معرفی
Laura G. E. Smith is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Bath, part of the Department of Psychology. She serves as Co-Director of the Bath Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour and leads the Digital Lives lab. Additionally, she is Deputy Director of the ESRC Network Plus for Analytical Behavioural Science for Security and Defence. Her research explores how digital technologies intersect with human psychology and behavior, focusing on polarization, radicalization, collective action, and online harms. She has published extensively over two decades, contributing to understanding social movements and intergroup interactions in both online and offline contexts.
Prof. Smith holds a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Exeter (2008), following a Master of Science in Social and Organisational Psychology (2005) and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2004), both from the same institution. Her work has been funded by three major UK research councils and recognized by a mid-career Fellowship from the British Academy (2016).
Her research interests emphasize the psychological mechanisms driving group formation and evolution, especially in digital environments. She investigates how intra- and intergroup interactions shape behaviors, with applications to security, defense, and societal challenges. Recent projects include examining motivations for collective action in refugee supporters and analyzing the role of AI in enhancing collective intelligence. She also studies identity integration among researchers with lived experiences of psychosis, highlighting the transformative potential of shared identity.
Prof. Smith's contributions extend to editorial leadership, including as Chief Editor of the British Journal of Social Psychology (2020–2022). Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, though specific targets are not detailed in the text. She collaborates internationally, with recent projects involving Kenya, Australia, and interdisciplinary teams.
Her grants include the
- EPSRC-funded AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI) Hub (2024–2029),
- Government Department grants on intragroup and intergroup threats (2022–2023),
- National Police Chiefs' Council projects on networks and radicalization (2023–2024).
Laura leads the Digital Lives lab, focusing on digital technology's psychological impacts. She co-directs the Bath Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, bridging academic research with practical security applications.
