Newsletter
Volume 31 | 2008 | Number 1
ABAI 2008 Convention Program Committee Report
By Dr. Ramona Houmanfar, Program Committee Senior Co-Chair
We will experience another great convention this year at ABAI. As always, our accomplishment is a product of the contribution and support provided by the ABAI administration staff, the ABAI Council and the Program Committee. The following is a brief overview of the ABAI 2008 program.
Program Growth
The total number of submissions for 2008 increased 4.8% from 2007. Major growth of the program this year occurred in poster and symposium submissions. It is important to note that the number of reunions, business meetings, and Expo posters still may increase as we arrange the associated events.
Area Coordinators
The hard work and effort of the program coordinators resulted in a maximum number (39) of invited presentation submissions and tutorials. Moreover, nine of the invited addresses and tutorials will be conducted by non- ABAI members. Our recruitment of this many invited presentations by non- ABAI members is indicative of the Program Coordinators’ continued support and participation in the B. F. Skinner Series initiative. Overall, we have experienced a gradual increase in the number of presentations, which demonstrates a healthy pattern of growth over time (see Figure 1).
The successful recruitment of the new co-coordinators for a majority of areas would not be possible without the help and support of their senior co-coordinators. So, we are grateful to these colleagues for their contribution to the vitality of the ABAI Program.
As always, I would like to thank my co-chair, Bill Palya, for his invaluable collaboration, and all of the Program Coordinators and other members of the Program Committee for their outstanding efforts this year. In addition, on behalf of the ABAI Program Committee, I would like to thank Maria Malott and her exemplary staff members for their support and guidance.