Psychobiology Annual Scientific Meeting
- Psychobiology
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About
This two day event is the Annual Scientific Meeting for the Section of Psychobiology and will include a themed symposium on 'The Psychobiology of Cold Water Immersion' including talks about the mental health benefits of cold water swimming and an optional lake swim and sauna event at the wonderful Poolbridge Lakes . This year we will also be showcasing psychobiology researchers in Yorkshire with a keynote speaker in the pub (Dr Scott Cairney, University of York) as well a keynote speaker within each of the days of the event; Professor Daryl O'Connor (University of Leeds) and Professor Simon Gilbody (University of York). Delegates are also welcome to have a tour of York Neuroimaging Centre scheduled to occur after lunch during the second day of the event.
There are travel bursary awards available at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Please see the Bursary and Awards tab on the BPS Psychobiology webpage here. Please note that this year the registration fee includes all refreshments, lunch and evening buffet following the keynote in the pub event!
This promises to be a great opportunity for anyone interested in psychobiology to get together with like minded psychologists to discuss psychobiological research and build collaborative networks.
This years event will be hosted by the Department of Psychology at the University of York Heslington Campus.
We look forward to welcoming you to York!
Dr Kyla Pennington (Chair of Section)
Please view the BPS booking terms and conditions here
Want to speak to one of the team? Contact us at [email protected]
Registration
Ticket types & Prices
| Ticket type | Cost inc VAT |
Concession (retired, experts by experience and students) - 2 day ticket | £48.00 |
Psychobiology Section member - 2 day ticket | £72.00 |
BPS member - 2 day ticket | £102.00 |
Non member - 2 day ticket | £150.00 |
| Additional activities | Cost inc VAT |
Evening Dinner | Complimentary |
Lake Swim and Sauna | £18.00 |
| York city led walk | Complimentary |
Please note: Booking is being provided by Conference Care on behalf of BPS.
When booking online you will be directed to a Conference Care site.
Both the BPS and Conference Care terms and conditions and privacy policies will apply.
Want to speak to one of the team? Contact us at [email protected]
Draft Programme
Thursday 4th September 2025
9:00am | Registration Coffee and pastries |
9:25am | Welcome Professor Lisa Henderson (Head of Department of Psychology, University of York) & Dr Kyla Pennington (Chair of Section) |
| 9:30am | Keynote (Chair: Dr Sarah Allen) Professor Simon Gilbody (University of York) ' The Psychology of Loneliness' |
10:30am
| Undergraduate and Postgraduate Bursary Award winners and funded writing retreat recipients (Chairs: Prof Philip Murphy and Lovell Jones)
|
| 12:00pm | Lunch and sponsorship stand/s |
| 1:00pm | Symposium: Psychobiology of Cold Water Immersion (Chair: Dr Richard Stephens & Dr Kyla Pennington) Dr Heather Massey, Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth 'Cold water immersion: Kill or Cure' Professor Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Health, UCL 'Cold water swimming and women's health' Professor Mark Wetherell, Professor of Psychobiology, Northumbria University 'The effects of regular cold-water sea-swimming on daily indices of wellbeing' Dr Richard Stephens Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Keele University 'Swearing as a response to cold water pain' |
3:30pm | Lake swim and sauna at Poolbridge (https://www.poolbridge.co.uk/) OR nature walk around Campus East |
6:30pm | Keynote in the pub (Chaired by Dr Kyla Pennington) Dr Scott Cairney, Associate Professor, University of York, York Your brain without sleep: a fast track to anxiety? |
7:30pm | Buffet dinner |
Friday 6th September
9:30am | Registration, coffee and pastries |
| 10:00am | Open communications (Chair: Dr James Jackson) |
| 11:30am | Keynote: Professor Daryl O'Connor (Chair: Professor Catherine Loveday) |
| 12:30pm | Lunch and posters |
| 1:00pm | Annual Strategy Meeting - all delegates invited to attend Or York Neuroimaging Centre Tour Chair of Section Dr Kyla Pennington and Committee Members; Dr Richard Stephens,Professor Catherine Loveday, Professor Philip Murphy, Dr Sarah Allen, Dr Eimear Lee, Dr James Jackson, Lovell Jones, Dr Dan Lamport |
2:00pm | Open Communications (Chair: Dr Dan Lamport) |
3:30pm | Close |
Want to speak to one of the team? Contact us at [email protected]
Submissions
Key Submission Dates
June 2025 - Online submissions system open
11th July 2025 - Deadline for Submissions
18th July 2025 - Notification of submission outcomes
31st July 2025 - Deadline for presenters to register
How to submit
Please ensure you read the submission guidelines below before submitting, including the reviewer guidelines. These allow you to see how your submissions will be reviewed.
To view the submission guidelines click here.
Submissions must be made via the online application portal.
If this is your first time submitting you will need to create an account.
Please note: Booking is being provided by Conference Care on behalf of BPS.
When booking online you will be directed to a Conference Care site.
Both the BPS and Conference Care terms and conditions and privacy policies will apply.
Want to speak to one of the team? Contact us at [email protected]
Bursaries
For bursary information please click here
For the UG award form please click here
For the PGR award form please click here
Want to speak to one of the team? Contact us at [email protected]