Kate Whitman

Kate Whitman is a Research Fellow at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the Faculty of Science & Health and the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences. She is also associated with the Revolution Plastics Institute, the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, and the Future of Law, Innovation and Technology Research Centre. Her interdisciplinary work bridges behavioural economics, psychology, criminology, and environmental policy.

Her research focuses on understanding human decision-making through experimental methods, with applications in reducing economic crime, promoting sustainable consumer behaviour, and addressing gender biases. She investigates topics including digital piracy, counterfeit consumption, moral reasoning, and plastics pollution. Her work is driven by a commitment to real-world impact, influencing government policy and business practices.

Recent research trends highlight her expertise in the role of social media influencers in deviant consumer behaviour, gendered responses to anti-piracy messaging, and interventions to improve recycling and reuse of plastics. Her publications combine academic rigor with policy relevance, often resulting in commissioned reports for governmental and international bodies.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Work cited in multiple policy documents and government reports.
• Research featured in over 20 news outlets and widely shared on social media and academic platforms like Mendeley.
• Active engagement with the Intellectual Property Office and World Intellectual Property Organization.

Kate Whitman supervises research projects and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across psychology, economics, and criminology. She teaches undergraduate modules in Economics, Criminology, and Cyber Security, including topics such as cyberlaw, sport finance, and altruism in economic decision-making. She has secured government funding for research and actively collaborates with industry and policymakers.

She leads key research initiatives such as:

• Tone Deaf: Gendered Barriers to Women’s Music Performance Careers
• Plastic Blindness: Lifting the Blindfold through Citizen Science
• The Rising Tide of Piracy: The Influence of Social Roles, Risks and Norms on Illegal Consumption