The neuroscience of effective studying
Dr. Todd Handy is a professor in the Department of Psychology who specializes in cognitive neuroscience. He’s also the kind of prof you’d like to have a coffee with. We discussed how the “savvy student”, in his terms, can use neuroscience research to optimize their academic performance. According to Dr. Handy, “Bringing neuroscience into learning has really expanded […]
Dr. Peter Suedfeld receives honourary degree from the University of Nîmes
Dr. Peter Suedfeld, professor emeritus of psychology at UBC, was conferred with an honourary doctorate degree from the University of Nîmes. This is the first occasion a ‘doctor honoris causa’ degree has been granted by the University of Nîmes, a French university in the Academy of Montpellier. “I’m honoured to have been the inaugural recipient of the honorary doctorate […]
Nudging the city and residents of Cape Town to save water
By Leila Harris, Jiaying Zhao, and Martine Visser Cape Town could become the world’s first major city to run out of water – what’s been termed Day Zero. Sao Paulo faced similar difficulties in 2015 leading to significant social unrest. On Day Zero – which could be in mid-July if there’s no significant rain – residents of […]
Sit, Stay, Heal: Study finds therapy dogs help stressed university students
Therapy dog sessions for stressed-out students are an increasingly popular offering at North American universities. Now, new UBC Psychology research confirms that some doggy one-on-one time really can do the trick of boosting student wellness. “Therapy dog sessions are becoming more popular on university campuses, but there has been surprisingly little research on how much […]
Why some conservatives are blind to climate change
By Jiaying Zhao, Jennifer Whitman and Rebecca Todd. Imagine this: A young professional couple at a party mentions they’re thinking of buying a home in a popular waterfront neighbourhood that scientists have found is vulnerable to coastal flooding. That flood risk is made extra clear by murals in the neighbourhood marking the predicted water level rise. What’s […]
Dr. Kiley Hamlin earns the SPP Stanton Award
Dr. Kiley Hamlin, an associate professor of psychology at UBC, is the recipient of a 2018 Stanton Award for young scholars. The Society for Philosophy and Psychology’s Stanton Award recognizes budding scholars who are making significant contributions to interdisciplinary research and the philosophy and psychology community as a whole. “I’m thrilled and honoured to win […]
Not enjoying your dinner out? Try putting the phone away
Smartphones might make people feel more connected, but they likely don’t belong at the dinner table, according to new UBC Psychology research. Researchers looking at the effect of smartphones on face-to-face social interactions found that people who used their devices while out for dinner with friends and family enjoyed themselves less than those who did not. […]
UBC psychology graduate students are creating a buzz with a new science podcast
‘Brain Buzz’ dives into the minds and ideas of scientists Have you ever had a conversation where a small spark ignites a larger discussion that moves in a new, exciting direction? Having thought-provoking conversations stoked Drake Levere and Kyle Gooderham to launch and host Brain Buzz, a new podcast that is putting science out into […]
Julie Bélanger is taking her psychology degree to international heights
Combining her research skills with a passion for education, alumna Julie Bélanger is working to improve the frameworks of educational systems on an international level. Bélanger received her MA and PhD in Developmental Psychology from UBC in 2006. After graduating, Bélanger continued her pursuit in the area of research. She worked as an analyst at […]
Dr. Kristin Laurin awarded 2018 Janet Taylor Spence Award
Dr. Kristin Laurin, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, was awarded the 2018 APS Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions. Presented by the Association of Psychological Science (APS), this award spotlights creative and promising psychology investigators who are working to drive the future of psychological research. As the director of the […]