Dear SONA Members
I will like to present an update on the preparations for the 15th SONA/4th GNS Hybrid Conference 2021, Accra, Ghana, 27-30 October 2021.
The Venue for In-person conference remains the Fiesta Royal Hotel Accra, Ghana.
Website: https://fiestahospitality.com/
Please find below Important Details for SONA and the 2021 SONA /GNS Conference.
SONA Website: https://sonafrica.org/
SONA Membership: https://sonafrica.org/membership/
2021 Conference site: https://sonafrica.org/conferences-events/
Important Contacts for SONA 2021 Conference
- President and Chair, Local Organizing Committee (LOC): Dr Patrick Amoateng: (PAmoateng@ug.edu.gh)
- Co-Chair, LOC: Dr Robert Peter Biney( biney@ucc.edu.gh)
- Virtual Conference Abstract & Programme Manager: Joanne Bezuidenhout. (Joanne@confco.co.za)
- SONA Secretary-General: Prof Amadi O. Ihunwo (Ihunwo@wits.ac.za)
2021 Conference Registration for virtual and in-person participants: https://sonafrica.org/registration/
Please contact their are options for those who had paid earlier for In-person participation and may wish to change their registration status. Likewise, anyone who registers for virtual participation and then request for In-person participation will have to pay the difference.
Abstract submission Deadline EXTENDED to 01 August 2021
Online Abstract submission only after Registration for the Conference:
Daily Scientific Programme: Details shortly
PLENARY SPEAKERS: https://sonafrica.org/speakers/
Professor Samuel KOMBIAN
Professor Zul MERALI
Professor Bruno FRENGUELLI
Dr Albert AKPALU
SYMPOSIA https://sonafrica.org/symposia/
- IBRO-ARC Symposium on Empowering Women in Neuroscience
Organizer: Dr Chinna Orish (chinna.orish@uniport.edu.ng)
A Mentoring Circle and Networking Session with the women neuroscientists will follow this Symposium. Organizer: Dr Martha I. Dávila-García (mdavila-garcia@Howard.edu). Representative of the World Women in Neuroscience (WWN)
- IBRO Global Engagement and Outreach Event on ‘Drug Addiction: Comparing National Responses in African Countries’
Organizer: Professor Amadi O Ihunwo, Secretary- General, SONA (amadi.ihunwo@wits.ac.za)
- Teaching During a Pandemic: A Panel Discussion.
Organizers: Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina (M.Bukar-Maina@sussex.ac.uk) and Dr Yunusa Mohammed Garba
- Neuroimmunology Symposium.
Organizers: Dr Willias Masocha (wmasocha@yahoo.com) and Prof Roberto Furlan
- Socio-Cultural Practices and Neurodevelopmental/Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Organizers: Dr Moses Ekong (mbe_flashpoint@yahoo.com) and Dr. Olaitan Asuquo
- Environmental Effects on CNS Neurodevelopment and Adult Function and Structure.
Organizers: Prof Sharon Juliano (sharon.juliano@usuhs.edu) and Dr Francis Tanam Djankpa
- Science Communication for Neuroscientists.
Organizers: Dr Thomas Tagoe (tatagoe@ug.edu.gh) and Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina
WORKSHOPS:
Pre-conference Workshops
Title: Trends in Africa Workshop in Genomics Editing
Date 20 – 26 October 2021
Venue: University of Ghana
Organizers: Dr Patrick Amoateng (pamoateng@ug.edu.gh)
Title: Zebrafish as a Tool for Neuroscience Research in Africa
Date 23-26 October 2021
Venue: University of Ghana
Organizers: Dr Lily Paemka (lpaemka@ug.edu.gh) and Dr Patrick Amoateng (PAmoateng@ug.edu.gh)
Post-Conference Workshop
Title: IBRO-ARC School on Neuropharmacology Research and Drug Development
Date: 31st October to 3rd November, 2021
Venue: Miklin Hotel, Apamtse Street, East Legon, Accra, Ghana
Organizers: Martha I. Dávila-García (mdavila-garcia@Howard.edu) and
Robert Peter Biney (robert.biney@ucc.edu.gh)
Other Information
IBRO-African Regional Committee on SONA Website
We have included a link for the IBRO-African Regional Committee on the SONA Website: https://sonafrica.org/ibro-africa-regional-committee/
Chair: Desire Tshala-Katumbay (2021-23) Email: tshalad@ohsu.edu
Information from th IBRO-ARC will be posted here too as received.
IBRO-ARC Nominations:
Please note the call for Nominations for IBRO-ARC. The deadline for nominations is extended to 8 June 2021 (23:59 CEST). https://sonafrica.org/call-for-nominations/
SONA Education Committee
With the election of Professor Desire Tshala-Katumbay, as the New Chair, IBRO-ARC, the new chair for this Committee is now Dr Rufus Akinyemi (rufusakinyemi@yahoo.com) who also becomes a member of the SONA Governing Council.
Nominations for Election of SONA Executive Members (except the Assistant Secretary-General)
This call will be available by the end of July 2021. Please note that only those who have paid the 2021 SONA Annual dues will be eligible to nominate and vote during this exercise.
Call for Hosting of 2023 SONA Conference
This call will be available by the end of July 2021. Only Societies or members that have paid the 2021 SONA Annual dues will be eligible to submit a bid to host the 16th Conference of SONA in 2023.
Let us make the 2021 SONA Conference as unique as can be in this new normal imposed by the global covid-19 pandemic. Do also get vaccinated and keep safe.
Professor Amadi O. Ihunwo
Secretary-General, SONA