Doing something useful, using the best science

The Life Scientific is a go-to programme for those interested in learning about our world's leading scientists. The host is Professor Jim Al-Khalili, and the 12-year back catalogue of interviewees can really brighten up a long commute or a rainy run. UK-based psychologists have appeared throughout – for example, Uta Frith, Steve Reicher and Dorothy Bishop.

Professor Marie Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Health Psychology at the University of Aberdeen, was interviewee number 278. I have known Marie for more than 20 years – as a supervisee, mentee, colleague and friend. I wasn't sure I was the right person to 'review' her appearance, but what persuaded me was the contact I have had since transmission from colleagues and friends who are regular listeners to The Life Scientific. Via those conversations and the skill of the host/production team, I was able to see Marie's life and work through their eyes. 

Al-Khalili's expertise as an interviewer makes any episode a joy to listen to. He knows his interviewee well, communicates respect and absolute engagement, is thorough and kind, encourages and prompts seamlessly and curates vast accomplishments into a 30-minute segment. He pitches the material perfectly for an engaged, intelligent and curious audience who don't require expertise in the topic area. He covers career highlights, taking a lifespan approach, but also includes aspects of his subject's life so that we feel we have learnt about them as a person outside work also. 

We were introduced to Marie's early life, growing up and going to University in Aberdeen; and taken through her significant achievements as she moved around the UK, to Hull, Bristol, Oxford, London, St Andrews and back to Aberdeen.

We heard about the many areas in which she worked, including social reinforcement, surgical preparation/recovery, being one of the first psychologists working in primary care, medical education, a programme of work building up to a nationally adopted stroke recovery workbook, social cues, stress management, disability, a competency framework for health behaviour change, and more recently understanding Covid-related behaviours. As for the personal, we heard about her husband Derek Johnston, her red hair, an entrepreneurial Saturday job and motorbiking. 

Some themes throughout were a sense of enabling the advancement of science and disciplines; finding and creating paths, making things happen and facing fears. Mentoring was particularly highlighted and Marie encapsulated her approach wonderfully as 1) Supporting people to find the right goals for their values and talents, and 2) Reassurance 'go on you are doing fine'. Both of these resonated with me as a mentee of hers. 

Since the broadcast, I have been asked whether I know Marie by colleagues including medics, biologists, educationalists and historians. They tell me they enjoyed learning about the usefulness of health psychology, the practical importance of 'behavioural shifts', and the amount and quality of the science underpinning psychology.

They wanted to know more – about Marie and her fantastic career, but also about the topics she discussed in greater detail. I also felt the sense of our community having a shared experience. Through social media and corridor chats, psychology colleagues and friends reflected on how Marie has supported and inspired them, and her fundamental role in developing our discipline. 

I am interested in how this publicly available and pitched broadcast enabled us to step back and discuss how our international leaders have impacted us and the field when a conference presentation or award would only be accessible to a much smaller group of people. I've also thought about the masterclass in interviewing, in terms of pitching and encouragement. How could we learn from that in our work? What are the opportunities within psychology for learning about people's lives and careers in this way? How could we include these in-depth interviews at conferences or other places? 

Finally, how can we in psychology be more 'out there' – communicating about what we know and do and think in a way that is appealing and persuasive to our non-psychology friends and colleagues? Through others' eyes and their excitement at the usefulness and importance of health psychology, I have stepped back 30 years to when I first discovered the world of health psychology – I felt like I had found my home. Thanks to The Life Scientific and Marie!

Reviewed by Professor Jo Hart, University of Manchester 

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