Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Support for the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology Congress - PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal seeks funding to support increased participation from a diverse group of scientists, researchers, and clinicians and to enhance professional development programming targeted towards early career researchers (ECRs) during the congresses of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology (ISEK) over a five-year period. ISEK is a multidisciplinary organization composed of members from health-related fields including biomedical sciences and engineering, physical education, physical therapy, and other disciplines. The Society promotes research and teaching in the disciplines of electrophysiology and kinesiology of the sensory and motor systems in unimpaired and pathological conditions, with emphasis on the interactive use of our namesake disciplines. A main aim of our congress has always been to provide opportunities for ECRs, including PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty, to interact with each other and with established researchers. The focused nature of ISEK and the strength of its congress make these interactions meaningful. Over the next five years we will leverage these strengths to expand the impact of our congress for a diverse group of researchers and ECRs, as the long-term relevance and sustainability of a professional society is determined by its support for these members. Though ISEK has a long history of participation from ECRs with delegates attending from across Europe, America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa, we are committed to do even more and to centralize our activities so that they are not so dependent on the local organizing committee for each congress. In 2020, we formed a Diversity Committee to increase representation, equity and inclusion in our Society, and an Early Career Researcher Committee to give representation to our junior members. These efforts have strongly shaped the content of this proposal and the activities it will support. Our proposal has three specific aims. The first is to broaden participation and inclusivity within ISEK; we have designed strategies to increase the participation and representation of underrepresented groups, including women and researchers from underrepresented geographical areas using travel grants and caregiving grants. Our second aim is to increase professional development activities for ECRs at our in-person congresses; this will be accomplished through the inclusive design of our program and through scientific and social events targeted to this group. Our final aim is to strengthen ISEK community through virtual meetings in years without an in-person congress; we have designed two innovative virtual conferences to accomplish this goal. Implementing these activities will ensure that ISEK continues to be the leading society in electrophysiology and kinesiology, promoting an inclusive environment that fosters the development of the next generation of neuromuscular health researchers and the diversity of ideas that they bring to our field.
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