News Release
August 11, 2004
For Immediate Release
Michael Gazzaniga Elected President of the American Psychological Society
Michael S. Gazzaniga has been elected President of the American Psychological Society, an international organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific psychology.
Gazzaniga is a leader in the area of cognitive neuroscience. His pioneering work in mind-brain relationships has shaped fundamental understanding of human intellectual ability in a biological context. He is a world-renowned author, lecturer, researcher and scientist, having discovered the human "split-brain" phenomenon, revealing that the human brain is divided into two hemispheres, each with its own specialization and area of control over the body.
"Nothing is more important in the 21st century than to expand the scientific foundations of studying the mind and society. APS has this as its core mission and every effort should be made to build upon this great tradition," Gazzaniga said. "I hope to bring a sense of urgency to our mission. I am not a 'business as usual' person."
He is director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Dartmouth College. Over the years, Gazzaniga has received scores of honors for his achievements, including election to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society of Experimental Psychologists, and the American Academy of Arts and Science. He currently serves on the President's Council on Bioethics.
Gazzaniga has served as president of the Cognitive Neuroscience Institute and founded the Cognitive Neuroscience Society. He has published over 20 books, including Mind Matters and Nature's Mind. He continues to conduct research on how the brain enables the mind, and to consult for a spectrum of journals and television programs.
Gazzaniga's three-year term on the Board includes a year each as President-elect, President, and Immediate Past-president. Also elected to the APS Board were Members-at-Large Richard Bootzin, University of Arizona, and Elizabeth Phelps, New York University.
The American Psychological Society is the only organization dedicated exclusively to supporting researchers, applied and clinical scientists, academics, and teachers in the field of psychology. The Society is a powerful voice in promoting psychology as a science-based discipline and advancing behavioral science research.
For more information about APS, go to www.psychologicalscience.org/about/.