Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007 | Number 1
Welcome to the 33rd Annual ABA Convention in San Diego
By Dr. Maria E. Malott
ABA Executive Director/Secretary Treasurer
We are excited to welcome you to the 2007 convention in San Diego, California. We expect to see over 4,000 participants from more than 40 countries, among them representatives and members of 26 special interest groups, 60 affiliated chapters, ABA organizational members, and graduate programs, including 16 ABA-accredited programs. Behavior analysts from all over the world will meet to present their work, network, and enjoy the sights of San Diego. Organizational members, employers, and job applicants will meet and discuss employment opportunities; avid readers will be able to peruse behavior analysis related books in our bookstore, which will offer more than 1,000 titles, and to meet authors of behavior analysis textbooks. There will be 610 events, including 101 pre-convention workshops; 254 panels and symposia; 90 paper sessions with 276 papers; 19 invited addresses; 17 tutorials, including four SQAB tutorials; 12 special events; 46 business meetings; 15 reunions; five poster sessions with 769 posters; and the ABA Expo, with 96 presenters. We also have a special celebration sponsored by the Student Committee for all members, the Behavioral Bash, and the annual ABA Social, each providing an opportunity for ABA members to socialize and celebrate.
This issue of the ABA newsletter traditionally highlights convention events. The opening event will recognize leaders in the field of behavior analysis with the 2007 Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA) Awards. The awards will recognize Dr. Teodoro Ayllon (Distinguished Service to Behavior Analysis); Dr. Henry Pennypacker (Public Service in Behavior Analysis); Dr. Eitan Eldar (International Development of Behavior Analysis); Dr. Steven Hayes (Impact of Science on Application); and The May Institute (Enduring Programmatic Contributions to Behavior Analysis). A one-time award, Special Recognition for Contributions to the Founding of the Association for Behavior Analysis, will be presented to Dr. Jerry Mertens.
Drs. Ramona Houmanfar and William Palya, Program Committee Co-Chairs, with the support of Dr. Janet Twyman, Program Board Coordinator, have once again assembled a very strong program, with the dedicated assistance of the Area Coordinators: Dr. Jack Scott (Autism Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. William Ahearn (Autism Co-Coordinator); Dr. John Roll (Behavioral Pharmacology Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Jesse Dallery (Behavioral Pharmacology Co-Coordinator); Dr. Kelly Wilson (Clinical; Family; Behavioral Medicine Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Ann D. Branstetter (Clinical; Family; Behavioral Medicine Co-Coordinator); Dr. Janet Ellis (Community Interventions; Social and Ethical Issues Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Maria Ruiz (Community Interventions; Social and Ethical Issues Co-Coordinator); Dr. Kent Johnson (Developmental Disabilities Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Mark R. Dixon (Developmental Disabilities Co-Coordinator); Dr. Jacob Gewirtz (Senior Co-Coordinator Human Development; Gerontology); Dr. Martha Pelaez (Human Development; Gerontology Co-Coordinator); Dr. James S. MacDonall (Experimental Analysis of Behavior Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Mark P. Reilly (Experimental Analysis of Behavior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Tim Slocum (Education Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Ronnie Detrich (Education Co-Coordinator); Dr. Timothy Ludwig (Organizational Behavior Management Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Alicia M. Alvero (Organizational Behavior Management Co-Coordinator); Dr. Pamela Osnes (Teaching Behavior Analysis Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Denise E. Ross (Teaching Behavior Analysis Co-Coordinator); Dr. David Palmer (Theoretical, Philosophical, and Conceptual Issues Senior Co-Coordinator); Dr. Sam Leigland (Theoretical, Philosophical, and Conceptual Issues Co-Coordinator); Dr. William Potter (Verbal Behavior Senior Co-Coordinator); and Dr. Matthew Normand (Verbal Behavior Co-Coordinator). This is an outstanding group of behavior analysts who have worked arduously to offer exciting programs in their areas of interest. (See article about the Program from Dr. Houmanfar.)
New to the convention this year is the B. F. Skinner Lecture Series, which features distinguished speakers from fields other than behavior analysis. Area Coordinators have selected an incredible range of presenters for this series. Additionally, an auction of B. F. Skinner’s personal items will occur. Proceeds of the auction go to the B. F. Skinner Foundation, which publishes literary and scientific works in behavior analysis and provides educational support to professionals and the general public.
The complete 2007 program is now available on the ABA Web site. The on-line scheduling option allows you to begin selecting which presentations you’ll attend and planning your convention personalized schedule. We hope to see you in San Diego for another very special convention!