Sara Vestergren

Biography

Sara joined Keele University as a lecturer in Psychology in August 2021. Before moving to Keele she was a lecturer in Social Psychology at University of Salford from 2019. Prior to working at University of Salford she held a temporary position as a lecturer at School of Psychology 2018-2019. Sara was awarded her PhD in psychology at Linköping University in Sweden, where she was also awarded her BSc and MSc.

Sara’s core commitments in psychology, research, and teaching are related to both the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion agenda, and the (environmental) Sustainability agenda. Sara is currently the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) lead for the School of Psychology at Keele University. She is also part of several international networks working for human and environmental rights both inside and out of academia.

Sara is member of the BPS Social Section committee, and a chartered psychologist (CPsychol) as well as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Research and scholarship

I am a social (political, environmental) psychologist. Most of my work is interdisciplinary, however, my theoretical background lies within the social identity approach. My research (and interests) revolves around human rights, protests, activism, collective action the climate crisis, and sustainability. More specifically, participation in activism and collective action and how the engagement may affect the participants over time. I have, for example, published on types and processes of psychological change through participation in collective action, and the endurance of psychological changes for environmental activists.

Related to my collective action and activist work, is sustained behaviour. How we can facilitate sustained pro-environmental behaviour, such as a reduced meat-diet, increased recycling etc. I have also done some work on experiences of living with the COVID-19 pandemic through leading the international collaboration COVIDiSTRESSII.

Through all my areas of interest and research is an ethos of social justice, equality, human and environmental rights.

Teaching

I teach mainly Social and Political Psychology, and Qualitative Research Methods on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I supervise dissertations (undergraduate & postgraduate) in various areas and am particularly interested in working with students interested in protests, activism, social identity, climate crisis, and collective action-related topics.

As well as being involved in PhD supervising, I have also acted as both external and internal PhD examiner.
If you are interested in any of the above areas for a potential PhD, dissertation, or just a chat, please contact me.

Twitter: @SwedishProtests

• Module Team Member - PSY-20043: Qualitative & Survey Research Design
• Module Team Member - PSY-30067: Individual Differences and Conceptual Issues
• Module Team Member - PSY-40077: Advanced Study in Applied Social & Political Psychology

Further information

Roles

• School EDI Champion
• Open Day and Offer Holder Day Team Member
• MSc Applied Social and Political Psychology Programme Lead