Behavior Analysis for Sustainable Societies SIG
By the Behavior Analysis for Sustainable Societies Board
Since the last Behavior Analysis for Sustainable Societies Special Interest Group (BASS SIG) meeting during the 2023 ABAI convention in Denver, CO there have been a number of new developments for the SIG. The SIG has a new leadership team composed of Elizabeth Meshes, Jessica Ghai, Nikol Antoniono, and Jasmine Young. The board meets monthly and has continued to facilitate monthly community meetings. Monthly community meetings are open to all BASS SIG members via a Zoom meeting.
In each monthly community meeting, BASS board and community members share announcements of opportunities for grant and external funding, dissemination of scholarly work and ongoing projects, continuing education, scholarships and studentships, and upcoming events both within and outside ABAI. At the end of every community meeting, BASS members commit to an action they intend to take in the month until the next community meeting. The SIG has been keeping a cumulative record of actions completed by members over the past year. Members have contributed to the dissemination of behavior analysis by joining professional and community boards focused on sustainability, conducting presentations on the role of behavior analysis in green initiatives, furthering their education by starting a monthly reading club, and contributing to their community by establishing a community composting and zero-waste programs. There is truly an international collaboration with members joining from as far away as New Zealand.
At the 2023 ABAI convention, the BASS SIG in collaboration with the BFSR SIG hosted a Picnic in the Park at a local urban public park in downtown Denver. This recruitment and networking event allowed attendees to meet fellow SIG members and discuss issues of sustainability and climate change and how the field of behavior analysis can contribute to meaningful solutions. All attendees were afforded annual memberships to both SIGs.
Future goals for the SIG continue to include establishing resources to award financial support to practitioners and researchers working on community interventions related to sustainability. The SIG is also exploring the potential of establishing membership dues. It is hoped that the SIG will be able to create CE opportunities for members.
Agenda items for the 2023 SIG meeting at ABAI included recruiting help from one or two members to facilitate a more active social media presence with the SIG’s social media pages. Plans for the upcoming year are to increase activity and engagement among members, continue monthly community meetings as a forum for collaboration, connection, and sharing of research and application, and provide opportunities for CEs for members by members. Membership in the SIG is open to all, and participation in the SIG offers professional connections to others interested in and working on behavior change related to sustainability and climate change issues.