Call for Papers for the ABAI 36th Annual Convention
San Antonio, Texas, May 28 – June 1, 2010
Introduction
Welcome to the 2010 ABA International convention submission process! We are very excited about the 36th annual convention in San Antonio and look forward to seeing you next May. The ABAI annual convention is a landmark event for the field of behavior analysis. In 2009, our program included 3,501 authors from 40 countries and a total of 1,637 submissions. The convention included 93 workshops and the participation of 60 exhibitors. A total of 267 events and workshops were offered for continuing education for licensed psychologists and/or BACB certified behavior analysts. The printed program was over 600 pages, and convention pages on the ABAI website surpassed 850.
The ABAI annual convention serves as a place for networking and information dissemination, not only for sharing research, applications, and theoretical developments, but also for 37 U.S. and 31 non-U.S. affiliated chapters, 33 special interest groups, 21 accredited graduate programs from 15 universities, 14 organizational members, and many other behavioral organizations and employers to come together and share information and ideas.
The ABAI annual convention brings over 4,000 registrants from 40 countries and receives very high feedback from attendees. Registrant surveys conducted over the past five years consistently reveal that, on average, 90% of attendees rate the annual convention overall as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.
ABAI will hold its annual convention in San Antonio, Texas in 2010, the first year we have been to this city. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the Grand Hyatt San Antonio (ABAI’s headquarters hotel) are very close to the Alamo and the San Antonio River and River Walk, two of the very top tourist destinations in Texas. We look forward to working with our affiliated chapter, the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis, to make your experience at the annual convention the finest one you have had to date.
New Services in 2010
ABAI is pleased to announce several changes to the program and convention that will be implemented in 2010, among which are the addition of a track in applied animal behavior, enhancements made to the website, audio visual enhancements that will be available for all presenters, networking areas located throughout the ABAI Exhibit Hall, expanded on-site registration hours, new requirements for submission acceptance, and a new system for delivery of the printed Convention Program.
Applied Animal Behavior
Given the growth over recent years in submissions relating to applied animal behavior—there were a total of 37 events in 2009—ABAI is pleased to formally offer this important area in the field as a submission area, AAB.
AudioVisual Equipment
Responses to the 2009 ABA International convention surveys indicated that presenters would like external audio speakers available for presentations. For your convenience, because presenters find it difficult to arrange for speakers at the list minute on site, ABAI will provide external PC speakers for sale in the ABAI Bookstore located in Exhibit Hall A of the Convention Center. This will be less expensive to presenters than renting through the A/V company. We hope this will be an added convenience for all presenters.
As in previous years, overhead projectors, computers, audio speakers, VCR packages, 35 mm slide projectors and flip-charts are NOT provided; presenters needing any additional equipment will need to arrange for their rental directly with the audiovisual company. Additional A/V equipment must be requested no later than May 1, 2010 and will be the financial responsibility of presenters. An “Additional A/V” request form will be available on the ABAI website no later than February 1, 2010 and will include pricing. Credit card payment for the additional A/V request must be included at the time the request is received.
Networking Areas
ABAI recognizes that convention attendees need and appreciate gathering places where friends and colleagues can meet and network. In response to feedback received from the 2009 convention, ABAI is pleased to introduce Social Lounges that will be located throughout the Exhibit Hall to gather with your colleagues.
Registration and CE Hours
We are proud that the annual convention has continued to increase in both the number of registrants and meetings and sessions offered. To accommodate this growth and for the convenience of attendees, ABAI will be expanding its registration hours for 2010.
Previously, pre-registration, on-site registration and the CE desk opened at 5pm on Thursday. We are pleased to offer longer hours beginning in 2010: from 10am – 8pm on Thursday. We hope the expanded registration hours allow people to register for workshops and the convention prior to the beginning of events.
Submission Acceptance
Letters indicating initial acceptance or rejection of submissions will be e-mailed to submission contacts by November 6, 2009 to facilitate attendees’ travel planning and funding requests. Because presenters in all events (including invited events) in the ABAI program, including primary presenters, chairs, panelists, and discussants, are required to register for the annual convention, final acceptance of all submissions will require that all presenters in an event have registered for the convention by December 15, 2009.
Program Book Mailing
ABAI will make the complete ABAI program available online by January 15, 2010. However, given the exceptional growth in the number of events and, by extension, in the size of the Program Book, all attendees will receive the printed version of the program at the on-site registration in San Antonio . If you would like to receive your copy of the printed program prior to the convention, you must register before February 24, 2010 and cover the cost of postage ($8 within the U.S.; USD$13 for delivery to Mexico or Canada; and USD$15 all other countries).