Message from the IAAP President

Message from the IAAP President

Dear colleagues and friends:

As most of you know, the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) was founded in 1920 and it is nowadays integrated by nearly 3000 members from more than 80 countries who are active in the different disciplines of Psychology through its 18 divisions. Among many other activities and services IAAP organizes every four years the International Congress of Applied Psychology, a great occasion for exchanging ideas, developing new projects, and enhancing for each of us our friendship network.

On behalf of IAAP, I am proud and pleased to invite you to the 28^th International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP) that will be held in Paris,  from 8-13 of July in 2014. I also encourage you to prepare and take steps to assure your participation in such an important international event of Psychology.

During the last century, the International Congresses of Applied Psychology have been instrumental in disseminating knowledge and technology developments in applied psychology and in promoting cooperation among psychologists around the world. Being hosted in many different regions and countries, the ICAPs have always attracted highly prestigious scientists, scholars and practitioners. Nowadays, in an increasingly complex world, a number of challenges and demands from individuals, groups and societies (e.g.: environmental sustainability, economic crisis, respect for human rights and dignity, health promotion, etc.) have become more and more global and require from psychologists international cooperation. In fact, while cooperation is increasing and becoming more diversified due to information and communication technologies, the international scientific congresses continue to play in this changing environment a central role.

The 28^th ICAP, to be held in Paris in 2014, will be a privileged forum to share new scientific developments and to  analyse the challenges and  effective contributions that our science and profession offers to our societies. I am sure that Paris will be an excellent platform and a great encounter place where psychologists from all over the world will find  excellent opportunities to meet each other, make valuable progress in science and humanity, and also promote  the visibility and strength of our discipline. All these are important reasons to participate in the Congress.

Moreover, Paris is a unique and really attractive venue. It is one of the most beautiful and charming capitals of the world. Since the very beginning of our discipline, Paris has attracted psychologists from everywhere, and has given them the opportunity to make new progress in their work. In 1889 the First International Congress of Physiological Psychology gathered in Paris under the leadership of Theodule Ribot. In 1953, the ICAP was held also in Paris under the leadership of Henri Piéron. More than half a century since then, I am sure that Paris will attract and welcome thousands of psychologists as the  rendez-vous of the 28 ICAP in 2014.  

In order to make this 28th ICAP a big success we  depend upon important institutional and human capital. The French Federation for Psychologists and Psychology, the French Society of Psychology and the French National Committee of Scientific Psychology have joined their efforts in the French Consortium of Psychology Associations. Moreover, an excellent team, under the leadership of Prof. Christine Roland-Lévy, is consciously preparing the Congress with the cooperation of IAAP and its different Divisions. Both the Scientific and Organizing Committees as well as other groups are working hard now and will continue to do so to ensure an excellent Congress.  

Ernest Hemingway wrote that “Paris was a feast”. It was then a feast, it is always a feast, but above all, in July 2014, it will be the great feast for psychologists. Your participation will make all the preparatory efforts worthwhile and the Congress a great international success for Psychology. For this reason, I warmly invite you to plan ahead your attendance and to prepare your contributions. I look forward to meeting you in Paris in July 2014.

José M. Peiró
President of the International Association of Applied Psychology