EASP is 40 years old (1966-2005): 40 years in which EASP grew from a household of only a few enthusiastic pioneers to a large family of about 1000 members. This anniversary was celebrated on the occasion of the 14th General Meeting at Würzburg, July 19-23, 2005. Below are adapted excerpts from the opening address, held on Wednesday July 20, by Vincent Yzerbyt, President of EASP (2002-2005).

“The 2005 meeting is as close as one can get to the fortieth anniversary of the creation of our Association. Indeed, exactly forty years ago, in February 1965, a handful of colleagues held the first official meeting of the Executive Committee of the European Association of Experimental Social Psychology. For some time, a handful of European social psychologists had been gathering to see what could be done in the way of organizing the field on the continent. They did so with a little help from their friends, a selected group of American scholars, who wanted to see European social psychology regain its high status and who hoped that their colleagues based in European institutions would benefit from a more intense network involving Europeans themselves rather than to rely exlusively on bilateral collaborations with the US.

A clever idea can prove so ingenious that it is still every bit as powerful in 2005 as it was in 1965. The amazing trajectory of EASP was possible, because the clever set of initial ideas was accompanied by a keen sense of adapting them to a changing environment. The original mold is still recognizably present, but consolidated and enriched. The increase in membership has been steady over the years: from about 25 members in 1965, and 145 members in 1975, we now stand at 1027 members. Small-group meetings, medium sized meetings and summer schools take place more often than ever. We have an elaborate system of grants. We have a very active website, a distribution list, a series of highly respected scientific outlets, and we are present in the new European Research Area..

Forty years down the road, it is clear that the initiative of our predecessors became a wonderful success story. We are a modern and respected scientific society, ready for the new and exciting challenges ahead of us in Europe and beyond”.