Psychologists win Leverhulme prizes

Five psychologists are among 30 researchers to receive £3 million from the Leverhulme Trust. Twenty-five researchers working in classics, earth sciences, physics, politics and international relations, and visual and performing arts have also been awarded £100,000 each in recognition of their work.

The scheme, which has been running for 20 years, commemorates the work of Philip Leverhulme – Third Viscount Leverhulme and grandson of William Lever who founded the trust. This year's winning researchers, who are exploring areas as diverse as dark matter, climate science, policing and inequality, were chosen from more than 400 nominations.

The winners working in psychology are Dr Jennifer Cook (University of Birmingham) for her work on social cognition, autism studies and cultural evolution, Dr Jim A.C. Everett (University of Kent) who works in the fields of experimental social psychology, moral psychology and experimental philosophy, Dr Tobias Hauser (University College London) for his research in experimental psychology and decision neuroscience, Dr Patricia Lockwood (University of Birmingham) who explores the psychological and the neural bases of social cognition and behaviour and Dr Netta Weinstein (University of Reading) for her work on social, motivational and experimental psychology.