Tiffany Watt Smith

Dr Tiffany Watt Smith is a Professor in Cultural History at Queen Mary University of London's School of English and Drama. She specializes in the histories of emotion, gestures, and medicine, with notable works on schadenfreude, sleep, and emotional contagion. Her research bridges theater and science, examining how performance shapes scientific understanding. As Director of the Centre for the History of the Emotions since 2020, she promotes interdisciplinary exploration of emotions.

Education:

• BA in Philosophy and English (University of Cambridge)
• MPhil in Criticism and Culture (University of Cambridge)
• PhD in Cultural History (Queen Mary University of London)

Research Interests: Histories of overlooked emotions (e.g., boredom, flinching), cultural history of sleep, women’s friendship, and the intersection of theater with scientific inquiry. Awards include the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2019) and Wellcome Trust funding.

Public Engagement: TED Talk (3.7M views), BBC Radio contributor, author of best-selling books like The Book of Human Emotions, and collaborator on interdisciplinary projects (e.g., puppetry and emotional objects). Former theater director with Royal Court and Young Vic associations.