Nicholas Pidgeon

Professor Nicholas Pidgeon is Professor of Environmental Psychology and Risk at Cardiff University and Director of the Understanding Risk Research Group within the School of Psychology. His work sits at the intersection of social psychology, environmental science, human geography and science & technology studies, focusing on how people perceive, communicate and act upon environmental and technological risks.

Research Interests

Professor Pidgeon’s research is organised around several interlocking themes:

• Risk perception and communication – understanding how lay publics, experts and policymakers interpret and talk about risks ranging from nanotechnology to climate engineering.
• Public engagement with low-carbon energy transitions – investigating social acceptance of heat decarbonisation, smart energy systems, hydrogen and carbon dioxide removal.
• Justice and vulnerability – exploring how energy and climate policies affect marginalised communities and how fairness considerations shape public support.
• Science-policy interfaces – advising UK government departments and Royal Society committees on climate, energy and transport risks.

Recent projects include the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation (LC3M), the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and the ESRC Behavioural Research Leadership Hub (BR-UK).

Scientific Awards & Honours

• Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to climate change awareness and energy security policy.
• Elected Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), 2023.
• Honorary Fellowship of the British Science Association, 2011.
• President-Elect (2025–2026) of the UK Chapter of the Society for Risk Analysis.

Policy & Advisory Roles

Professor Pidgeon has:

• Chaired the 2006 Parliamentary inquiry whose report recommended the creation of the UK Climate Change Committee, later enshrined in the 2008 Climate Change Act.
• Served on the Science Advisory Council of the UK Department for Transport since 2018.
• Joined the Science and Technology Advisory Council of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
• Sits on the steering group for the NERC/DEFRA programme “Maximising Adaptation to UK Climate Change”.

Research Group & Collaboration

As Director of the Understanding Risk Research Group, he leads an interdisciplinary team using qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches to examine public responses to energy system change, perceptions of climate risks, and emerging technologies such as enhanced weathering for greenhouse-gas removal. Collaborative partners span UK Research Councils, government departments, the Royal Society and international research networks.