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Power and the unWEIRDification of behavioural science

Catherine Angai discusses how to make behavioural science less WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic).

  • 6th March 2024 - 6th March 2024
  • 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm

We need to make behavioural science less WEIRD.

Despite only representing a small minority of the global population, most people who participate in behavioural science studies are from Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) backgrounds. These studies lead to an understanding of human psychology and behaviour specific to these ‘weird’ research subjects that does not represent the diversity of human experience.

So how do we do the important work of widening participation in behavioural science? In this talk at the Intellectual Forum, Catherine Angai will tackle this question from the Nigerian perspective, drawing on her career as a lawyer and consultant in behavioural science and development.

About the speaker

Catherine Angai is a lawyer and behavioural science and development consultant. With a rich professional history spanning more than fifteen years, her expertise lies in the thematic domains of governance, accountability, citizen participation, elections, and human rights protection. Her extensive experience includes nearly a decade of dedicated service with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, where she was instrumental in the design and execution of projects across the West African region in countries such as Nigeria, Niger, and Mali. In addition to her consultancy work, Catherine is a Doctoral Researcher at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, where she conducts research at the intersection of behavioural science and international development.

Accessibility Facilities

  • Designated wheelchair public toilet
  • Induction loops
  • Wheel chair accessible
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One of Cambridge’s most eye-catching pieces of public art is the Snowy Farr sculpture in the Market Square.