About this day
For A level and IB students
Join us for an exciting day of informative discussions, interactive sessions and inspirational stories that will give your students real insight into psychology beyond the classroom. Our experienced speakers will deliver five engaging sessions that examine the theories and applications of psychology in the modern world.
The day will also include a special session on examination success designed to provide students with the tools that they need to excel. With polls and quizzes throughout the day and plenty of opportunities to ask the scientists questions, this event is a must for KS5 (and keen KS4) psychology students! Book now and let us help your students realise their potential and discover the impact they can have on the world.
Host: Steve Cross (Stand-up comedian, Presenter and Producer)
“Every speaker was very enthusiastic, highly knowledgeable and really got our students interested!”
Psychology Teacher, Autumn 2022
Programme & speakers
The Experience of memory Veronica O’Keane, Trinity College Dublin
Memory is often presented as being a repository of sorts where short- and long-term information and/or events are stored in particular parts of the brain and are later recalled for processing. Memory though is very much alive and altering with each moment lived. In this talk we will explore how memory determines our sense of self.
About Professor Veronica O’Keane
Veronica O’Keane has spent almost four decades as a practicing psychiatrist and a clinical researcher. Her main research interests are mood disorders and perinatal psychiatry. Her life’s work is committed to making neuroscience alive through mapping brain function to human experience. Her book The Rag and Bone Shop examines memory as an experience.
Your Irrational Brain Rebecca Williams, PhD student and Braintastic! Science Presenter
Do you think that you make rational decisions? Think again… This interactive game show uses demos, experiments and quizzes to show how our brains trick us into making irrational decisions every day. You will learn to navigate the quirks of your brain and to identify unconscious biases to make smarter choices.
About Rebecca Williams
Rebecca is a PhD student studying dementia at the University of Cambridge. From a young age, she was told that she was a chatterbox, which has served her well throughout her academic journey! From running local mental health workshops, to presenting research at international conferences, Rebecca’s love of chatting about science continues to grow.
Placebo effects and performance enhancing drugs in sport Philip Hurst, Canterbury Christ Church University
Why do athletes take performance enhancing drugs? What if the benefits of a drug don’t come from the drug, but the belief that it improves performance? In this talk, Philip will explain the significant impact placebo effects have in the effectiveness of performance enhancing drugs.
About Dr Philip Hurst
Dr Philip Hurst is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University. His research examines the role of the mind in the effectiveness of performance enhancing substances and the impact of anti-doping education interventions on athletes’ decision to use prohibited substances.
Driverless cars: Would you trust them? Yee Mun Lee, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
Driverless cars could be in full use on Britain’s roads in the not-so-distant future, but with this technological revolution comes a whole new set of challenges. How will pedestrians react to these autonomous vehicles? This is a session about judgement and perception in our rapidly changing world. Will we boldly step out in front of them or shrink back in fear?
About Dr Yee Mun Lee
Yee Mun Lee is a senior research fellow at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds. Her research interests include investigating the interaction between automated vehicles and other road users using various methods, especially virtual reality experimental designs.
Tackling (Gender) Stereotypes Paul Hanel, University of Essex
Most people tend to underestimate the similarities between different groups – such as men and women or Conservative and Labour voters – when it comes to abilities and values. Addressing this misconception helps reduce stereotypes and prejudice.
About Dr Paul Hanel
Dr Paul Hanel studies people’s biases, prejudice, stereotypes, and values at the University of Essex. Paul is particularly interested in testing how similar groups of people are and why this matters.