Adapting to the Shifting Sands of Psychology and APS, James Pennebaker

Since the founding of APS in 1988, our methods, publication models, and core research questions have become almost unrecognizable. Today, we face a new reality: The traditional academic job market and funding models are in transition, while artificial intelligence and biotechnology are revolutionizing how we study human behavior. Culturally, the roles of universities and science itself are under scrutiny. Furthermore, academic societies are experiencing a striking paradox—membership and convention attendance are declining even as the public influence of our science grows. In this talk, Pennebaker will outline these systemic challenges and discuss how APS must actively pivot its mission to meet the evolving needs of its members and advocate for the discipline.