An immersive introduction to psychological science for high school students.
UBC Psychology is excited to announce three new psychology mini-schools as part of the UBC Future Global Leaders (FGL) program. Starting in summer 2026, high school students can explore human behaviour, moral decision-making, and social group identity through an immersive, hands-on introduction to psychological science at a university level.
“As Head of the Psychology Department, I’m thrilled to be offering these three fun and engaging mini-schools that give teenagers a taste for what psychological science at UBC has to offer. Come join us this summer to learn about data science, morality, and social identity.”
About the Mini-Schools
In this mini-school, we examine the science and measurement of personality, design survey questions, explore core ideas like reliability and validity, and use statistical coding to turn raw data into clear visual stories. We connect analysis to real-life topics—sleep and mood, attention and screen time, stress and coping—and learn how psychologists measure the human mind. Ideal for students curious about psychology, data science, or neuroscience, or those thinking about enrolling in psychology at university.
What to expect: Lectures, interactive activities, and guided lab sessions. Activities are collaborative, step-by-step, and focused on doing and discussing rather than memorizing formulas. No coding experience is required. A laptop is highly recommended.
Dates: July 6–17, 2026
Meet the instructor: Zhichun Qi is a graduate student in the Rights Lab, a quantitative methods lab in the UBC Department of Psychology under the direction of Dr. Jason Rights. The research in the Rights Lab is broadly aimed to improve statistical and methodological practice in scientific research, particularly for psychology and related fields.
In this mini-school, we explore morality through a psychological lens, diving deep into how morality develops from babies to adults, how values differ across people, how different cultures construct moral norms, how psychopaths differ in their moral impulses, and other topics.
Ideal for students thinking about enrolling in psychology at university, those interested in psychology as a science, or anyone simply interested in morality.
What to expect: Participate in interactive research activities, apply course content to popular culture, become acquainted with theories of morality in psychology, and develop your own ideas on morality.
Dates: July 20–31, 2026
Meet the instructor: Irein Thomas is a Ph.D. student and a researcher in the MAGIC Lab at UBC. Irein’s research in the MAGIC lab examines the intersection of moral psychology and politics, ranging from divisive Twitter exchanges to conflict-ridden moral groups. Broadly, her research focuses are three-fold: the nature of moral beliefs, the liberal-conservative divide, and potential interventions to attenuate intergroup conflict.
In this mini-school, we examine the origins and consequences of social biases; how biases are acquired and change; how people are affected by different social identities (e.g., gender, race, and social class); and interventions for fostering greater inclusion. We turn to theories and experiments to better understand how social inequalities are created by biases that exist at many levels (interpersonal, organizational, and societal). Ideal for students thinking about taking a course or majoring in psychology at university, as well as those interested in social inequality and social change.
What to expect: This mini-school includes psychology lab involvement with lab meetings and research demonstrations.
Dates: August 4–14, 2026
Meet the instructors: Jessica Lee is a Ph.D. student and a researcher in the Social Cognitive Development Lab at UBC. Jess’s research focuses on children’s understanding of social status and leadership. Prior to joining the lab, she completed an M.A. in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago and a B.Sc. in Honours Biology with a minor in Psychology at McMaster University.
Gabrielle Ibasco is a Ph.D. student and a researcher at the Emotion and Self Lab / Centre of Applied Moral Psychology at UBC. Her research focuses on the role of emotions and beliefs in shaping how we view social identities. Originally from the Philippines, Gabrielle spent a significant chunk of her life in Hong Kong, the United States, and Singapore. She has a B.A. in Psychology (with Honours) from Yale-NUS College and an M.A. in Psychology from UBC.
About Future Global Leaders
UBC Future Global Leaders is a summer enrichment program that offers high school students ages 15–18 an immersive introduction to university-level study. Through 45-hour mini-schools taught by UBC instructors and graduate researchers, students explore academic disciplines, participate in hands-on learning experiences, and gain insight into potential learning pathways and career opportunities. The program gives students a taste of campus life and helps them prepare for their academic futures.
“I would 100 per cent recommend Future Global Leaders to anyone interested in exploring potential areas of study and to those who want to see what university life is like here at UBC.”
Whether you're curious about data, morality, or social identity, these mini-schools open the door to meaningful learning, supportive instructors, and an exciting first step into the world of psychology at UBC.
