The Brain Matters Seminar Series was funded by the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Studies (JIAS) and the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development (CoE) . It was additionally supported by the Southern African Neuroscience Society (SANS) and the Wits Cortex Club. It explored the past, present and future of neuroscience in southern Africa, with the aim of building a network of researchers dedicated to advancing the field in the region. Five seminars were held in 2017, with supplementary events continuing into 2018, facilitated by both local and international speakers. These seminars had a multidisciplinary neuroscience focus that covered topics that were locally relevant and of international significance.