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Professor Zoltán Dienes outside the British Academy

The British Academy has as Fellows this year, and amongst them is Professor Zoltán Dienes, Professor of Psychology at the ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ«. The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, consisting of over 1,700 leading minds in these subjects. Its mission is to promote the flourishing of the social sciences, humanities and arts for the benefit of all.

Professor Dienes has been faculty at Sussex since 1990. His research involves promoting scientific reform, in publishing (for example, having papers accepted before data are collected to stop publication bias; developing platforms where scientific publishing is free for authors and free for readers); and in using statistical methods that allow evidence to accumulate both for and against the existence of an effect. He also works in consciousness science, specifically on the distinction between conscious and unconscious mental states, and how people can construct compelling yet misleading experiences to suit their goals. Zoltán is Director of the Centre for Open Science and Research Reform at Sussex.

Zoltán said: “My work was formed in the crucible of the intellectual environment and support of Sussex. When the puppet strings of career incentives pulled one way, I was allowed to go another way. When I said I needed a reproducibility statistician to independently check the statistics in papers before submission, a job was created in hours. To say Sussex provided a job is to miss the point; it provided a community of like-minded people. That is why I am a Fellow of the British Academy.”

Professor Luc Moreau, Executive Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Medicine said: "I am delighted that Zoltán’s work has been recognised with election as a Fellow of the British Academy. Zoltán’s research has shaped the field of scientific reform in publishing and consciousness science, and has been influential far beyond the realms of his field. His intellectual approach and collegial attitude will be a huge asset to the Academy. Many congratulations.”