Lorraine Whitmarsh

{{Short description|British psychologist and environmental scientist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Lorraine Whitmarsh | honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} | image = Lorraine Whitmarsh on Manchester Climate Monthly.jpg | caption = Whitmarsh in 2012 | alma_mater = [[University of Bath]] <br> [[University of Kent]] | thesis_title = A study of public understanding of and response to climate change in the south of England | thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1112925959 | thesis_year = 2005 }}

'''Lorraine Elisabeth Whitmarsh''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} is a British psychologist and environmental scientist at the [[University of Bath]]. She serves as Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations. Her research considers how the public engage with climate change, energy and transport.

== Early life and education == Whitmarsh was an undergraduate student at the [[University of Kent]], where she studied theology and religious studies. As a graduate student, Whitmarsh studied psychology at the [[University of Bath]]. Her doctoral research considered the public understanding of climate change in [[Southern England]].<ref>{{Cite thesis|title=A study of public understanding of and response to climate change in the south of England|publisher=University of Bath|date=2005|place=Bath|language=English|first=Lorraine|last=Whitmarsh|oclc=1112925959 }}</ref> She moved to the [[University of East Anglia]] as a research associate in 2005, where she spent four years.{{cn|date=June 2021}}

== Research and career == Whitmarsh joined the faculty at [[Cardiff University]] in 2009, where she was promoted to Professor in 2015. In 2014, Whitmarsh was awarded a [[European Research Council]] Starting Grant to investigate low carbon lifestyles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh|url=http://cast.ac.uk/team/lorraine-whitmarsh/|access-date=24 June 2021|website=cast.ac.uk|language=en-US}}</ref> Whitmarsh was later awarded a European Research Council Consolidator Grant where she studied the moments that cause pro-environmental behaviour shifts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Lorraine Whitmarsh {{!}} Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research|url=https://www.tyndall.ac.uk/people/lorraine-whitmarsh|access-date=24 June 2021|website=www.tyndall.ac.uk}}</ref>

Whitmarsh moved to the [[University of Bath]] in 2020, where she was made a Professor of Environmental Psychology.<ref name=":0" /> She leads the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation, which considers how society must adapt to reduce emissions. In particular, Whitmarsh has focussed on mobility, food, insulation and material consumption.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title='Almost every area of psychology has something to contribute to addressing climate change' {{!}} The Psychologist|url=https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-33/december-2020/almost-every-area-psychology-has-something-contribute-addressing-climate|access-date=24 June 2021|website=thepsychologist.bps.org.uk|language=en}}</ref> Whitmarsh has argued that psychologists can effectively communicate the risks associated with climate change, as well as helping people to mitigate [[hyperthermia]] or natural disasters.<ref name=":2" /> She has worked with city councils to design interventions that encourage low-carbon travel, as well as supporting the roll-out of infrastructure changes such as cycle paths.<ref name=":2" /> Whitmarsh was involved with the UK Climate Assembly, a citizen science engagement process that looked to take [[public opinion on climate change]] to the [[Government of the United Kingdom]].<ref name=":2" />

Whitmarsh has contributed to the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]], and served as a lead author for the IPCC Working Group II.<ref name=":1" /> She serves on the advisory team of the [[parliamentary group]] for a green new deal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=University of Glasgow - Research - cop26 - A-Z of climate change experts - Lorraine Whitmarsh|url=https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/cop26/az/lorrainewhitmarsh/|access-date=24 June 2021|website=www.gla.ac.uk}}</ref>

Whitmarsh was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2022 New Year Honours]] for services to social research in climate change, energy and transport.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63571|supp=y|page=N26|date=1 January 2022}}</ref>

== Selected publications == *{{Cite Q|Q58485807}} *{{Cite Q|Q57936909}} *{{Cite Q|Q57072910}}

=== Books === *{{Cite book|title=Engaging the public with climate change : behaviour change and communication|date=2015|others=Lorraine Whitmarsh, Saffron O'Neill, Irene Lorenzoni|isbn=978-1-138-86690-4|location=New York, NY|oclc=909323245}}

== References == {{reflist}}

[[Category:British psychologists]] [[Category:British environmental scientists]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Kent]] [[Category:Academics of the University of Bath]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Bath]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:British women psychologists]] [[Category:Environmental psychologists]]