Volume 20: No. 6, June 2006

Board of Scientific Affairs and Spring Time in Washington
By Ronald T. Brown, BSA Chair

The Board of Scientific Affairs met April 6-8, 2006 at the APA consolidated meetings. The meeting was particularly interesting as it followed the Multicultural Leadership Workshop that featured two eminent speakers, John Dovidio and Derald Sue. In response to the workshop, BSA affirmed the need for further research efforts related to the psychological benefits of ethnic diversity, training for investigators in the recruitment of ethnically diverse samples for research studies, and a need for greater discourse on the pros and cons of tailoring specific treatments and therapies to specific racial and ethnic groups. Further, the Board also recommended that its mission statement be reviewed with regard to diversity issues. Moreover, the members of the Board affirmed their commitment to diversity by insuring diverse membership on the various standing and ad hoc committees that the Board oversees. There is no doubt that attention to diversity issues will be a critical concern as plans are developed for the Science Leadership Conference to be held in December of 2006.

During our meeting the Board reviewed and supported a number of task force reports including the Development of a Strategic Plan for a Workforce Analysis of Psychology as a Discipline, the Policy and Planning Board 5-Year Follow-Up Report, the Task Force on the Impact of Elementary and Secondary School Zero Tolerance Policies, and finally, the Report on the Working Group on Psychotropic Medications for Children and Adolescents. Other reports received additional discussion and specific recommendations from the Board including the Report of the Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security. The discussion centered on major themes of this Task Force including process and participants, relevance of scientific evidence, content of the document, and recommendations regarding the case book. In addition, we discussed the Task Force on Socioeconomic Status, and made a number of important recommendations regarding socioeconomic status as a risk factor for mental health.

The Board met with the President of the Association, Gerald Koocher and President-Elect Sharon Stephens Brehm. President Koocher discussed his initiatives that include mentoring, loan forgiveness, and diversity in curriculum and teaching materials. Brehm discussed with the Board a number of issues with regard to appointment of members for various task forces within the Association as well as the review of task force products that emanate from these working groups.

Other routine, albeit important business was conducted at the Board meeting including the current liaisons to the various boards and committees, the BSA annual report, the Culture of Service Awards, an update from the Ad-hoc Committee to Advance Research, monetary awards for Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award recipients, and updates from the publication and journal arena.

Staff in the Public Policy Office presented a briefing of their important activities on Capitol Hill as well as with the various federal agencies. Their lobbying to the various agencies and Congressional staff underscores enhancing psychological research funding; strengthening the scientific infrastructure, sharing psychological research findings with policymakers, and increasing the ability of scientists of the Association to advocate for their discipline.

Finally, plans were revealed for the 2006 APA Convention that will include the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award addresses, the Neal Miller annual lecture, the Master Lectures, the CPTA and CARE programs, and a Science Student Council program. The annual meeting promises to be a showcase of science in psychology and everyone is urged to attend.

While a complete outline of the BSA meeting is not possible within the scope of this article, the meeting had a full agenda and much was accomplished. For those interested in the minutes of the meeting that details all of the discussions, the interested reader is encouraged to contact Suzanne Wandersman, Director of Governance Affairs, in the Science Directorate..