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Behavioural Science Networking Night 2018

NetworkingStudents and alumni in the fields of behavioural science and economics at the University of Warwick had the opportunity to meet the leading organisations in behavioural science in both the public and private sectors on 15 January 2018.

For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Warwick’s Global Research Priority in Behavioural Science has hosted the Behavioural Science Networking Night (BSNN) at The Shard, Warwick Business School’s base in London.

At BSNN students are able to meet with experts, and learn how each organisation applies behavioural science. The event’s continued success is predicated on students receiving interviews and even job offers from employers who they interacted with at the event.

Over 25 organisations attended BSNN representing a variety of sectors, from tech to insurance to marketing. Companies in attendance included Microsoft, NASDAQ, Simply Business, Swiss Re, Bupa, Ogilvy Change, and Hill+Knowlton Strategies. The public sector was also well represented at the event with delegates from the Behavioural Insights Team, Financial Conduct Authority, Public Health England, and a newly formed team at the Ministry of Justice.

One of the lead organisers of the event, Evan Fradkin, a PhD student in Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School said, “I’ve been organising this event for three years now, and every year there’s more interest as more organisations are forming their own behavioural science units. The event really demonstrates to students how the skills they’ve been building at the University of Warwick can be applied in the behavioural science units at these organisations.”

Networking 2018Ed Flahavan, an Associate Advisor at the Behavioural Insights Team, said: “Having previously attended the Behavioural Science Networking Night as a Warwick MSc student it’s fantastic to be able return and represent the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). Each year there is an ever greater range of organisations represented which is a demonstration of how widely behavioural science is being applied in the public and private sectors. I look forward to coming back again in 2019.”

Juliet Hodges, Senior Behaviour Change Advisor at Bupa, said: “As an alumna of the Behavioural and Economic Science MSc at Warwick, it’s always a delight to attend this event and meet the latest cohort. It’s also incredibly useful professionally – meeting the brightest new graduates when hiring, and finding out how other organisations are putting behavioural science into practice. And all with fabulous views of London from The Shard!”

Karen Tan, Senior Behavioural Scientist at the Ministry of Justice, said: “I’ve been attending the Behavioural Science networking night for three years now, representing parts of the cross-government behavioural insights network. Every year I’ve had positive experiences speaking to really bright students. Last year, my former department recruited three masters students as summer interns, as well as built valuable research partnerships with PhD students. Plus, the event is excellently organised, timely, and always has very interesting other organisations in attendance. It’s great to have seen it grow over the past few years!”

Networking 2018For the first time, Microsoft’s Change Management Global Practice was represented at BSNN 2018. Nathalie Foeher, a Senior Consultant at Microsoft said: “The Networking Night was a real opportunity for us to get to know great talent, discuss exciting topics and also see what other companies are doing in the behavioural space. We are now actively working with the Behavioural Science Group at Warwick Business School to identify areas where we can work together on projects with students.”

Sebastiano Massaro, Assistant Professor of Behavioural Science, and Deputy Lead of the Behavioural Science GRP said: “The Behavioural Science Networking Night encompasses one of the founding principles of the Behavioural Science Global Research Priority. That is, to utilise behavioral science to solve policy challenges. Moreover, it’s always exciting to speak with the exhibitors and hear about the various experiments companies and government agencies are running!”

Plans are already underway for the 2019 offering. For more information or to request to be added to the mailing list, please contact business@wbs.ac.uk.