A Message to APS Members

The following email was sent to APS Members on February 11, 2025.

Dear APS Member,
 
As a member of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), you value scientific research and education. As scientists, we do important work. We ask and answer questions that create new knowledge, develop new tools, solve real world problems, provide evidence-based interventions, and support informed decision-making.
 
Science is a global, collaborative endeavor that is strongest when scientists are free to participate, engage, share findings, and learn from colleagues. In recent weeks, scientific research and education in the United States has been disrupted and censored. Government scientists have been encouraged to quit their jobs and directed to not participate with their professional communities. We recognize that these recent attacks on U.S. science have been or are currently threats encountered by scientists in other countries. United, we have an opportunity to strengthen science around the world.
 
APS is working alongside scientific organizations representing the breadth of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine to promote science. We are a home where you can gather to advance psychological science. We recently invited members of the APS community to participate in a short survey to identify the science policy issues of greatest concern to you. We have also asked for volunteers to participate in future advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, as well as in your local community and state capitals. We have been energized by the hundreds of individuals who responded within hours of the request.
 
We have much work to do. Scientists must engage with policymakers and neighbors. We must listen to their concerns and help illustrate the opportunities and limitations of science. This cannot be a one and done commitment. We must dedicate ourselves to a marathon. 
 
Let us work hard, remain vigilant, support each other, and hold onto the sense of optimism provided by science. As psychologist and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman said, “I have always believed that scientific research is another domain where a form of optimism is essential to success”.
 
APS is your scholarly home. If you have ideas for how APS can help support psychological scientists in this tumultuous time, please send them to us at member@psychologicalscience.org.

Sincerely,