Episode 2: Why Psychology matters for improving and protecting Public Health
Episode Description
Join us for the second instalment of the Insight Series with this episode on Why Psychology matters for improving and protecting Public Health, hosted by the Society’s London and Home Counties Branch. The host for the episode will be Dr Andrew Holliman Chair of the branch.
This episode will explore why psychology is integral to global health strategies and showcase the work of Katherine Brown, Professor of Behaviour Change in Health in the School of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire (UH).
Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Time: 18.00 -19.00
Duration: 1 hour
This episode is free to Society members.
This episode is available to book until 15.30 on Monday 30 March 2026 and is available in English only.
Any booked made after 15.30 on Monday 30 March 2026, will have access to the recording
Non-members: £10.00 (Inc VAT)
Not yet a member? Join today to access this episode and the full Insight Series.What will this episode cover?
- Highlight how psychological factors—beliefs, habits, social norms, and decision‑making—interact with life circumstances to shape global health outcomes.
- Explain why understanding these behavioural influences is essential for creating effective, real‑world health interventions.
- Use insights and case studies from 25+ years of research to show how psychology helps prevent disease, protect communities, and build healthier futures.
Joining live? Take the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the speakers during the Q&A.
Meet The Speaker
Katherine Brown is Professor of Behaviour Change in Health in the School of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire (UH). She has been Chief Investigator of the NIHR funded Public Health Interventions Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST) Connect since 2020 and established the Public Health and Applied Behaviour Change laboratory (PHAB lab) at UH in 2022.
Katherine has a strong track record of leading research in the development and evaluation of behaviour change interventions targeted at preventive health behaviours and addressing major public health challenges from sexual health and gender-based violence to smoking cessation and weight management. She spent over eight years working in an embedded role at Public Health Warwickshire leading public health research and evaluation. Applications of digital health are a strong feature of her work as is working with communities and end-users on co-production and co-design of interventions.
She has attracted grant income in excess of £16 million from a range of funders including the NIHR the MRC and the European Commission. She has produced more than 100 peer reviewed publications and academic reports and has delivered over 45 keynotes and invited speaker presentations. She was lead editor of the second edition of the Sage Handbook of Health Psychology published in June of 2025.
Branch Spotlight
This episode is proudly hosted by the Society’s London and Home Counties Branch. Chaired by Dr Andrew Holliman, Branch Chair, the session offers an opportunity to connect with the Branch, learn more about its work in Northern Ireland, and discover how you can engage with local activity and events.
Not a member?
Join today to access the full Insight Series, and a wide range of professional resources, learning opportunities, and events across the Society.
This episode has been organised by Member Networks Team. For any enquiries, please contact conferences@bps.org.uk