History of the European Society for Developmental Psychology

The ESDP was founded in 1994 after numerous and active debates had take place, especially in the previous ten years under the impetus of G. Butterworth and S. Jackson. The foundation arose from the experience of managing biennal European Conferences on Developmental Psychology as regional conferences of the ISSBD. The first one was held in Groningen, subsequent ones in Rome, Budapest, Stirling, Sevilla, Bonn and Crakov. The raising number of participants and the quality of the contributions as well as the process of European Construction have led naturally to the idea of a separate organisation, of a new society "of its own". Since the VIIIth conference (Rennes in 1997) the European Conferences on Developmental Psychology are now held under the official auspices of the ESDP.

During its first period of construction the ESDP has experienced a profound shock from the untimely death of its first President: George Butterworth a little later, of the death of the second of its "founding fathers": Sandy Jackson, who also was secretary and treasurer of ESDP.

After a two year lasting phase of reorganization, the society has now adopted a new development plan, endorsed by the business meeting in Milan (27.-31. August 2003). The first major present achievements were:

• the launching of the European Journal of Developmental Psychology;
• an internet site;
• the creation of a "young scientist award" to promote excellence in European developmental research;
• a support to the initiatives to create European scientific networks in the field.

Other initiatives have been launched in the meantime or are in progress (see News).

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