Convention Coverage
Capital Science in the Nation’s Capital
July 10, 2019
The Convention photo album has all the highlights from 4 days of nonstop science in Washington, DC — from hacking best research practices to investigating the impacts of diversity in the workplace. Click on any photo to see a full-size version.
Pulling TogetherExperiments show that, unlike chimpanzees, 3-year-old children can understand the idea of a joint goal — and the joint commitment to that goal, said APS Fellow Michael Tomasello in the Fred Kavli Keynote Address.
Making Thinking Visible
Renewing the New NormalAPS Fellow Betsy Levy Paluck’s work has increasingly focused on the power of institutional communications to change people’s perceptions of social norms, which she detailed in the Saturday Keynote Address.
Editing Everyday Events“The brain itself is a pretty impressive film editor,” said APS Fellow Jeffrey Zacks in his talk during the Presidential Symposium. “Commercial editing practices give a sequence of views that cater to our evolved visual routines.”
No Straight LinesInteractions between top-down conscious awareness and bottom-up processes can lead to a sense that our drawing is almost drawing itself, said visual artist Andrea Kantrowitz in her talk during the Presidential Symposium.
Thinking Inside OutMarking a dance phrase by approximating the choreography can enhance learning, enabling dancers to focus on a phrase’s component parts, explained cognitive scientist David Kirsh in his talk during the Presidential Symposium.
A Mind for MusicArtistic inspirations and associations can emerge from sources ranging from harmless ear worms to serious hallucinations, said researcher and composer Jonathan Berger in the Presidential Symposium.
Teaching MindsetsIncorporating the science of mindsets into teaching can help students achieve personal growth in ways that also serve society, said APS James McKeen Cattell Fellow Carol S. Dweck of Stanford University in the APS-David Myers Distinguished Lecture on the Science and Craft of Teaching Psychological Science.
Skill-Building WorkshopsParticipants practice their new statistical mediation skills in an interactive workshop led by Amanda K. Montoya of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Snapshots of ScienceThe APS photo booth is always a popular stop for attendees as they walk the exhibit hall.
Administrative InsightsDon’t be afraid to promote yourself in your annual review if you have the details and data to make your case, said psychological scientist and university provost Betsy L. Morgan of the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse in the Teaching Institute Opening Plenary.
Science in GovernmentBehavioral scientists embedded in the federal government are testing whether tailored messaging helps increase vaccine uptake. Details on those projects were presented by, from left, Mary Steffel (Northeastern University), Pompa Debroy (US Office of Evaluation Sciences), Kris-Stella Trump (Social Science Research Council), David V. Yokum (Brown University), and APS Fellow Gretchen B. Chapman (Carnegie Mellon University).
Inside the Psychologist’s StudioIdentifying the fundamental attribution error is just one of the many career highlights that APS Fellow Lee D. Ross reflected on during his recorded interview.
Poster PresentationsDiana W. Kimondo of George Mason University presented research exploring how college students’ satisfaction with their sleep relates to their levels of stress and anxiety.
Predicting the FutureOur tendency to think about the future from the perspective of the present often leads us astray, said Harvard University psychological scientist Daniel T. Gilbert in his APS William James Fellow Award Address.
Navigating the Job MarketStudents should discuss their career goals with their mentors early and often to pave the way for their next steps, advised “Naked Truth” panelists Kelsie Forbush (University of Kansas), Jeffrey M. Girard (Carnegie Mellon University), Elisa di Rosa (Washington University in St. Louis), and Catherine Hartley (New York University).
Meeting of the MindsThe Convention offers ample opportunities for networking, learning, and collaborating.
HackathonWorking groups developed tools and resources aimed at making best research practices easier to access and communicate, documenting their progress on the Open Science Framework.
Smartphones in Everyday LifeDirect neuronal measurement and behavior data from smartphones can be combined to better understand brain plasticity, action control, and other processes, said Leiden University neuroscientist Arko Ghosh in the Cross-Cutting Theme Program "Me, My Phone, and I.
Exploring EmotionsAPS Past President Elizabeth Phelps of Harvard University began her scientific career with an insight: Everyday variation in emotional experience can influence how we learn, remember, and decide. Phelps received the 2019 William James Fellow Award from APS Fellow BJ Casey of Yale University.
Attendees Meet AuthorsConvention attendees waited in line to have books signed by APS James McKeen Cattell Fellow Carol S. Dweck, APS President Barbara Tversky, Kevin Mitchell, and Jan-Willem W. van Prooijen.
Science of LearningAPS William James Fellow Nora S. Newcombe of Temple University surveyed what the field has learned from 2 decades of research on learning in an invited talk organized by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
Minds on the MoveIn her new book Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought, APS President Barbara Tversky builds on the premise that spatial thinking is the foundation for all thought. Tversky signed copies of the book, which was released just days before the Convention began.
Understanding TraumaPsychological responses to trauma can follow various trajectories that go beyond the mere presence or absence of PTSD, said Columbia University researcher George A. Bonanno in his APS James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award Address.
Early-Career ExcellenceIncoming APS President Lisa Feldman Barrett congratulated 2019 APS Janet Taylor Spence Award recipient Luke Chang of Dartmouth College.
Masters of MentoringLooking for a good fit between mentees’ interests and mentors’ strengths can make for productive relationships, said moderator and APS Past President Robert W. Levenson (University of California, Berkeley) and 2019 APS Mentor Award recipients Marcia K. Johnson (Yale University), Carol S. Dweck (Stanford University), and Geraldine Downey (Columbia University).
Diversity At WorkResearch findings show that diversity can affect team outcomes, including feelings of efficacy and performance, in positive and negative ways, said APS Fellow Katherine W. Phillips of Columbia University in an Invited Address.
Applied Behavioral Insights in Washington, DCKevin Wilson of the Lab @ DC and Commander Ralph Ennis of the Metropolitan Police Academy detailed an applied research project in which police officers received cultural training at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
Meeting the ChampsStudents had the opportunity to talk about research questions, career paths, and other burning issues with leading scientists, including APS William James Fellow Janet F. Werker of the University of British Columbia, in the “Champions of Psychological Science” event.
Psychological Science and PolicyNutrition labeling, environmental decision making, and public mental health are a few of the domains in which psychological science is helping to inform policy, noted panelists David V. Yokum (Brown University), Christina A. Roberto (University of Pennsylvania), Karina Davidson (The Feinstein Institute of Medical Research at Northwell Health), APS Fellow Elke Weber (Princeton University), and Linda Steg (University of Groningen, Netherlands).
Artificial IntelligenceNew computational frameworks and tools from neural networks and video game engines are bringing scientists one step closer to building AI systems that learn and develop like humans do, MIT researcher Josh Tenenbaum said in a Cross-Cutting Theme Program.
Nonstop ScienceCoffee breaks keep attendees fueled throughout 4 days of symposia, poster presentations, workshops, and more.
Social Media ScienceYouTube sensation Ali Mattu of Columbia University revealed what using social media as an educational platform has taught him about teaching psychological science.
Vaccination Around the WorldBruce Gellin, President of Global Immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, explained the role that psychological science can play in increasing vaccination rates. Gellin was a speaker during the Psychological Science in the Public Interest symposium.
Helping HandsSporting red shirts and plenty of enthusiasm, volunteers help attendees make the most of their Convention experience.
