Monitor on Psychology - February 2012 - (Page 79)

great questions and had a lot to say,” says Howard Kurtzman, PhD, deputy executive director of the directorate. People expressed surprise that a psychological organization would be working on the topic, he adds. “That was great because it gave us the chance to educate people about the contributions that psychological science can make to sustainability.” • Division collaborations: Several APA divisions are working together on sustainability issues. Div. 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues) will kick off its biennial conference June 22–24 in Charlotte, N.C., co-hosting a miniconvention with Div. 34 (Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology) on “the three E’s”: environment, education and equity. Meanwhile, Div. 34 members are helping Div. 8 (Society for Personality and Social Psychology) faculty and students organize a pre-conference meeting Jan. 26 on sustainability psychology in conjunction with Div. 8’s annual conference in San Diego. The meeting will feature talks by experts on such topics as why Americans are less likely to believe in the science of global warming today than they were in 2007. The meeting will also include a paper swap, poster sessions and a data blitz — a session where speakers give quick talks featuring one exciting new piece of data. Participants and speakers will also have a chance to brainstorm ideas on where to go from here. • Greenness on APA’s home turf: At the association’s two properties in Washington, D.C. — the headquarters building at 750 First St., N.E., and its commercial rental property at 10 G St., N.E. — efforts are under way to reduce energy consumption, maximize recycling and contribute to a healthier environment. In fact, APA’s activities in these areas have led to some distinctions members can be proud of, notes APA Chief Financial Officer Archie Turner. For one, the Environmental Protection Agency has rated both buildings in the top 10 percent of buildings in the United States with the lowest carbon footprint. In addition, the 10 G St. building is close to being LEED-certified with the certification’s gold rating, the secondhighest rating for existing buildings. In addition, for both buildings, APA purchased a utilities plan that uses 100 percent wind energy and significantly reduces APA’s carbon dioxide emissions. APA has also installed variable frequency drives on the buildings’ heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment to regulate air flow and use less energy. APA has installed a “green roof ” on part of the 10 G St. building. The rooftop’s plants absorb stormwater that would otherwise run into sewer systems and further pollute the Chesapeake Bay. The roof is also less reflective than traditional roofing material, meaning it absorbs heat rather than sending it back into the atmosphere. APA is cutting down on paper waste by asking staff to print double-sided and to electronically scan and recycle paper as F e b ru a ry 2 0 1 2 • M o n i t o r o n p s y c h o l o g y much as possible. Meanwhile, all trash generated by staff besides food — about 95 percent of its total waste — gets recycled. APA officials also are adopting more energy-efficient lighting, with plans to do so throughout the headquarters building during the next renovation, scheduled to take place within the next 10 years. Over time, say APA officials, these changes will lower the building’s energy use enough to position it for LEED certification. APA staff is also eager to help. A staff committee chaired by APA Science Programs Associate Nicolle Singer is organizing brownbag speaker sessions on environmental topics and planning staff tours of nearby green facilities, for example. While there’s more APA can do to reduce its carbon footprint, and while the association must keep cost in mind, there is no question that APA knows where it stands in relation to the environment, Turner adds. “Philosophically, the [APA] Board and Council, management and staff are committed to making APA as sustainable as possible,” he says. “There are no pockets of resistance here.” n Tori DeAngelis is a writer in Syracuse, N.Y. APA CEO Norman B. Anderson, PhD, describes the ways psychologists are helping people cope with the environmental, economic and health effects of climate change in an episode of the APA video series “This is Psychology.” To watch the clip, go to www.apa.org/news/press/video/this-is-psychology/climatechange.aspx. APA resources on sustainability Check out these free, online resources: • A booklet on global climate change published by the APA Science Directorate, one in a series of booklets addressing society’s grand challenges. See www.apa.org/research/action/gc-climatechange.pdf. • APA’s Div. 2 (Society for the Teaching of Psychology) offers a free publication called “teaching psychology for sustainability: A manual of resources” at www.teachgreenpsych.com. • The Monitor (www.apa.org/monitor) and the Psychology teacher network (www.apa.org/ed/ precollege/ptn) newsletter have run a number of articles related to sustainability. —T. DeANGEliS 79 http://www.apa.org/news/press/video/this-is-psychology/climate-change.aspx http://www.apa.org/news/press/video/this-is-psychology/climate-change.aspx http://www.apa.org/research/action/gc-climate-change.pdf http://www.apa.org/research/action/gc-climate-change.pdf http://www.teachgreenpsych.com http://www.apa.org/monitor http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - February 2012

Monitor on Psychology - February 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
APA files two briefs in support of same-sex couples
New registry seeks to understand addiction recovery through ‘crowdsourcing’
APA launches a database of tests and measures
Watch for new member benefit: “APA Access”
Apply now for APA’s Advanced Training Institutes
PsycTHERAPY, APA’s new database, brings therapy demos to life
In Brief
APA scientists help guide tobacco regulation
A-mazing research
‘A machine for jumping to conclusions’
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
Righting the imbalance
The beginnings of mental illness
Science Directions
Improving disorder classification, worldwide
Protesting proposed changes to the DSM
Interventions for at-risk students
Harnessing the wisdom of the ages
Anti-bullying efforts ramp up
Hostile hallways
R U friends 4 real?
Support for teachers
Speaking of Education
Record keeping for practitioners
Going green
At the intersection of law and psychology
Division Spotlight
Grants help solve society’s problems
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - February 2012