E-News January 2025

Update from Prof. Lori Foster - IAAP President

Dear IAAP Members,

Happy New Year! For many, the start of 2025 brings the familiar optimism of a fresh calendar - a time for reflection, goal setting, and imagining what we want to achieve in the months ahead. This season often encourages us to set intentions, but as many of us have experienced, enthusiasm alone isn’t always enough to sustain lasting change. Why do so many resolutions fizzle out before they become habits?

As many psychologists know, habits - those automatic behaviors we repeat over time - are shaped by the cues and contexts around us. For example, leaving a notebook on your desk can remind you to write in your gratitude journal every day, or placing sneakers by the door can make a morning walk feel more achievable. The key lies not in willpower alone, but in designing environments that make desired actions easier to accomplish.

At IAAP, we’re taking a similar approach as we implement our 2024–2027 Strategic Plan. Guided by our goals to foster connections, engagement, influence, and growth, we’re making deliberate efforts to build supportive structures that help our global community thrive. One example is the increased activity you’ll see this year on our social media platforms, which is designed to highlight member achievements, share psychological insights, and create opportunities to learn from others.

This month’s eNews offers even more ways to stay connected and engaged. From professional development opportunities to lighter moments like our first-ever quarterly crossword puzzle, there’s something for everyone. We hope these updates spark new ideas and provide an enjoyable way to kick off the year.

Thank you for being part of IAAP’s journey. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of meaningful progress, collaboration, and impact, one intentional step at a time.

Warm regards,
Lori Foster
President, International Association of Applied Psychology

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Jennifer Veitch, a Principal Research Officer at the NRC's (National Research Council of Canada) Construction Research Centre, was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in November 2024, in recognition of her contributions to environmental psychology. Her work is described HERE. Congratulations, Jennifer!

UNITED NATIONS NEWS

IAAP’s teams in New York, Geneva, and Vienna continue their important work at the United Nations, promoting psychology’s role in addressing global challenges. Recently, Dr. Judy Kuriansky from the New York team hosted a major event on mental health, convening experts and stakeholders to discuss innovative approaches to shaping policies that support well-being worldwide.

Be on the lookout later this month for a detailed report on this impactful gathering, which will first be shared on IAAP’s social media channels. The report will highlight key insights and feature voices from the event, offering a closer look at the important discussions that took place.

More updates are coming soon, as IAAP’s UN activities continue to drive conversations and initiatives that position psychology as a cornerstone of sustainable development.

Division 9 News

The Division of Economic Psychology would like to call your attention to an exciting opportunity from the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology (IAREP) to submit your proposal to organize summer schools and workshops in economic psychology. 

Click HERE for more details.
Click HERE for the application form.

EARLY CAREER MARTAHON

Registration for the Early Career Marathon: Integrating Practice and Research 2025 is now open!

This exclusive virtual event is tailored for students and early-career psychologists. Chosen participants will submit a brief research presentation, which will be reviewed by leading psychologists from across the globe. The presentations and reviews will be showcased during a 24-hour marathon, allowing time for Q&A sessions. The event will begin on Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 AM (London time) and conclude on Sunday, February 23 at 9:00 AM (London time). Learn more!

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY AROUND THE WORLD: CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Applied Psychology Around the World (APAW) is preparing an exciting issue under the leadership of its new editor, Professor Stuart Carr. This edition will explore how psychology contributes to effective policymaking, featuring diverse submissions that demonstrate the global reach and impact of our field. These insights from IAAP members and divisions form a compelling collection of articles highlighting psychology’s role in addressing critical challenges and shaping meaningful solutions.

While you wait, we encourage you to explore and share past issues of APAW, where you’ll discover thought-provoking examples of how applied psychology is making a difference worldwide. Click HERE to access previous editions.

SAVE THE DATE: ICAP 2026 in Florence!

You're invited to Florence, Italy, for the 31st International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP) from July 21-25, 2026.
At ICAP 2026, we will cover the latest breakthroughs in applied psychology and their ability to drive positive transformation on both personal and societal levels. Join us for an inspiring and enriching experience in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Learn more!

IAAP'S FIRST QUARTERLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Are you ready for a challenge? IAAP is introducing its first-ever quarterly crossword puzzle! Whether you tackle it on your own or with a team, we hope this puzzle will offer an entertaining way to kick off the new year.

Some clues may require extra thought or a bit of research, and that’s part of the fun! Learning along the way is encouraged. Feel free to look things up as you go.

How to Participate

• Download the full fillable PDF to complete the puzzle: HERE.
• Solve the puzzle, individually or with teammates.
• Save your completed puzzle and email it to crossword@iaapsy.org with the subject line: “IAAP January 2025 Crossword Entry”.
• Submit your entry by January 24, 2025.

Submit Your Entry for a Chance to Win!

Send in your completed puzzle by the deadline to be entered into a drawing for a prize. If no one submits a fully correct puzzle, the entry with the most correct answers will win. In the case of a tie, a winner will be drawn from the top entries.

Guidelines

• Have fun and enjoy the challenge!
• Answers will be shared in next month’s eNews, so you can see how you did.
• You can submit as an individual or as part of a team. Just include all team members’ names on the form and in your email.
• Only one entry per person or team is allowed.

Ready to get started? Download the fillable PDF to take on the challenge!

Engage, Share, & Celebrate

Share on Social Media
We want to showcase the creativity, interests, and contributions of IAAP members on our social media platforms! Share your updates by tagging us in your posts, or send your stories, tips, and achievements to the Operations Center.

Whether it’s a research finding, a real-world application, or a personal milestone, your contributions help highlight the global impact of applied psychology. There’s no deadline for social media submissions—share anytime!

Contribute to the eNews
Prefer to keep your updates within the IAAP family? Contribute to the eNews, shared exclusively with IAAP members. Submissions can include awards, division activities, professional opportunities, and more.

If you or a colleague has a notable achievement to celebrate, submit it to the Member Spotlight here to be featured in an upcoming issue. For other news or updates, submit your contributions here. The deadline for the February eNews is January 22.

Webinar Proposals
Division and Task Force leaders, this is your opportunity to engage with members, share valuable insights, and foster dialogue on topics of interest. Submit your proposals for webinars here and contribute to the ongoing professional dialogue within IAAP.