Welcome Message
As the Chair of the Organizing Committee and President of the 17th Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) Conference in 2025, I extend a warm invitation to all neuroscientists from Africa and around the world to join us for the Joint SONA – MAN Conference 2025. This exciting event will take place at the Conferences Center of Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech from April 17th to 20th, 2025, under the theme: “BRAIN and ENVIRONMENT: the challenge of the future.”
This international conference will be the third one to be hosted in Morocco, after the SONA 1995 in Marrakesh and SONA 2013 in Rabat. It could also be the last SONA Conference organized before the 2027 IBRO World Congress which will be held in Africa.
Morocco has consistently garnered the attention and support of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and its distinguished representatives. Over the years, we have had the honor of hosting eminent figures such as David Ottoson from Sweden, Pierre Magistretti from Switzerland, Carlos Belmonté from Spain, Marina Bentivoglio from Italy, and many others. Their presence has enriched our scientific discourse and strengthened our ties with the global neuroscience community.
This Conference aims to be a crossroads for exchanging scientific information, ideas, and expertise between African neuroscientists and those from worldwide. The program will particularly highlight significant research covering various fields, from fundamental to clinical neurosciences, recently conducted. It will offer through plenary lectures, symposia, oral and poster presentations an opportunity for discussion, and exchange of information between clinical and fundamentalist neuroscientists on the issues and challenges of the future in understanding the mysteries of the brain.
In the margin of this conference, there will be several pre- and post-conference satellite activities: schools and workshops.
It will also be an opportunity to explore our beauty and magic of the imperial city (Marrakech) and southern Morocco experiencing its gastronomic, cultural, and tourist wealth through a social program that will be proposed for participants and accompanying people by a tourism operator.
We sincerely hope that you will join us and be part of this exciting international neuroscience event in Africa, held in the “Red City” of Marrakech in Morocco.
Your participation will undoubtedly contribute to the success and the impact on the SONA Conference in 2025
Warm regards,
Professor Mohamed BENNIS
President of the Moroccan Association of Neurosciences
President of the SONA
President of the SONA Conference 2025
Chair of the Organizing Committee
The Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA)
The Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) is a non-profit organization registered in Nairobi, Kenya in 1993. It functions as the umbrella organization for the regional and national neuroscience societies and groups in Africa. SONA is a member society of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).
The aim of SONA is to promote research, teaching and advocacy in Neuroscience in Africa and the Society holds an international conference every two years. The 16th International Conference of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA 2023) will bring together Neuroscientists across the African continent and beyond. These Scientists will showcase their research findings from the Basic to Clinical Neurosciences.
The Conference will provide a platform for Private and Public Companies and Organizations in the Science domain, especially the brain sciences, and in the Technology sector to interface with these neuroscientists.
It will also be an opportunity to showcase the Tourism richness of South Africa as an in-person programme is considered very vital in the planning for the conference.