Volume 20: No. 8, September 2006

New Orleans Welcomes APA With Open Arms...

Angela Bryan, one of the 2006 recipients of the Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution, delivers her thanks at the Awards ceremony.

2006 APA Convention participants had the uncommon experience of participating - even in small ways - in the rebuilding of one of this country's most vibrant cities. While New Orleans clearly carries the scars of Hurricane Katrina, residents are making every attempt to revive the city, and we bore witness to their resilience.

Hundreds of APA Convention participants contributed to the several projects designed to assist residents of the city, including helping to build or repair homes through Habitat for Humanity, gathering school supplies for children attending New Orleans public schools, and providing guidance to the local business community.

Elaine Walker, one of the Board of Scientific Affairs´ Master Lecturers, discusses "Adolescent Neurodevelopment and Mental Health: A Critical Opportunity for Prevention."

As always happens at the APA Convention, some of the most distinguished scientists in the country were honored at the APA/American Psychological Foundation Awards ceremony. This year was special because it is marks the 50th Anniversary of the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award - one of the most valued honors in the discipline of psychology. Recipients of the DSCA for 2006 were Michael Davis, Marcia Johnson, and Martin E. P. Seligman; the Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology was awarded to John Campbell. The Early Career Awards were presented to Mark Baxter, Theodore Beauchaine, Angela Bryan, and Brian Scholl.

Marcia Johnson, one of the recipients of the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards, presented her research, "Reality Monitoring."

The Opening Session featured the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to E. Mavis Hetherington by APA President Gerald Koocher. Hetherington, Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia, joins an elite group of scientists who have been honored in this way by the sitting APA President.

There were many excellent science presentations at the meeting! Just a few of the individuals on the program included Marilyn Albert, Sally Boysen, Jennifer Crocker, Joseph LeDoux, Matthew Lieberman, Bruce McEwen, Terrie Moffitt, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Donald A. Norman, James Sidanius, and Elaine Walker.

The 2007 Convention will be held in San Francisco, August 17-20; the deadline for program submissions is December 1, 2006. Please visit the APA website for a copy of the Call for Programs and other relevant information about the 2007 program.

Bruce McEwen, the Board of Scientific Affairs´ Neal Miller Lecturer for 2006, presents his talk, "Neurobiology of Stress: Implications for Behavioral Medicine."	APA members help rebuild homes in New Orleans as they volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
E. Mavis Hetherington receives a standing ovation as she is presented with the APA Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology by Gerald Koocher, APA President.	John Campbell, recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology, delivers his award address, "Competency, Adaptability, Performance, Productivity: Scientific Constructs or Words to Exploit?"