Public Engagement

Naomi Kingston is a DPhil Student in the department of Experimental Psychology: “My research aims to understand the brain regions involved in decision-making, specifically decisions that require us to be motivated enough to exert some effort in order to get a reward. I use an exciting method known as transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to causal influence a certain brain regions neural activity, and in this way, can make more conclusive comments on a brain regions causal relationship with a behaviour. In my role as an Engagement Ambassador, I hope to share my love and excitement for all things Psychology and Neuroscience related, but more importantly, to show people that science is for everyone, and the research that we do plays a pivotal role in our understanding of humans and society.” 

Amelia Rock is a DPhil student in the department of Experimental Psychology. Her research focuses on how cognitive processes, such as attention and memory, are recruited for naturalistic behaviour, and how these mechanisms manifest in both clinical and subclinical populations, as well as across lifespan. “As scientists we have a duty to be guided by the perspectives and needs of the people we serve. Closing the gap between research and the public means always asking why we do what we do, who it is for, and how we can produce research that is meaningful and impactful. I look forward getting involved with public, patient, and policy engagement this year and the many interesting discussions which will arise from it.” 

Daniel Hua is a final-year trainee clinical psychologist: “My clinical work focuses on supporting children, young people and their systems affected by anxiety and trauma. Research-wise, I am passionate about understanding how we can use technology to bring psychological therapy outside of the therapy room and into the day-to-day lives of young people.” 

Michael Woo is a post-doctoral associate: “My research examines what sustained dopamine levels in mice represent and how they influence behaviour. I’m motivated to become an Engagement Ambassador because I believe it’s important to bridge the gap between research and the public. Public engagement not only allows us to share what we do, but also encourages us to reflect on our work and consider how to make it more meaningful and relevant to society.” 

Alice Quinton is a post-doctoral researcher: “My research explores how our imagination can impact our mental health, and how we can use mental images to help manage anxiety. My main focus is targeting anxiety-related mental imagery about the future, called “flashforwards”, with neurodivergent young adults. I’m also interested in trauma in autistic youth, and how we can make interventions more fun (and effective) using games. As an ambassador, I am keen to develop my skillset to ensure that as I build my career I’m getting different people involved and excited about science; I am particularly keen to ensure my work connects with areas of the UK that have less access to Oxford’s science engagement activities. “ 

Trisha-mae Capistrano is an MSc by Research student in Experimental Psychology researching child and adolescent mental health and resilience: “I am interested in how genetic, social, and environmental factors interact to shape children’s developmental outcomes, with the goal of informing practical early interventions. I thought becoming an Engagement Ambassador was an incredible opportunity to learn how to make developmental psychology understandable, accessible, and useful for families, communities, and policymakers. I am especially passionate about reaching those who face barriers to support and ensuring that research becomes genuinely usable in real-world settings.” 

Daniela Krouzkova is a postgraduate research assistant in Dr Lei’s group in the Department of Experimental Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, which focuses on exploring strengths-based approaches for supporting neurodivergent children and young people across settings. She says: "I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be an Engagement Ambassador because prior clinical and research experiences during my medical degree have highlighted the importance of engaging with patients and the public throughout the research process to help create inclusive, meaningful and relevant research outputs and facilitate effective translation into practice. Clinically, I have witnessed the impact of misinformation and stigma and the importance of accessible, engaging science communication to address this. Through participating in the Engagement Ambassador programme, I look forward to honing engagement skills to meaningfully engage with patients, the public and key stakeholders throughout all stages of the research life cycle."