ASSOCIATION OF NEUROSCIENCE DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS
2004 SPRING MEETING SUMMARY
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
MAY 1 - 2, 2004

The annual ANDP Spring Meeting was held at the Bethesda Hyatt Regency Hotel on May 1 and 2. The meeting began with presentations from a sampling of neuroscience training programs participating in the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate. The goal of CID is to revitalize and enrich doctoral education in neuroscience and other disciplines by promoting by encouraging discussion and interaction at select campuses and bringing these campus groups together at national convenings. Representatives from 3 of the 9 partner neuroscience programs -- Ohio State University, Georgetown University, and University of Wisconsin -- presented their CID plans. The second session of the day focused on efforts to recruit minority students to majority programs. Speakers discussed the relevant merits of various recruitment strategies. A third session was devoted to the NIH Roadmap. Dr. James Beatty, Director of NIDCD and a key member of the Roadmap Implementation Committee at NIH, discussed the implications of the Roadmap for neuroscience research. The first afternoon of the meeting ended with an open-forum discussion of animal personhood, a legal strategy being developed as the likely next wave in the animal-rights movement. Mr. Michael Socarras, an advisor to the Animal Legal Strategy Project, which involves the Society for Neuroscience, provided background information on the animal-personhood movement. The evening program centered on our annual banquet, which was highlighted this year by a talk from Dr. Thomas Insel, the newly appointed director of NIMH. He discussed his personal vision for neuroscience research and training as well as the opportunities and challenges he expects to face during his tenure.

After a short business meeting over breakfast, the second day of the meeting began with a presentation by Dr. Edward Stricker on the results of our latest survey of member programs. The ANDP Survey, which is now conducted on a two-year cycle, is the only source of detailed information on neuroscience training and faculty hiring in North America. A subsequent session focused on new ways to teach neuroscience to undergraduates and to get them involved in and excited about research. Speakers represented large research universities as well as small four-year colleges. The final session of the meeting brought together training officers and program directors from several NIH programs as well as NSF to present their perspectives on funding for neuroscience training. The likely federal budget for NIH and NSF in 2005 led to considerable discussion.

The full program agenda is available with titles of all presentations. Note that many of the names are linked to the PowerPoint (ppt) or pdf presentations these speakers used at the meeting.  Just click on their names to view their full  presentations.

ANDP membership is comprised of chairpersons and program directors of neuroscience-related departments and programs from academic institutions and it is the only organization whose primary objective is to advance neuroscience education and research at both the institutional and national levels. The Spring Meeting is our primary time to gather and share ideas. Your participation continues to be important to our mission and is very likely to have a direct impact on how you administer your program.

George V. Rebec, Ph.D.
President, ANDP