Dr

Ans Vercammen

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Background

I obtained my first degree in Psychology (Experimental & Theoretical) from Ghent University in Belgium and completed a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Groningen. Following a postdoc at NeuRa in Sydney and a few years lecturing on psychology at the Australian Catholic University, I chose to shift my research focus to environmental issues, and how they affect individual and collective human health and wellbeing. I gained experience with grassroots commmunity conservation projects as a volunteer and completed the interdisciplinary MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College London in 2016. I was a researcher at Imperial's Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College from 2017-2021. My research is now broadly focused on the human dimensions of environmental change, with a particular interest in how people (emotionally) connect with nature, determinants of pro-environmental behaviour, the health and wellbeing benefits of nature exposure and the mental health impacts of climate change.

Availability

Dr Ans Vercammen is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Conservation and biodiversity Environment policy Environmental Sciences Environmental education and extension Human Society Policy and administration Psychology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Psychology, Ghent University
  • Masters (Research) of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Behavioural Science, University of Groningen
  • Masters (Research) of Conservation Science, Imperial College London
  • Collaboration / Affiliation, Climate Cares, Climate Cares
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Conservation Biology, Conservation Biology
  • Honorary Fellow, Imperial College London, Imperial College London
  • Member, Society for Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology
  • Journal Editorial Board Member, Sustainability, Sustainability

Research interests

  • Nature connectedness

    I am interested in people's connectedness with nature, how this is expressed, and how it links to pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours.

  • Mental health impacts of environmental change / climate change

    Environmental change has many direct and indirect impacts on human lives. Apart from presenting a physical danger, environmental change may impact our mental health, experiences that are variably labeled as eco-anxiety, solastalgia, and ecological grief (among others). I am interested in understanding who is most affected by this, the conditions under which it may be adaptive (or not), how it's linked to agency and action-taking, and to what extent these experiences can be shaped to build greater resilience. I am involved with Climate Cares, a program of research led by the Institute for Global Health Innovation and the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. We have collected data on young people's feelings about climate change in the UK, and we are working with a range of partners to expand this work globally.

  • Health and wellbeing benefits of engaging with nature

    I have previously collaborated with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK to assess the human wellbeing benefits of urban wetland environments. Next, I will be working with Zoos Victoria to develop a field experiment to test the physical and mental wellbeing effects of zoo visits and, in particular, immersive animal exhibits. I am also interested in what motivates people to visit urban green and blue spaces and how these spaces could be designed for maximal benefit, while also considering biodiversity values.

  • Metascience

    I am committed to supporting open science practices, both in my own work and by encouraging others. I also have an interest in improving peer review and critical appraisal of research for policy and practice.

Search Professor Ans Vercammen’s works on UQ eSpace

61 works between 2008 and 2025
All (61) Journal Article (55) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (3) Other Outputs (1)

61 - 61 of 61 works

2008

Journal Article

Hearing a voice in the noise: auditory hallucinations and speech perception

Vercammen, A., De Haan, E. H.F. and Aleman, A. (2008). Hearing a voice in the noise: auditory hallucinations and speech perception. Psychological Medicine, 38 (8), 1177-1184. doi: 10.1017/S0033291707002437

Hearing a voice in the noise: auditory hallucinations and speech perception

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Measuring the quality of collective reasoning (The University of Cambridge administered British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant)
    University of Cambridge
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Ans Vercammen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The household as a site of deliberation and resilience: Understanding psycho-social responses of children and families towards a changing marine environment in the Great Barrier Reef

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Claudia Benham

Enquiries

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