Dear Grass Foundation Family and Friends, dear Visitors,
After the pandemic, the Grass Fellowship Program returned to the MBL for the summers of 2021 and 2022, with reduced socially distant numbers of the fellows.The Grass Fellowship program now includes a collaboration with the Kavli Foundation related to the neurobiology of changing ecosystems in 2022 and 2023.
We continue our tradition of supporting the Forbes Lecture at the MBL, which in 2022 was both a live and streamed presentation from Jennifer Raymond on “Big Ideas from the ‘Little Brain’: Insights from the Cerebellum about Learning and Meta-Learning.”
At the 2022 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting the Albert and Ellen Grass Lecture was given by Silvia Arber, on Circuits for Body Movements. The Lindsley Prize was awarded to Lyle Kingbury. This year, SfN met in San Diego, with many visitors to our booth and reception.
The pandemic gave us time to consider our goals. There are many programs aimed at enhancing diversity in science by recruiting underrepresented groups to science and offering initial entry to a research career. Fewer programs focus on postdocs, so in 2020, we designed the Henry Grass M.D. Rising Stars in Neuroscience Award to focus on retention and promotion of postdocs from groups under-represented in Neuroscience. We had many wonderful awardees, with current applications due February 1st, 2023.
The Foundation remains focused on neuroscience education at all levels, and I ask all of you to contribute where you can. Our work is largely supported by returns on the stock market. Personal contributions from those of us that have been affected by the Foundation is a wonderful way to support this cause. We welcome ideas for future engagements and programs, and financial contributions. An ‘alumni’ fund supported by contributions from all of you helps to make our ideas come to life.
Catherine Carr
President, The Grass Foundation
