Professor Matthew Hornsey
Affiliation: The University of Queensland
Discipline: Psychology
Year elected: 2018
What initially drew you to your field of study?
Existential panic really. Since 2007, humans have emitted over a quarter of all the greenhouse gases ever emitted by our species, and last year global CO2 emissions hit a record high. In that context, overcoming polarisation, conspiracy theories and campaigns of disinformation about climate change seems like a good use of my time.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proudest when my research doesn’t just sit on a shelf but is used in policy, public communication, and by organisations trying to shift behaviour for social good. Seeing ideas travel outside the academic world and have real-world impact is the ultimate goal.
What continues to motivate your work?
The stakes are simply too high to look away. Climate change, misinformation, and social division are reshaping our world, and social science has tools to help us respond. I’m motivated by the belief that understanding human psychology and social dynamics can unlock better pathways forward.
What question or issue, in your field, keeps you awake at night?
Whether we can bridge the gap between long-term visions and short-term incentives. We know what needs to be done on issues like climate change, but aligning individual, organisational, and political motivations is a puzzle that still keeps me up.
What is your desert island book, song and/or movie?
Book: How Music Works by David Byrne because I like music but I’m also a nerd.
Song: Something by Grimes because it reminds me to embrace creativity and strangeness.
Movie: Sherlock Jr by Buster Keaton is over 100 years old but still the coolest film I’ve seen