Positioned to Lead: William Martin on Global Advocacy

10/10/19 • 38 min

Pathways to Enhance Rigor: A Collection of Conversations

Much of science advocacy is local by nature, but it also has tremendous potential to bring neuroscientists together on a global scale. In this episode, Bill Martin, the president and chief operating officer of Blackthorn Therapeutics, traces the evolution of SfN’s role in global advocacy efforts throughout his time on its Government and Public Affairs Committee and continued involvement with the Society.

History of SfN: 50th Anniversary is a limited series podcast highlighting stories from the history of the Society for Neuroscience, recounting groundbreaking moments in the growth of the Society from the perspectives of current, past, and future leaders. In addition to the relationship between applied research and the science ecosystem at large, Martin discusses the successes of the BRAIN Initiative and development of new tools in its next phase, as well as the future of advocacy at SfN. Be sure to visit https://neuronline.sfn.org/Listen to learn more. Take our listener survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWZN3W9 The views expressed in this interview are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the Society for Neuroscience.

Previous Episode

Both Plastic and Robust: Eve Marder on Annual Meeting Programming

“In some ways, SfN as an organization parallels the adult nervous system: It must be both plastic and robust,” writes Eve Marder in her chapter of SfN’s History of Neuroscience in Autobiography, Volume 10. In this episode, Marder, Victor and Gwendolyn Beinfield Professor of Neuroscience at Brandeis University and a past president of the Society for Neuroscience, expands on this thought, sharing details from her time on SfN’s Program Committee and about the evolution of annual meeting programs, as well as her award-winning research on motor neurons.

History of SfN: 50th Anniversary is a limited series podcast highlighting stories from the history of the Society for Neuroscience, recounting groundbreaking moments in the growth of the Society from the perspectives of current, past, and future leaders. Marder’s career, the Society, and neuroscience grew in parallel, an observation on which Marder reflects as she looks forward to the future of the Society. Be sure to visit https://neuronline.sfn.org/Listen to learn more. Take our listener survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWZN3W9 The views expressed in this interview are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the Society for Neuroscience.

Next Episode

Fire Together, Wire Together: Carla Shatz on Scientific Breakthroughs

Highlighting scientific breakthroughs and achievements over the past 50 years, this episode features Carla Shatz, David Starr Jordan Director of Stanford Bio-X, an interdisciplinary biosciences institute, Sapp Family Provostial Professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University, and a past president of the Society for Neuroscience. Shatz, known for her discovery of the “fire together, wire together” phenomenon, discusses both the advent of neuroscience as a field and the history of SfN’s annual meeting, including its 25th anniversary meeting.

History of SfN: 50th Anniversary is a limited series podcast highlighting stories from the history of the Society for Neuroscience, recounting groundbreaking moments in the growth of the Society from the perspectives of current, past, and future leaders. With the arrival of neuroengineering, computer science, imaging technologies, and other tools, neuroscience has changed dramatically and in many ways is set to be “the field of the future.” Shatz additionally shares her hopes for neuroscience research over the next 50 years. Be sure to visit https://neuronline.sfn.org/Listen to learn more.

Take our listener survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWZN3W9 The views expressed in this interview are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the Society for Neuroscience.