Dr Rebecca Webster from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Psychology has been recognised in the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2021: Science and Healthcare list for her work on Covid-19 health behaviours which informed the UK government’s pandemic response.
Dr Webster’s research helped the UK government to better understand the psychological impact of quarantine and how to improve public adherence to such measures. Two of her reviews were included in the World Health Organisation’s 2019 novel Coronavirus Research Roadmap list of essential references.
This year’s list, entitled “Changing The World From Artificial Intelligence To Covid-19” is the sixth European edition, which celebrates 300 honorees who are all aged under 30, from across 10 categories including technology, finance, and entertainment.
In what has been a very unusual year, I am really pleased that my work has been able to have a demonstrable impact on the UK’s pandemic response.
Dr Rebecca Webster
Lecturer in the Department of Psychology
A number of Dr Webster’s fellow honorees have used their work to address aspects of the pandemic, others are combining healthcare and technology, exploring the role of artificial intelligence in improving communication, or devising new solutions to climate change.
Dr Rebecca Webster said, “I am truly honoured to be included in the list for 2021 alongside people such as England and Manchester United Footballer Marcus Rashford. In what has been a very unusual year, I am really pleased that my work has been able to have a demonstrable impact on the UK’s pandemic response. In the past year I have been made to feel really welcome at Sheffield, and am looking forward to building on my body of research with my excellent colleagues in the department and wider University.”
Dr Webster joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield in 2020. Her research interests are in the area of Health Psychology with a particular focus on placebo/nocebo effects, risk communication and health behaviour in the context of public health emergencies. Alongside her research, Dr Webster teaches undergraduate students on the BSc Psychology course and also supervises BSc, MSc and PhD Psychology students.
