Newsletter
Volume 31| 2008 | Number 2
ABA Italy (IESCUM)
By Dr. Paulo Moderato
The European Institute for the Study of Human Behavior (Istituto Europeo per lo Studio del Comportamento Umano, IESCUM) is a non-profit organization located in Parma. The general purpose of this association is to engage in acts of social usefulness, with a charitable and non-profitable mission respecting the freedom and dignity of all people. This association is non-party, non-political, and exclusively engaged in social and humanitarian purposes.
The specific purposes of this association are to promote the science of behavior, to advance the scientific study and understanding of behavior and its humane application to solve practical problems, and to prevent and relieve human suffering in the various fields in which scientific psychology has been developing in the course of the twentieth century and in the emerging fields to which scientific psychology will be called to operate in the new millennium.
Research Activities
Research activities include collaborating with Italian and international research institutes and universities, associations, and institutions with analogous purposes, implementing clinical and experimental research projects, and distributing scholarships for the implementation of scientific research, of national or international value, on experimental or applied behavior analysis of human behavior.
Promotion and Dissemination
Realization of activities for the dissemination of scientific knowledge include organizing and conducting conferences and cultural meetings that promote discussion and education on issues of public interest; sponsoring conferences that will serve as a forum for presentation of technological achievements in behavior analysis; professional development, training and education of psychologists, medical doctors, and all other professionals relating to or involved in the study, or the applications of behavior analysis. Scientific and quality control is guaranteed by an international advisory board, composed of distinguished scholars of worldwide notoriety that will take responsibility for the quality of the scientific and cultural level of IESCUM initiatives.
Membership
Membership is open to all persons, institutions, organizations or associations who have met the criteria set in the bylaws for membership and who have been approved for such membership by the Council. The number of members is unlimited.
Dues are established by the Executive Council and are due on January 1 of each calendar year, as the membership year runs from January 1st through December 31st. Members are required to respect the bylaws, additional internal rules and deliberations from the Executive Council.
Accomplishments Over the Past Year
During its first year as the Italian Chapter of ABAI, IESCUM has promoted the development of behavior analysis in Italy, organizing courses and workshops, participating in national and international congresses, and supporting presentations and publications.
Meanwhile, IESCUM has promoted the dissemination of scientific knowledge by creating its own Web site, www.iescum.org, which includes links to related Web sites focused on specific areas of research and intervention. Through these Web pages, IESCUM publishes news about its events and activities.
Plans for 2008-2009
In the next year IESCUM aims to increase its educational activities by organizing more workshops and continuing the management of advanced courses. Great importance will be given to research activities. Some fundamental research projects have already begun. Communication on the Web is also going to increase with the activation of new, specific Web sites and newsletters. IESCUM is also being represented in the most important international congresses, which are considered as crucial for the diffusion of up-to-date knowledge on research and application of behavior analysis in Italy.