Science is ideally suited to connect people from different cultures and thereby foster mutual understanding. To promote international life science collaboration, we have launched “The Science Bridge” initiative. Our current project focuses on partnership between Western and Middle Eastern neuroscience communities. Science is ideally suited to connect people from different cultures and thereby foster mutual understanding. To promote international life science collaboration, Lissek et al. have launched “The Science Bridge” initiative. Theirs current project focuses on partnership between Western and Middle Eastern neuroscience communities. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.