Professor Dr Glenn Hitchman 

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

Questioning the Role of Psychology in the Quest Towards a More Sustainable Society

Speaker Profile

Prof. Glenn Hitchman began his academic life as an economist, graduating with a first class degree and associateship with distinction from University of Surrey. After an enjoyable but ultimately unfulfilling period working as a Foreign Exchange Research Analyst at one of the largest investment banks in the world, Prof. Hitchman decided to follow a conversion route into Psychology, obtaining a MSc with distinction at the University of Hertfordshire before completing his PhD at the University of Northampton. He has subsequently held a number of academic and leadership posts in China and the United Kingdom, and currently serves as the Head of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia. Prof. Hitchman has been involved in a wide variety of collaborative research projects spanning the areas of neuroscience, cognitive psychology, social psychology, parapsychology and individual differences, and previously led the Exceptional Experiences and Consciousness Studies research group in the University of Northampton’s Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences. Given his wide-ranging background, Prof. Hitchman will be addressing the role of Psychology in what must necessarily be an interdisciplinary quest towards a more sustainable society.

Abstract

The pursuit of a sustainable society has become an urgent global concern. Overt actions deriving from multiple scientific disciplines in contributing to this endeavour are clearly manifest, whereas the impact of psychology in fostering sustainable behaviours and facilitating social change is less evident. Despite the volume of research focused on influencing individuals' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours towards the environment, the quantity and efficacy of behaviour change interventions still leaves a lot to be desired. This presentation will critically examine the contributions of psychology to the creation of a more sustainable society and will call for a greater propensity towards applied work to promote sustainable practices at individual, community, and societal levels. Ultimately, this presentation is intended to motivate and inspire students, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and educators to recognise and mobilise the potential of psychology as a catalyst for positive change in the quest towards a more sustainable future.