Science Summits

The intersection of psychology and the legal system is both dynamic and profoundly important to the public good. This timely symposium brings together leading experts to explore how psychological and related social and behavioral science can strengthen the fairness, effectiveness, and equity of legal systems. From jury decision-making and courtroom processes to broader structural inequities that shape legal and public outcomes, the speakers will examine how evidence about human behavior, cognition, and development can inform legal procedures, interpretation and practice of the law, and policy development. By connecting cutting-edge research to urgent real-world challenges, this session will highlight the vital role of science in promoting justice, improving decision-making, and advancing meaningful social change.

Speakers Include:

Leslie Ellis, PhD

Founder and Senior Jury Consultant

The Caissa Group LLC

Margaret Bull Kovera, PhD

Presidential Scholar and Professor

John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center

The City University of New York

Alisa Lincoln, PhD

Director of the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice

Professor of Sociology and Public Health

Northeastern University

Jennifer L. Woolard, PhD, Moderator

Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Arts & Sciences

Professor of Psychology, Adjunct Professor of Law

Georgetown University

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people learn, make decisions, work, and relate to one another—and psychologists have an important role to play in shaping that future. This timely panel brings together experts in AI safety, data science, and machine learning to explore what these developments mean for the field and why they matter for psychologists across settings. The session will highlight how psychological expertise is essential for understanding judgment, behavior, communication, and the human impact of emerging technologies. Whether you are a student, researcher, practitioner, consultant or simply curious about how psychology can remain relevant in a rapidly changing world, this session will offer insight into one of the most important intersections shaping the future of science and society.

Speakers Include:

Qiwei (Britt) He, PhD

Provost's Distinguished Associate Professor

Department of Psychology and Data Science and Analytics Program

Georgetown University

Irene Huang, PhD

Senior AI Safety Research Scientist, Human Data

mpathic

Peter Kvam, PhD

Associate Professor, Psychology Department

The Ohio State University

Richard Landers, PhD, Moderator

John P. Campbell Distinguished Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Psychological science has enormous potential to improve lives, inform policy, and address pressing societal challenges—but realizing that potential depends on how effectively the field communicates its insights. This symposium brings together distinguished scientists from higher education, science communication, and research policy to explore how psychological knowledge can be translated for broader public understanding and meaningful real-world impact. Speakers will discuss the federal funding outlook, the science of behavior change, and how psychological science can be conveyed in ways that are accurate, engaging, and actionable across diverse audiences. Panelists will offer an understanding of the current funding landscape and perspectives on why it is more important than ever to move psychological science beyond academic settings and into the contexts where it can make the greatest difference.

Speakers Include:

Dolores Albarracín, PhD

Amy Gutmann Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor

Departments of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences; Annenberg School for Communication; Annenberg Public Policy Center

University of Pennsylvania

Kenneth Carter, PhD

Charles Howard Chandler Professor of Psychology

Oxford College, Emory University

Alessandra Zimmermann, PhD

Project Director, R&D Policy

R&D Budget and Policy Program

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)