معرفی
Professor Rhiannon Turner is a leading social psychologist at Queen's University Belfast, specializing in intergroup relations, prejudice reduction, and contact theory. She holds the Chair in Social Psychology and leads the Centre for Identity and Intergroup Relations. Her research explores mechanisms of prejudice reduction through cross-group friendships, extended contact, imagined contact, and online interactions. Turner has held academic roles at Cardiff University, the University of Kent, University of Oxford, University of Birmingham, and University of Leeds before joining Queen's in 2012. She has supervised 16 PhD students and currently advises three more.
Education: BSc Psychology (Cardiff University, 2000), MSc Social and Applied Psychology (University of Kent, 2002), D.Phil. (University of Oxford, 2006). Professional roles include Editor-in-Chief of the European Review of Social Psychology (2019-2022), editorial board member of multiple journals, and Output Assessor for the UK's REF2021.
Research Interests: Her work spans personality influences on intergroup behavior, nostalgia's role in social relations, and applications of contact theory in educational and policy contexts. Notable projects include evaluating the PEACE IV youth program, VR contact interventions, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in STEM. Recent grants include funding from the Royal Society of Chemistry, ERC MSCA, and British Academy.
Awards: Includes the BPS Outstanding Doctoral Research Award (2007), Gordon Allport Prize (2011), and contributions to a BAFTA-winning documentary. Her team's work on Shared Education in Northern Ireland earned a Queen's Anniversary Prize (2020).
Grants & Supervision: Current projects include Royal Society of Chemistry-funded LGBTQ+ inclusion research and a VR contact initiative. Supervised 16 completed PhDs and advises three ongoing students. Teaching focuses on real-world psychology applications, including racism interventions and body language analysis.
Public Engagement: Authored over 165 publications, delivered high-profile lectures, and contributed to media discussions on racism reduction, loneliness, and intergroup relations. Collaborates internationally on peacebuilding initiatives and educational policy in conflict zones.
