Program Committee report

Our program includes symposia, skill-building workshops, poster sessions, a conversation hour and many other exciting events.

By Walter Boot and Katherine Judge, PhD

The Div. 20 program for the 2016 APA convention in Denver (Aug. 4–7) has been finalized, and we hope you enjoy it. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, the presidential themes selected this year by Harvey Sterns relate to aging and work, and speakers will address issues around these themes from several perspectives. Our program includes three symposia (two offering CE credits), two skill-building workshops, two poster sessions, a conversation hour and many other exciting events. Of particular note, as part of a Committee on Division/APA Relations grant awarded to Div. 20, Div. 3 (Society for Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Science) and Div. 7 (Developmental Psychology), the meeting will feature a three-part workshop titled “Forty-five Years of Influence of the Lifespan Developmental Approach: Past, Present, Future.” Separate sessions featuring keynote speakers and reaction panels will focus on:

Methodological Issues.
Theoretical and Conceptual Approaches.
Intervention, Modifiability, and Plasticity.

Four collaborative programming events will also be offered. Topics addressed by these events include the controversy over “brain training,” the potential of wearable technology to facilitate psychological research and practice, and evidence-based care for individuals with dementia and their families. We invite students and new investigators to participate in the interactive mentoring workshop titled “Money for You and Your Research.” We will also be co-listed on over 20 other divisional programs, reflecting topics such as meaningful retirement, managing chronic illness, promoting and maintaining behavioral change and brain health. APA 2016 will offer several opportunities for Div. 20 members to be social. Our Div. 20 social hour will be Friday, Aug. 5, 6-6:50 p.m. The social hour is sponsored by the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) and the RoseMary B. Fuss Center for Research on Aging and Intergenerational Studies. We also will be hosting a Div. 20 offsite dinner at Marlowe's on Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. Marlowe's is less than a 15-minute walk from the Colorado Convention Center. Space is limited, so please make sure to confirm your attendance soon (RSVP to Wally Boot). We look forward to seeing you in Denver.