SFN 2017 in Washington, D.C.

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Housing assistance near the convention center

Attendees could select accommodation near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center by star category, with pricing shown in USD, EUR, or GBP.

The Society for Neuroscience annual meeting is widely regarded as one of the most innovative gatherings in health, science, neurology and research. Each year it convenes a large and international community of investigators, clinicians, students and trainees around a shared program of posters, scientific sessions and professional exchange, creating space for new findings and unexpected collaborations to surface.

For SFN 2017, the meeting returned to Washington, D.C., host of the 47th annual meeting, welcoming more than 33,000 attendees over five full days. The scientific program spanned roughly 15,000 abstracts and 38,000 speaker presentations, a scale that reflects both the breadth of neuroscience as a field and the size and dedication of the Society's membership.

The venue for the meeting was the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, a purpose-built campus of connected halls, meeting rooms and exhibition spaces situated within easy reach of the capital's central districts. From there, the convention footprint extended across event properties and nearby accommodations, with a full range of hotels and guest services arranged for delegates.

Beyond the doors of the convention center, attendees found Washington itself to be an attraction. The National Mall and the Smithsonian museums offered natural pauses between sessions, while Georgetown, the United States Botanic Garden, the space and air attractions of the region, and other famous capital sights gave the week an unusually rich cultural dimension for visitors from abroad.

For those arriving from overseas, the meeting's services included travel and transportation assistance, airport and lodging information, housing options across a range of categories, and guidance on currency, check and availability questions. The Society's registration and contact systems were designed so that delegates could plan arrival, select hotels, and confirm bookings with minimal friction before the meeting began.

The Society for Neuroscience exists with a clear mission: to advance the understanding of the nervous system and nervous system diseases, and to foster the exchange of scientific information among people throughout the world pursuing research in the many aspects of neuroscience. Annual meetings, abstract submissions and speaker programs are central instruments of that mission.

Registration for the meeting typically opened well ahead of the meeting dates, with abstract and speaker submissions handled through dedicated tools that allowed presenters to confirm participation, upload materials and be assigned to sessions. Organizers asked that attendees register, select and attend their chosen presentations carefully, since popular sessions and poster areas could fill quickly.

The design language of the meeting's materials reflects a formal, service-oriented tone. Deep navy and charcoal tones anchor the palette alongside crisp white and light gray surfaces, with a muted steel-blue accent used for highlighted words, links and rounded buttons. Sans-serif typography, generous spacing and alternating background sections create an airy, calm and professional atmosphere.

Looking ahead, the Society continues to build on the momentum of meetings that pair rigorous scientific programming with thoughtful hospitality. Posters, sessions, networking and the informal exchanges that happen in corridors and on tours are all part of the same design: an inclusive gathering where a broad international community can meet, share work and return home with new collaborators and a refreshed sense of direction.