Broad scientific coverage, global keynote lectures, and professional development opportunities

From August 24-27, 2025, Incheon, Korea, hosted the 28th Annual Meeting of KSBNS: K-Brain 2025 alongside the 3rd CJK (China-Japan-Korea) Neuroscience Meeting. The event brought together more than 3,000 participants, over 70 symposia and sessions, representation from over 25 countries, and more than 100 sponsors, bringing a wide spectrum of neuroscience together in one venue.

A defining feature of the meeting was the breadth of its scientific coverage. Sessions spanned molecular and circuit-level neuroscience, translational and clinical studies, and cognitive and computational models in animals. Novel approaches, such as brain atlas mapping, were also highlighted. This diversity was reinforced by participation from leading institutes in China, Korea, and Japan, with lectures from distinguished researchers including Hailan Hu (Zhejiang University), Inhee Mook-Jung (Seoul National University), Ikue Mori (Nagoya University), and Won Do Heo (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). In addition, the global scope of the conference was reflected in keynote lectures delivered by internationally recognized scholars such as Benjamin Deneen (Baylor College of Medicine), Peter Walter (Altos Labs), Matteo Carandini (University College London), Matthew Rushworth (University of Oxford), and Mickael Tanter (Institute of Physics for Medicine Paris). Beyond the focus on laboratory research, a dedicated History of Neuroscience session traced the field’s development across different countries and offered comparative cultural perspectives, providing participants with a broader context of how neuroscience has evolved internationally.

The conference also emphasized professional development, with a comprehensive educational track. Editors from journals such as Nature and Cell provided insights into the editorial process and offered practical advice on improving manuscripts, giving researchers a clearer understanding of the publishing workflow from the editor’s perspective. A Nature Masterclass, available by pre-registration, enabled participants to receive one-on-one feedback on their manuscripts from journal editors. A career workshop brought together principal investigators, industry experts, and startup founders, all of whom had begun their careers as researchers, to discuss opportunities across sectors and take questions from attendees. Practical training opportunities were also incorporated into the program. For example, an educational session on Optical Techniques in Neuroscience introduced cutting-edge methods for neural manipulation and recording techniques, with speakers providing detailed methodological guidance. Taken together, these initiatives made the meeting valuable not only for learning about research developments but also for acquiring skills and insights to support career progression.

Collaboration and networking were another priority. Poster sessions offered a wide range of projects, while the sponsor exhibition included journals, societies, research institutions, and equipment manufacturers. To encourage interaction, organizers used a stamp-collecting activity in which participants received a stamp at each booth they visited and became eligible for prizes upon completing the set. Infrastructure also supported connections: the dedicated KSBNS 2025 app allowed participants to view the program, explore speakers, and book networking spaces directly. These features ensured that attendees had multiple ways to engage with one another and with the wider ecosystem of neuroscience in China, Korea, Japan, and beyond.

Overall, the combination of broad scientific coverage, structured educational opportunities, and intentional networking activities made the 28th KSBNS Annual Meeting and the 3rd CJK Neuroscience Meeting a valuable forum for researchers. For those seeking exposure to the diversity of neuroscience research, opportunities to acquire professional skills, and a platform to connect with colleagues in Asia and internationally, this meeting offered a comprehensive experience and is well worth considering for future participation. The next KSBNS Annual Meeting will be held in Daejeon, Korea, from September 6?9, 2026, and the 4th CJK Neuroscience Meeting will take place at Makuhari Messe, Japan, July 20-23, 2027.