Changing landscapes

The BPS 2020 conference will be held online from 30 June to 1 July. The theme will be Psychology of the Future: Changing Landscapes, and there will be expert speakers, plus the chance to network with peers. Registration is now open.

We've picked out some highlights from speakers' contributions to The Psychologist over the years… and look out for more on 'Changing landscapes' in our special summer edition!

Professor Susan Michie

Michie is a member of the UK Government's Covid-19 Behavioural Science Advisory Group. Michie took part in our webinar 'Towards the new normal, and beyond', and told us about challenges and opportunities in translating the evidence base to inform policy and behaviour. 

In 2019 Michie won the BPS Research Board's Lifetime Achievement Award. Michie is Principal Investigator of the Human Behaviour Change Project team, which aims to make use of the mountain of research about behaviour change. We reported on Michie's collaboration with Bupa in 2015, and a decade before that, Michie guest edited a special issue on moving 'towards a healthy nation' with Charles Abraham – their own contribution was on public health policy and practice. 

Covid-19 symposium

See our collection of over 70 psychological perspectives on Covid-19.

Professor Paul Slovic

In 2017 we quoted Slovic on his research about 'psychic numbing' to victims of mass atrocities and mass suffering in a piece on helping refugees. 

BPS President 2019-2020 David Murphy

Murphy is Chair of the BPS Covid-19 Coordinating Group. He spoke to us about the Society response to Covid-19 in May and June.

Earlier this year we published a conversation between Murphy and Binna Kandola about the Society's Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce. Murphy contributed his own views on what makes a psychologist, following our 'Voices in Psychology' competition asking the same question. 

Last year we learnt about Murphy's career history and his priorities for his new role as Society President, and he reviewed three shows from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  

BPS President 2020-2021 Dr Hazel McLaughlin

Incoming President McLaughlin told us about her vision for the Society in the June issue.

Professor Miranda Wolpert OBE

Wolpert is Head of the Wellcome Trust's mental health priority area. In 2017 we published a conversation between Wolpert and Tony Rousmaniere that explored failure in therapy. 

Media symposium

A panel discussion chaired by Dr Michael Smith will feature Dr Daniel Jolley, Dr Linda Kaye, Professor Roxane Cohen Silver, and our editor Dr Jon Sutton. 

Professor Alison Gopnik

Gopnik spoke to our editor Jon Sutton about the exploratory, bright butterflies that are children. Gopnik also contributed an answer to 'one nagging thing that you still don't understand about yourself' – puzzling love for our children.

Claudia Hammond

In 2017, psychologist and radio presenter Hammond won the British Academy President's Medal for her work in improving public understanding of psychology. Hammond spoke to us about her book 'The Art of Rest', and we've published an extract of her book 'Mind Over Money'.

Hammond spoke to us for our feature on whether or not psychology punches its weight, and back in 2009 she told us about how she has put her background in psychology to good use in broadcasting. We also have a page collecting links to Hammond's radio series on psychology's mind changers, along with links to our own related coverage.