ASSOCIATION NEWS

Psychologists are active in memory exhibit at San Francisco Exploratorium

Psychologists are lending their expertise to 'Memory,' an interactive exhibition that canvasses the neurological, psychological and cultural aspects of human memory, to be held at San Francisco?s Exploratorium museum.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the exhibit offers lectures and interactive research demonstrations by psychologists and neuroscientists on topics ranging from eyewitness testimony to Alzheimer?s disease. The exhibit runs from May 22 to Jan. 10.

The Exploratorium, a museum of science, art and human perception, has a long history of collaboration with APA. During the exhibit, psychologists will conduct memory research on site, giving visitors an opportunity to see how cognitive scientists work and providing investigators with an opportunity to study a broad range of participants. In one demonstration, Art Shimamura, PhD, will show how mental activity can ward off some declines of aging. In another, psychologist Jonathon Schooler, PhD, will examine the effect of language on visual memory.

Other psychologists contributing to the exhibit include Gordon Bower, PhD, Alison Gopnik, PhD, Elizabeth Loftus, PhD, Daniel Schacter, PhD, and Larry Squire, PhD.

Psychologists will also present evening and weekend lectures on psychology topics and will join with neurologists for a discussion series called 'Memory matters,' to be held in October and November.

In addition, the exhibit features performances, films, family workshops, artwork and more than 40 hands-on exhibits to stir the memory.

For more information on 'Memory,' contact the Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon St., San Francisco, CA 94123-0363, (415) 563-7337, web site: http://www.exploratorium.edu/.

Ethics Code Task Force seeks critical incidents and comments on Ethics Code

The Ethics Code Task Force (ECTF) is moving forward with processes that will culminate in a revision of the 1992 APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychologist, Vol. 47, No. 12, [December 1992], pages 1597?1611; Also http://www.apa.org/ethics). For details of revision processes prior to the appointment of the ECTF, refer to American Psychologist for annual reports from the Ethics Committee. (The most recent: Report of the Ethics Committee, 1996. American Psychologist, Vol. 52, No. 8 [August 1997] pages 897?905).

The ECTF requests input from the membership regarding this important revision. Previously accepted comments, collected in an ongoing fashion following the publication of the 1992 Ethics Code, will be included with any new comments received as a result of this call. The ECTF seeks (1) feedback on the adequacy of its existing Ethics Code, as well as (2) recommendations for additional principles and standards to address areas currently not covered.

Possible areas for revised or new standards include (but are not limited to) the following: telehealth, electronic databases and other new technologies; managed care and other organized systems of care; media psychology; practice in institutional settings (e.g., schools, military, law enforcement); empirically supported treatments; practice with families and groups; supervision; multiple relationships and abuses of power (sexual or nonsexual) with current or former clients and students; forensic activities; and research, teaching and practice with diverse populations.

For each comment you submit, describe a brief situation of which you have direct knowledge that provides a context for discussing how the components of the Preamble, the six General Principles, and/or one or more of the 109 Standards:

a) enhance or impair the ability of psychologists to conduct their work in an ethical manner,

b) protect (or do not protect) the public,

c) reflect (or do not reflect) the scope of psychologists? work-related activities,

d) are (or are not) clearly understood, and

e) are (or are not) enforceable.

If applicable, suggest wording for specific revised or new principles or standards that would address your ethical concerns.

Examples or descriptions that include personally identifying information about others will not be used.

Return responses to Ethics Code Revision May Call, APA Ethics Office, 750 First St., N.E., Washington DC 20002-4242 as soon as practical but no later than June 30. Please, provide your name, address, type of employment setting, gender and ethnicity.

Div. 17 (Counseling) has submitted a petition for the continued recognition of Counseling Psychology as a professional psychology specialty. A period of public notice and an opportunity for members to comment on the petition is required before the Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology (CRSPPP) will consider the petition. The period of public notice begins May 1. Copies of the petition are available from the Education Directorate. CRSPPP is accepting written comments until July 1.

For more information, contact Martha Braswell, Education Directorate, at the APA address, (202) 336-6140.

List of graduate school openings available in May

APA?s Eduction Directorate will post the Graduate School Openings List on APA?s web site beginning the first week in May.

The list inventories graduate schools that have openings in their psychology programs as of April 15, the national deadline for students to accept or reject offers from schools. The list can be found at www.apa.org\ed\. To request a hard copy of the list, contact the Education Directorate at the APA address, (202) 336-5970, fax: (202) 336-5962, e-mail.

Encourage psychologists to participate in the public education campaign and win a free trip to APA?s Annual Convention

The APA member who encourages the most psychologists to call (800) 964-2000 for APA?s public education campaign kit will win a trip to the convention with all expenses paid.

The program, called 'Call a Colleague,' is designed to get more psychologists involved with APA?s public education campaign, 'Talk to someone who can help.' Here?s how the incentive program works: Members who are involved in the public education campaign encourage colleagues to join the effort and call the campaign?s toll-free number to request a campaign kit. The kit is filled with materials to help new participants launch public education activities in their communities, such as sample speeches and talking points about the efficacy of psychological services, fund-raising tips and sample campaign advertisements. The psychologist who recruits the most new participants wins the trip.

Callers should mention the 'Call a Colleague' program and the name of their referring psychologist when they call the toll-free number to request the campaign kit. The results of the incentive program will be tabulated in mid-June.

Committee on Urban Initiatives seeks two new members

Psychologists with experience in urban issues are encouraged to apply for two positions on APA?s Committee on Urban Initiatives (CUI). The positions call for three-year terms of service that begin in January 1999 and end in December 2001.

The goal of CUI is to solve problems associated with urban life, promote aspects of urban life that enhance growth and encourage research, training and practice related to urban issues.

The committee seeks at least one member with expertise in urban social policy, and one member with expertise in urban mental health.

One of the positions should be filled by a psychologist with expertise in underserved populations, such as the poor, women and ethnic minorities; in addition, one of the positions should be filled by an ethnic minority psychologist to fulfill the committee?s commitment to diversity.

CUI members are required to attend two committee meetings each year in Washington, D.C., with all expenses reimbursed by APA. Members are also required to work on CUI projects between meetings if necessary, and are encouraged to attend CUI Network meetings at APA?s Annual Convention each year. APA will not reimburse travel expenses for the convention.

To nominate, submit a letter describing the candidate?s specific qualifications, a letter from the nominee stating a willingness to serve on CUI and a curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations are also open to members who are retired or employed part-time.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 1. Submit nomination materials to Leslie Cameron, Public Interest Directorate, at the APA address, (202) 336-6048.

Updated graduate program resource available

The 1998 edition of APA?s 'Graduate Study in Psychology' has been published. The book profiles more than 550 psychology graduate programs in the United States and Canada. Each program profile includes information on admission criteria, the application process, degree requirements, financial aid, tuition and housing.

To order a copy, contact the Order Department at the APA address, (800) 374-2721 or (202) 336-5510. The cost is $19.95 for APA members or affiliates and $21.95 for nonmembers.

APA establishes new International Humanitarian Service Award

APA has created the International Humanitarian Award to recognize extraordinary humanitarian services and activism by psychologists, including professional and/or volunteer work conducted primarily in the field with underserved populations.

'Extraordinary humanitarian services' are defined as professional activities initiated by one or more psychologists working alone or in association with others to help alleviate severe stress and restore psychological well-being to a group of people in a variety of difficult circumstances including but not limited to the following: (1) survivors and/or victims? families following a significant event such as a natural or person-induced disaster, a national or international incident, a civil war, or a forced migration; or (2) a community of any size in which long-term political, economic, social and/or other circumstances have caused severe stress and psychological problems to a substantial portion of that community.

Nominees must be members and affiliate members of APA. Nominations should provide ample and clear documentation to substantiate extraordinary service to improve the lives and contribute to the well-being of people in either large or small geographic areas anywhere in the world.

Documentation should include, but is not limited to, descriptions of:

? The difficult conditions constituting severe threats to the security, stability, welfare or development of communities.

? Specific actions including personal risk taken to improve conditions.

? Demonstrated skills, knowledge, dedication and persistence brought to bear on work within specific communities.

? The social and political activism displayed in rebuilding or transforming communities and fostering the empowerment of community members to act on their own behalf.

Applications will be screened by APA?s Committee on International Relations in Psychology, which will make recommendations to APA?s Board of Directors for their designation of the awardee. Please submit a letter of application; a narrative description of extraordinary humanitarian services and activism within specified time; a curriculum vitae; three letters of recommendation; and other supporting documents deemed essential to a full presentation of the work.

Mail four copies of the materials by Sept. 1 to: APA Office of International Affairs, 750 First St., N.E., Washington, DC 20002-4242.

Review a draft publication on ethically responsible research

A draft of The Ethics of Research with Human Participants is available for comments from members. The document is an educational guide to conducting ethically responsible research with human participants.

To obtain a copy of the draft to review, contact the Science Directorate at the APA address, (202) 336-6000. Please provide a mailing address since electronic versions of the draft are not available.

The deadline for the submission of comments is Sept. 1.