The University of Aberdeen’s School of Psychology celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, kicking off the milestone with a Traitors-themed event later this month.
The School of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen is the oldest psychology department in the UK. The first lectureship in psychology was established in Aberdeen in 1896, which makes the School of Psychology older than the British Psychological Society.
The School will celebrate its anniversary with a series of psychology-themed events throughout the year, showcasing the past and present research that has been carried out over the last 130 years.
The programme of events kicks off on 27 January at King’s College Conference Centre with an evening of talks focused on the hit BBC TV show The Traitors.
The event will delve into the decisions made by both Traitors and Faithfuls, how unconscious bias influences players and how this affects the game. Four talks will include: ‘Trust at first sight, why we judge faces instantly,’ ‘The company you keep – context makes Traitors’, ‘Mind traps! Why we see traitors everywhere’ and ‘Eyewitness science and the hunt for the traitors.’ You can get your tickets here.
In February, the School will showcase its fascinating research as part of the University’s Discovery Day. The event, part of the University-wide Founders’ Week celebrations will invite families and the local community to explore the latest innovations through interactive, fun activities for all ages.
An event focused on ‘Psychology in Industry’ will take place in April, bringing together industry professionals and applied psychologists to engage in meaningful discussions around the latest research directions. Audience members will have the opportunity to pose questions and gain industry insights from the experts.
In June, the School will organise an evening of discovery at the Aberdeen Art Gallery exploring the mysteries of the mind with the entire city. With interactive experiences, cutting-edge research demonstrations, and mind-blowing magic shows, this event promises a lively mix of science and wonder. The event will take place in collaboration with the Aberdeen Magic Society, which is also marking a significant anniversary - turning 100 years old - for an evening of hands-on science and magic that will blow everyone’s minds.
In October, ‘Perception: Fact or Fiction’ will invite the audience to decipher between truth and lies, and find out how good they are at reading people. Two speakers will present bold claims, some supported by evidence and others not, with participants tasked with uncovering what is fact and what is fiction. The evening promises illusions, debates and surprising science.
This year will also see the return of the Scottish Schools Psychology Conference, a day of keynote speeches, workshops and roundtables with secondary school pupils from across the country. The inaugural 2025 conference saw more than 150 pupils and teachers welcomed to King’s College campus to get inspired about psychology and gain insight into the work and research being carried out at the University.
Other events will cater to students, including a careers networking event, a summer festival to celebrate the School’s graduates, a research poster presentation and the annual Anderson Lecture, which will be delivered by Professor Neil Macrae.
Head of the School of Psychology, Dr Doug Martin, said: “We were doing some research into the School’s history and realised we have so much to celebrate. For more than a century, we have been undertaking cutting-edge research to better understand brain and behaviour, whilst shaping the minds of thousands of students. Given this history, we wanted showcase the pivotal role the north-east of Scotland has played, and continues to play, in psychology research and education.
“Thanks to the efforts of everyone in the School, we’ve organised a packed programme of events that showcases the breadth of research and experience across the School, both currently and historically.
“We look forward to seeing what the next 130 years of research and excellence at the School will look like.”
You can find out more about all the events and get your tickets here.