Prof Richard Wiseman

BSc, PhD

Richard Wiseman

Job title: Prof of the Public Understanding of Psychology

Memberships and Appointments: One of only four British Fellows of The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (other fellows include Professor Steven Pinker and John Maddox, past editor of Nature)


President of the General Section of the BAAS 2005;
Invited member of EPSRC Peer Review College 2006-2009.

I have published over forty papers in academic journals, and gained an international reputation for research into unusual areas of psychology, including deception, luck and the paranormal. A passionate advocate for science, I frequently appear on the media, give public talks and stage performances about my work. I have written The Luck Factor  a best selling book exploring the lives and minds of lucky and unlucky people. My latest book, Quirkology, explores the curious science of everyday life, including the psychology of lying, love, and laughter.

Research Interests

parapsychology, deception, luck, belief