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Advancing. Developing. Transforming.

World Women in Neuroscience (WWN) is an independent consulting, mentoring, and networking body with the mission of promoting career development of women neuroscientists across the globe through mentoring and networking activities. The group functioned as an IBRO ad hoc committee for about eight years, but in 2016 as the IBRO Regional Committees were required to include gender bias and diversity in their charge, WWN has functioned as a separate body outside the IBRO umbrella. WWN in collaboration with IBRO engaged in a project-based partnership.

The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is the global association of neuroscience societies established in 1961 that aims to promote and support neuroscience around the world through training, education, research, outreach and engagement activities, and the publication of two journals, Neuroscience and IBRO Neuroscience Reports.

The WWN Executive Committee strongly believes that there are still many disparities with regards to women in the neurosciences and sees the need to incorporate women at all levels of the scientific research enterprise. WWN’s activities have highlighted disparities with regard to women in the neurosciences by promoting equality and addressing gender and minority bias within the varying regional needs and cultural traditions of women neuroscientists across the world. Our vision is an improved environment for career advancement in neuroscience for women in all regions of the world.

Mission

World Women in Neuroscience aims to improve career development, mentoring and networking opportunities for female neuroscientists around the world, with special attention to women in disadvantaged regions.

Vision

The WWN Executive Committee strongly believes that there are still many disparities with regards to women in the neurosciences and sees the need to incorporate women at all levels of the scientific research enterprise. WWN’s activities have promoted equality and addressed gender and minority bias within the varying regional needs and cultural traditions of women neuroscientists across the world. Our vision is an improved environment for career advancement in neuroscience for women in all regions of the world.

Recent News: Celebrating the retirement of our WWN Chair, Dr. Emmeline Edwards, from the National Institutes of Health

We extend our deepest gratitude and warmest wishes to Dr. Emmeline Edwards, who has officially retired from her professional role as director of the Division of Extramural Research of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). On 9 July, Dr. Edwards was officially honor for her numerous contributions at a heart-warming retirement party. Fellow WWN Executive Committee members attended to wish Dr. Edwards well on this new chapter. Below we share reflections from Dr. Edwards, as well as a poem written by WWN Co-chair, Dr. Jean King.

Reflections by Dr. Emmeline Edwards
“New Beginnings… I can hardly believe that it has been six weeks since I retired after 27 years of Federal Service – 2 years at NSF, 10 years at NINDS, and the last 15 years at NCCAM/NCCIH. It has been a wild ride with amazing opportunities for constant learning, continual growth, exciting collaborations and professional development as I crossed paths with so many talented colleagues across the globe.
I am grateful that I was able to foster creativity and excellence along the way – I was so humbled as this was recognized in splendid fashion last week as my family, friends and colleagues gathered at the NIH Neuroscience Center to celebrate my retirement and share great memories of these past years. I am just letting you know that this is not the end of the road as I am now writing the next chapter filled with new and exciting adventures along with opportunities for Learning, Caring, and Serving.”

Celebratory Poem by Dr. Jean King
Click here to read.

Celebratory Song by Dr. Francis Collins
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2009 to 2021, serenaded Dr. Edwards at her retirement party. Watch the performance below.

WWN Toolkit

We have also been hard at work creating a WWN toolkit, available on request for all WWN collaborators and partners. It includes a unique WWN color chart, information card (membership form QR code), high quality logos (PNG format), and social media platforms poster (with links). Make sure to follow along on social media to stay up to date!