Developmental Psychology Section

By Christine Howe (Chair, Developmental Psychology Section)

The 2007 Developmental Section Annual Conference was hosted at the University of Plymouth, with 196 delegates attending and representing many countries in addition to the UK. There was a full and high quality scientific programme, and a range of successful social events, exhibitions and poster sessions. The standard of presentation was extremely high, with keynote addresses from Henry Markovits (Université de Quebec a Montreal), Annette Karmiloff-Smith (Birkbeck, University of London), Jay Belsky (Birkbeck University of London), and Elisa Back (University of Birmingham). Elisa is the 2007 winner of the annual Neil O'Connor Award, and her address focused upon the research described in her prize-winning article. The Conference also featured 6 invited symposia, 7 further symposia (involving 50 papers in total), 53 other oral presentations and 67 poster presentations. A wide range of developmental topics was covered, with contributions from researchers at all stages in their careers. John Clibbens and his team are to be thanked for their hard work in organising the conference, and for ensuring a stimulating, smoothly running event.

The 2007 Section AGM was held at the Annual Conference, where the following Committee Officers and Ordinary Members were elected, re-elected, or co-opted: Christine Howe (Chair), Gavin Bremner (Chair - Elect), Rebecca Bull (Secretary), Elizabeth Kirk (Information Officer 1), Lee Farrington-Flint (Information Officer 2), Caroline Bettenay (Postgraduate Affairs Group Representative), Eileen Mansfield (Ordinary Member and Depute Newsletter Editor for 2007/08), John Clibbens (2007 Conference Organiser and Ordinary Member with special responsibility for conferences) and Vince Connelly (Conference Organiser 2008). The 2008 conference will be held at Oxford Brookes University between 1 and 3 September, and world-class speakers have already been signed up to give keynote addresses. There will also be several invited symposia on topical themes. At the 2007 AGM, thanks were given to retiring officers and committee members for their tireless and unstinting service to the Section: Rachel George (Information Officer), Patrick Leman (2006 Conference Organiser), and Ming Wai Wan (Ordinary Member).

For the first time in many years, an increase in annual subscription was proposed (and approved) at the 2007 AGM. Additional funds will allow the Section Committee to sponsor initiatives throughout the year (i.e. not just at the Section’s Annual Conferences), which will raise the profile of UK developmental psychology both nationally (e.g. with parents, practitioners, and policy makers) and internationally. Initiatives targeted specifically at postgraduates are also under consideration. The Committee, which met on three occasions throughout 2006/07 (in Cambridge, Plymouth and London), is concerned at the steady fall in Developmental Section membership for over a decade, despite the continuing high quality of British developmental research. It seems likely that research results, and particularly their high social relevance, have not been adequately publicised, and the Committee hopes to stimulate activities that will address this.