Division 15 invites submissions for the annual APA convention, to be held August 6-8 in Washington, D.C. Division proposals are due no later than January 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.
The Presidential Theme for Division 15 is Let Them Know: Who We Are, What We Do, Why It Matters. The current climate is hostile to science and the autonomy of colleges and universities is being undermined. Beyond our research community, the general public is often unaware or misinformed about topics such as the importance of research on diversity or what the Department of Education does, resulting in too little outcry when funding for these programs and departments are cut. Likewise the public largely does not know what educational psychologists do and why it matters. We have an opportunity to try to educate each other and the public about what educational psychologists do, what we value, and who we help with our efforts.
We welcome proposals that address any aspect of educational psychology and encourage submissions that ask critical questions that are relevant to education and society as well as challenge traditional paradigms and methodologies. Potential topics include but are not limited to strategies to share research with broader audiences, understanding and counteracting the current anti-science and anti-education sentiment and legislation, the impact of educational policies on marginalized communities, innovative DEI advocacy approaches, and the examination of the cultural-political context on pedagogy and curriculum development. Proposals that align with the division’s Presidential Theme are particularly encouraged. By engaging with these critical themes, we can leverage our collective voices to challenge detrimental policies and practices impacting education.
APA and Division 15 members and non-members are invited to submit their work for presentation in the Division 15 Program for the APA Convention.
-
Poster Presentations: These submissions should reflect a single project, study, or paper with one or more authors. All individual presentations will be submitted as posters into the system. Once the conference platform is finalized, we will work to allocate accepted proposals into appropriate formats that are still to be determined (e.g., structured poster sessions, paper sessions). Student-led posters at both undergraduate and graduate levels are welcome.
-
Symposia: (60 minutes) Symposium are focused sessions in which multiple speakers present information related to a unifying topic that is viewed to be a significant common theme, issue, or question. The presentations generally include a review of data but may also include discussions of contrasting viewpoints or other innovative strategies for engaging the audience. The Symposia session format should include an introduction to the topic by an expert, someone who can set context and offer background for why the session topic is important. This can be the chairperson. Speakers then give their presentations, which are followed by an exchange of ideas and discussion between the audience and speakers.
-
Critical Conversations: (60 minutes) Proposals for critical conversations (formerly called Discussions) should include 1 or more brief presentations designed to provide the information needed for the audience to effectively participate in the discussion. The session should include a chair who will moderate the discussion and ensure that the bulk of the time is spent in conversation with the audience.
All proposals must be submitted through APA’s convention proposal portal at https://convention.apa.org/proposals .We strongly encourage authors to refer to the updated (2023) APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards when addressing race, ethnicity, and culture as they prepare their submissions.
Please note, the presenting authors listed will be contacted to review at least one proposal.
Those with questions about proposal formats or who have novel ideas about presentation formats should contact Division 15 Program Co-Chairs, Xiao-Yin Chen (xy.chen@utk.edu) and Korinthia Nicolai (knicolai@iu.edu).