2011 SSHD 7^th Biennial Meeting: October 28 – 30, 2011

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

Call for Proposals

Conference Description and Theme

The Society for the Study of Human Development (SSHD) is pleased to announce its seventh biennial meeting on October 28-30, 2011, at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. SSHD is a professional society formed by a group of scholars from multiple disciplines (e.g., medicine, biology, psychology, sociology, economics, and history). The central focus of SSHD is to provide an organization that moves beyond age-segmented scholarly organizations to take an integrative, interdisciplinary approach to ages/stages across the life span, generational and ecological contexts of human development, and research and applications to human development policies and programs.

This year’s conference will begin on Friday, October 28 at noon, with formal sessions commencing at 1:00 pm, and conclude on Sunday October 30th at noon. The general theme for the 2011 biennial meeting is:

Developmental Systems Science

Invited proposals for symposia and posters may pertain to any substantive area of theory and research pertinent to developmental science. The focus on developmental systems in invited portions of the program does not preclude representation of work derived from other approaches to the study of the life span.

Keynote Addresses

            In a joint meeting with the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, we present the Colvert Lectureship:

Brain Development and Adolescent Risk Behavior Debate:

Dr. Beatriz H. Luna is a Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research has focused on the brain mechanisms that support the transition to adult-level cognitive control of behavior, which has been vital to the field of developmental research and the controversial “brain debate”. 

Dr. Howard Sercombe, Professor of Education and Social Science at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, has made significant contributions to the field of youth studies. In his research, he has collaborated with the departments of Neurophysiology and Developmental Psychology to investigate the implications of brain architecture research on how we think about and understand young people.

In addition, SSHD is pleased to sponsor a plenary symposium that focuses on Systems Science and its intersection with Human Development.  These presentations will address current knowledge and future directions of developmental research that address different levels of analysis, account for bi-directional feedback processes, and illustrate the complexity inherent in change that occurs throughout the lifespan. Systems science methodologies in particular will be highlighted, including system dynamics, agent based modeling, network analysis, etc. These techniques, although well suited to the questions addressed in our field, are not widely used, and will be a focus of this symposium.

 The featured speakers and their specific presentation topics will be as follows:

• Agent-Based Modeling: Adam Thomas, Brookings Institution, Research Director, Center on Children and Families

• System Dynamics: Dr. Robert Milstein, PhD., M.P.H., Center for Disease Control (CDC)

• Network Analysis: Dr. Janet Okamoto, PhD., National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

Unique Opportunities for Conference Attendees

• This year we have a joint session on Friday night with the Society for the study of the transition to adulthood. This society will be meeting downtown Providence from Wednesday October 26 to Friday October 28^th. Attendees are encouraged to attend both conferences if time permits and they are of interest.
• Saturday afternoon after the plenary symposium on Developmental Systems Science, the three speakers will conduct methodological workshops that will highlight the methodologies employed in each of their areas: agent based modeling, system dynamics and network analysis.
• SSHD publishes the Journal for the Study of Human Development. Posters and symposiums will be considered for subsequent publication in this journal.
• A valuable aspect of this conference is the opportunity it presents to network within a small community, which is much more difficult to take advantage of in larger conferences. Our last six conferences have been an avenue for students and post docs to be able to interact with leaders in the fields represented. Seating at the Saturday banquet will be arranged to promote such interactions.

Submitting Symposia or Poster Proposals

As stated previously, proposals for symposia and posters are invited in any area of theory relevant to developmental science. As an interdisciplinary and integrative society, SSHD is receptive to presentations in various focus areas, and other approaches to the study of the life span. Analyses of data at multiple levels (family, neighborhood, etc.), longitudinal studies, and consideration of non linearity and recursive influences are especially welcomed.

Graduate student applications are particularly encouraged for poster presentations. Symposium proposals and posters which offer international and/or multidisciplinary perspectives on the conference theme and related developmental issues are also welcome.

                    To access the SYMPOSIUM SUBMISSION FORM, follow this link (Ctrl +click):

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEFiYjVHWHU0cmdOajJubHdKak9ocGc6MQ

To access the POSTER SUBMISSION FORM, follow this link (Ctrl+click):

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dG5qRWs2OVZEczlnR1Mxd2ZPeXdjRXc6MQ

The EXTENDED DEADLINE for Submission of all Symposia and Poster Proposals is              SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

Conference Registration

Those planning to attend the conference can register online by going to:

https://payment.brown.edu/C20460_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=1&SINGLESTORE=true

As shown above, there will be a $90 discount for all SSHD members, as well as discounts for early registration.  We are offering a significantly reduced rate for students in order to encourage their participation in the conference.

*This year we are including the option of complimentary SSHD membership in the conference registration fee for non-members.  By choosing the option, “Not an SSHD member but would like to become one” (under “Registrant Type”) on the conference registration form, you will be automatically registered for SSHD membership.  The benefits of membership include receiving the flagship journal, Research in Human Development, and reduced registration rates for all future SSHD biennial meetings.  Those who become members before the October conference will also receive all previous 20ll issues of Research in Human Development. Membership renewal takes place at the start of each year. 

For further details on SSHD membership, please visit our website at http://www.sshdonline.org/

Transportation
Providence can be reached by car via I-95 from all directions.  From the North or South: From either I-95 South or I-95 North, take Exit 22A, Downtown, Memorial Boulevard. From the East: Follow I-195 West until exit 2, South Main Street.  For specific instructions on reaching Brown campus, please see the Brown University website (http://brown.edu/).  TF Green Airport is located about 20 minutes from downtown Providence (approximately $30 for one-way taxi service), and provides flights via domestic airlines.  An $11 shuttle (Airport Limousine Co.) leaves the airport on the hour and arrives on campus about 15 minutes later.  It is also possible to fly into Boston Logan Airport and travel to Providence by bus (local bus service -Peter Pan), or the MBTA commuter rail, which ends at the downtown Providence station, which is located within walking distance of most downtown hotels.

Lodging

The hotels listed below are holding blocks of rooms reserved for SSHD Conference attendees, from October 28^th-30^th. Please call as soon as possible to make a reservation at the hotel of your choice, as rooms will fill up quickly.

Conference events will take place on the Brown University campus, which is located just a few blocks from downtown.  Hotels are all within walking distance of campus (see distances listed below), weather permitting.  There will also be shuttles available from all hotels, which will run in the morning and evening, and more frequently in case of bad weather.

Wyndham Garden Providence

220 India St, Providence, RI 02903

(401) 272-5577          

            $89 per night, includes complimentary parking and wi-fi

            1.3 miles from campus

Hampton Inn

58 Weybosset Street Providence, RI 02903
Get Directions

(401) 608-3500

            $109 per night, including complimentary wi-fi, $25 per night for parking

            0.6 miles from campus

The Renaissance Hotel

5 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI 02903

(401) 276-0010

            $139 per night, includes complimentary wi-fi and parking

            1 mile from campus