What are the barriers to our profession, and how can we remove them?

We're always listening out for 'Voices in Psychology'. People who can take often complex ideas and communicate them in a way that will engage and inform our large and diverse audience. Writers with real impact, who are learning to avoid some of the traps of academic writing. Those who can 'tell Psychology's stories of change' [see this collaborative document]. The next generation, with new, solutions-focused ideas. They're the future of our science, of our Society, of our magazine.

But perhaps you need help to find that voice. Perhaps you've got that certain something but you need practice, nurturing. We think we've made a real effort with this in recent years, providing opportunities and guidance to many first-time authors. Our 'Voices In Psychology' programme is an attempt to co-create a more formal structure around this process.

For 2018, we set a question: Why do we need psychology? And what does psychology need? 

For 2019, the topic was What makes a psychologist?

This year, we're asking What are the barriers to our profession, and how can we remove them?

While we are not exclusively aiming at students, we are mostly interested in identifying high potential amongst those starting their journey in psychology. Address the question in any way you see fit. We recognise it's a real challenge: the total word limit is just 1000, and it's absolutely vital you write with our publication and audience in mind.

Deadline Friday 25 September. Please submit by email to [email protected] and include a bit about yourself – your aspirations, and how you're looking to engage with the communication of psychology. One submission per person please, and unfortunately we cannot respond to everyone.

We hope to publish a selection of the best responses online and in print too. Some of the winning entrants will be offered support in developing their 'Voice in Psychology', through the provision of advice and opportunities to write more in various contexts.

Get writing – and don't be shy! If you've got a head bubbling with questions, original ideas about psychology beyond the lecture theatre, and a desire to make a difference, then that's a good place to start. You don't have to be the finished article to be Very Important to us!

Dr Jon Sutton (Managing Editor)
Madeleine Pownall (Associate Editor, VIP Programme)