Short biography
Prof Richard Wiseman is based at the University of Hertfordshire,
where he holds Britain's only Chair in the Public Understanding of
Psychology. He has gained an international reputation for research
into unusual areas of psychology, including luck, deception, and the
science of self-help. His three books, The Luck Factor, Quirkology
and 59 Seconds, have all topped the best-seller lists and have been
translated into over thirty languages. He has presented keynote addresses
at The Royal Society, Microsoft, Caltech, and Google. Over 2 million
people have taken part in his mass participation experiments, and
his YouTube channel has received over 11 million views. He is one
of the most frequently quoted psychologists in the British media,
and was recently listed in the Independent on Sunday's top 100 people
who make Britain a better place to live.
Full biography
Professor Richard Wiseman started his working life as an award-winning
professional magician, and was one of the youngest members of The
Magic Circle. He then obtained a first class honours degree in psychology
from University College London and a doctorate from the University
of Edinburgh. Since then he has been based at the University of Hertfordshire
in the UK, where he currently holds Britain's first Professorship
in the Public Understanding of Psychology.
Prof Wiseman has established an international reputation for research
into unusual areas of psychology, including luck, deception, the paranormal,
humour, and the science of selp-help. He has published over 60 papers
in refereed academic journals, including articles in some of the world’s
most respected science publications.
He frequently gives keynote speeches in Britain and abroad, and has
recently presented at The Royal Society, Microsoft, Caltech, and Google.
Prof Wiseman’s research has also featured in a large number
of television programmes, including Horizon (BBC), Body Shock (Channel
4), 20/20 (ABC), and Dateline (NBC). He is often heard on BBC Radio
4, with regular appearances on Start The Week, Midweek and The Today
Programme. Feature articles about his research have been published
in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, and his work made
the front cover of The New Yorker magazine. A recent poll revealed
that he was the psychologist most frequently quoted in the British
media.
Prof Wiseman has written three best selling books that have been translated
into over thirty languages. The Luck Factor presents a comprehensive
account of his research into the psychology of luck. Quirkology examines
the curious psychology of everyday life, including laughter, lying,
and love. 59 Seconds investigates the science of self-help and rapid
change. His latest book, Paranormality, will be published in March
2011.
Over 2 million people have taken part in Prof Wiseman's mass participation
experiments, and his YouTube channel has received over 11 million
views. He has created several viral videos, including the world famous
'Colour Changing Card Trick'.
Prof Wiseman has received various awards for his work, including The CSICOP Public Education In Science Award, the Joseph Lister Award For Social Science, and the prestigious Perrott Warrick Scholarship from Trinity College Cambridge.
He is the most followed psychologist on Twitter, and was recently listed in the Independent On Sunday's top 100 people who make Britain a better place to live.