in the employment of staff and election of council and committee members.

The BNA actively seeks to eliminate any unlawful discrimination or bias related to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any combination of these. Discrimination on any of these grounds is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. The BNA further seeks to eliminate any less favourable treatment relating to education, socioeconomics, or personal situation.

In all of BNA’s activities we are intent on providing equity for all and promoting an inclusive culture.

The BNA formally endorses the ALBA Declaration on Equity and Inclusion and works to fulfil its goals. 

For the BNA to endorse, fund or participate in a meeting, the expectation is that the meeting will follow the principles of this Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion policy, and meet the following conditions:

• At least a third of the total number of speakers at the meeting should be women.
• Individual sessions in multi-session meetings, and any meeting committees where they are involved, should not be populated exclusively by men.

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Carers grants and bursaries 

Festival of Neuroscience Bursaries

The BNA is delighted to financially support Postgraduate and Early Career Researcher (ECR) BNA members to attend our biennial Festival of Neuroscience.

To be eligible for BNA bursaries:

• you must be a Postgraduate or ECR BNA member and you must have either:
  • been a member for at least a year
  • your application will need to be supported by a Full Member of the BNA. 
• You must be registered to attend the festival
• You must also be first author on a submitted poster abstract.

Further information will appear closer to the time of this opportunity opening, on our dedicated Bursaries and Grants page.

BNA-Brain Carer Grants

We are pleased to announce that, with the support of the Guarantors of Brain, the BNA can offer carer grants of up to £200 to help cover care responsibility expenses and enable participation in either BNA-hosted or external neuroscience events. This includes in-person or online events. 

What will BNA-Brain Carer Grants support?

We recognise that everyone's circumstances will be different, and we want these grants to meet as many different and varied needs as possible.  So long as you can provide a good case for why you need a grant to cover costs, it will be considered for funding.  Such costs could include but are not limited to:

• Costs of a childcare provider, either in your home or in an external setting 
• Cost of an in-home carer for dependent, or cost of an external care setting 
• Access to teaching or other activities for older children
• Any other activity/purpose for helping delegates to meet caring responsibilities

For further information and to apply, please visit our dedicated Bursaries and Grants page.

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