Lecturers set to ‘prop up the bar’ with free psychology in the pub discussion

The University mission to take science out of the classroom and into the community continues later this month, as one team will host a free to attend, ‘shrink wrapped’ discussion about psychology.

The University’s first ‘Psychology in the pub’ event will open its doors at 6.30pm on Tuesday 26th November, upstairs at the Old White Hart, Cotton End in Northampton.

‘Psychology in the pub’ is an initiative from the British Psychological Society (BPS) to promote the subject to a wider audience.

The events are free, open to anyone and offer the opportunity for members of the public interested in knowing more about psychology and psychological research to learn and talk about topics across the subject with their friends…and enjoy a drink at the same time.

Each event will be based around one topic, starting with a short talk from an expert in that field, with a different topic and expert at every event and a discussion afterwards.

At this first event, guests can listen to a talk from the University’s psychology team who will explain the discipline’s contribution to the world and people’s lives and how ‘worthwhile’ psychology is.

Academics from other University teams will then lead a discussion with the audience aimed at putting psychology under the microscope to evaluate the question: ‘What’s the point in psychology?’

Psychologists will then defend their profession to the hilt!

Lecturer in Psychology Jordan Elliott-King has been instrumental in setting the event up: “Psychology in the pub has been running in the UK for a few years now and has a great pedigree in getting non-psychology trained people a chance to get psychologists ‘off the counselling couch’ and into the outside world to talk about all that’s great about psychology.

“As an extra incentive, the pub is also laying on a ‘50% off pub food classics’ for anyone who is hungry, too.

“We’re really looking forward to kicking things off with a nice, spiky debate about what people think is the point or the worth of psychology. Obviously, the psychology team are all passionate about their subject, so this is a great opportunity to talk-up psychology and to hear from our community what their take on this is.

“It’s the first time we’ve done this at the University of Northampton, so we hope to engage people in a lively and informative evening of talk and debate!”

This event follows the recent, successful debut of Northampton’s first Café Scientifique, in which the subject of the ‘dementia challenge’ was tackled.

To save yourself a seat, book here.