I focussed my research project on my interests in Psychology

What does your project involve and what has been your experience?

My MSc final project is on creating forms of science communication about choice models of addiction. I have created three different outputs including a long form opinion piece article, an educational YouTube video and a clinician’s guide which aim to inform the public and medical professionals on these novel approaches to addiction. My project has been supervised by Professor Matt Field and Dr Amber Copeland in the School of Psychology and involves explaining their research conducted at the University of Sheffield. These are based on the role of value-based decision making in addiction and behavioural economic accounts. 

Why is this research important and who will benefit?

The overall aims of the project are to fill the gap in science communication around addiction. The prominent models understood amongst the public and clinicians are moral models and the brain disease model of addiction. Research suggests both of these contribute to the stigma around the disorder, which worsens outcomes for people with addiction and prevents them from accessing support. Therefore informing the public on the current models is vital in improving public understanding of the disorder and highlighting the role of environment and social context in developing substance or alcohol use disorder. 

What are your future career plans and how do you feel this MSc will help you achieve these?

In the future I would love to go into science journalism to create engaging stories that accurately inform readers on the newest research and are accessible to all. This MSc has helped me harness these skills in digesting complex information and translating it in a way that sparks interest and understanding from all audiences without a background in science.