Meeting Abstract

P3-53   -   COVID Creativity: Creating a Global Neuroscience Academic Initiative During the Pandemic Smith, MM*; Sagun, JP; Albanese, JS; Trinity College, Hartford CT; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD and Trinity College, Hartford CT; University of Connecticut Health, Farmington CT and Trinity College, Hartford CT megan.smith@trincoll.edu

The Intercollegiate Neuroscience Research Journal Club (INRJC) is a global academic student initiative designed to provide students and early-career researchers with the opportunity to read and discuss current literature in the field of neuroscience. The COVID-19 pandemic severely limited individuals’ access to research opportunities, internships, and jobs. The five main pillars of INRJC’s curriculum are learning, writing, networking, public speaking, and leadership. Our goal has been to replace or supplement lost opportunities for professional and academic training through weekly virtual discussions of current open-access neuroscience articles. INRJC conducted three sessions: a 10-week session from June 13 to August 23, 2020, a 5-week session from January 9 to February 13, 2021, and a 6-week session from July 3 to August 14, 2021. The Summer 2020 session drew 1422 participants, the Winter 2021 session drew 1471 participants, and the Summer 2021 session drew 373 participants. Participants represent over hundreds of different academic institutions, 68 countries, and 49 U.S. states and territories. Currently, the INRJC exists as a virtual global network of more than 2700 individuals, and continues to provide resources for students interested in developing their skills in reading, public speaking, and presenting scientific literature on neuroscience research and medicine.