The 18 psychologists who gathered for the first time at Clark University in 1892 and founded the American Psychological Association would be pleased to know that 120 years later, APA’s annual convention is one of the most respected venues for psychologists and students to share their research and discoveries.

This year, about 10,900 individuals packed into the Orange County Convention Center to network with leaders in their fields and participate in more than 1,000 programs, sessions and events over four days. In addition, attendees enjoyed a number of other activities at the convention such as the APA Evening at Epcot^®, the Ray’s Race 5k Run and Walk and the PsycCareers LIVE on-site job fair.

APA’s Office of Public Affairs highlighted research presented at the convention with press releases on obesity, the health benefits of weight loss, mindfulness, virtual therapy, adolescent brain development, physical fitness and academic performance, voters’ racial attitudes, bullying, lying and gratitude. Public Affairs and Monitor on Psychology writers also provided on-the-scene updates and insights through APA’s convention blog.

APA President Suzanne Bennett Johnson, PhD, presented psychologists Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, and Rena Wing, PhD, the APA Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology for their ongoing work to fight the nation’s obesity crisis during the convention’s opening ceremonies.

In addition to psychology leaders from the U.S., presidents or other senior officials from 19 psychology associations from other countries attended the convention including leaders from China, Italy, Australia, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Great Britain, Norway and Colombia.

See photos from the 2012 convention on APA’s Facebook and Flickr pages. You can participate in the exciting happenings at APA’s next convention, July 31 – Aug. 4, 2013, in Honolulu.