The Campbell Collaboration (C2), in cooperation with the USC School of Social Work which will host the international consortium's sixth annual colloquium on evidence-based decision-making in February, has partnered with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), one of the nation's largest independent research organizations. Under the alliance, the nonprofit organizations will coordinate their activities in an effort to expand the depth of reliable research knowledge available to experts and the public, with the goal of improving the policy decisions that affect people's lives.

"This is a natural relationship," said AIR President and CEO Sol H. Pelavin. "We share a mutual respect and appreciation. The mission of AIR matches the objectives of the Campbell Collaboration. We are honored to be affiliated with such a respected group whose work is recognized around the world."

Formed in 1999 by 80 individuals representing 12 nations, the Campbell Collaboration promotes evidence-based policymaking through access to information and helps policy makers, researchers and the public make well-informed decisions about the effects of research interventions in education, criminal justice and social welfare.

"We believe this affiliation will strengthen our efforts to enhance the collaboration's intellectual assets and high scientific standards, as well as its international profile," said Prof. Haluk Soydan, co-director of the Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services at the USC School of Social Work and co-chair of the C2 Steering Group.

The global network of individuals comprising the Campbell Collaboration conducts rigorous systematic reviews of research to establish high-quality evidence on what works in social and behavioral interventions, as well as data on how, why and under what conditions public policies succeed or fail. An annual colloquium brings together participants from more than 20 nations on more than five continents who represent various governments, social agencies, universities, research organizations, foundations and non-profit and private for-profit organizations. The scientific program includes presentations on methodological research and developments that support the mission as well as the development of the collaboration and partner organizations.

The 2006 C2 colloquium, Producing Systematic Reviews of Evidence, which will be held on Feb. 22-24 at the School of Social Work on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles, will be the organization's first symposium on the West Coast.

For more information, please visit any of the following organizational websites: www.campbellcollaboration.org, www.campbellcolloquium.org and www.air.org.