25th Annual Behavioral Sciences Conference of the North

By: Staff Apr 7, 2008

Psychology Department invites community to consider recent, relevant research

ANCHORAGE, AK – The UAA Psychology Department cordially invites everyone to join them for the 25th Anniversary of the Behavioral Sciences Conference of the North (BSCN). Students, faculty and community professionals from all behavioral science and human service disciplines are encouraged to attend this year’s BSCN for an exciting look at current issues and research in the behavioral sciences. The conference schedule is Friday, April 18, 3-6 p.m. and Saturday, April 19, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and will be held primarily in the UAA Social Sciences Building (SSB).

The Psychology Department is dedicating this year’s conference to the memory of two of our colleagues who are no longer with us. Dr. Chris Kleinke, 1944-1999, was a well-known Anchorage psychologist who founded this conference in 1983 and helmed it until his retirement from UAA in 1998. Dr. Todd Risley, 1937-2007, was well-known for his early work with autistic and other severely disabled children, for his late work on living environments for children and adults, and his organization of human services programs.

The conference begins Friday afternoon, April 18, with a presentation by Dr. Peter Lichtenberg, professor of psychology and director of the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology. He will speak on assessing dementia and “Psychology and its Role in Integrated Care.” This presentation will begin at 3 p.m. in the UAA/APU Consortium Library 307 and will be followed by a reception.

The opening keynote address on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., April 19, in SSB 118 will feature Dr. Todd Riniolo, associate professor of psychology at Medaille College in Buffalo. He will speak on human cognitive biases which, while probably adaptive to our ancestors, are not always conducive to critical thinking and may encourage belief in pseudoscientific claims. His address is titled “Psychics, Ghosts, Consistent Skeptics and Other Improbable Creatures.”

The closing keynote address on Saturday afternoon will feature Dr. Todd Thiele, associate professor of psychology at North Carolina University at Chapel Hill and director of research services at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies. Dr. Thiele will present his research in a talk titled “The Role of Central Neuropeptides in Stress-Induced Alcohol Drinking” at 3:30 p.m. in SSB 118.

There is no charge to attend any of the presentations on Friday or Saturday. Also at the conference will be undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and community professionals from all behavioral science and human service disciplines giving oral and poster presentations. Presentations will take place throughout the day on Saturday.

A charge of $7 for students or $25 for faculty and community members includes a continental breakfast and your choice of boxed lunches on Saturday. Parking on Friday is free in the lot on Alumni Drive or $1/hr in the parking garage. Parking on Saturday is free in either the lot or the garage.

Continuing education credit for each speaker will be available through AK-PA. Please be sure to pick up an application packet at the registration desk. AK-PA is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education programs for psychologists. The UAA Psychology Department maintains responsibility for the program.

This conference is made possible through support of UAA’s College of Arts and Sciences; the Biomedical program (WWAMI); the students, faculty and staff of the Psychology Department; Behavioral Health Research and Services; Club Council; Concert Board; the Psi Chi and Psychology Clubs; the Todd Risley Memorial Fund; and the Alaska Geriatric Education Center.

For more information, please call the UAA Psychology Department at (907)786-1711. You may also contact the organizers by e-mail. Dr. Gwen Lupfer-Johnson can be reached at afgjl@uaa.alaska.edu and Vickie Wesolowski, M.S., is at afvlw@uaa.alaska.edu.