Kayleigh Wyles

Academic profile

Professor Kayleigh Wyles

Associate Professor in Psychology
School of Psychology (Faculty of Health)

About Kayleigh

Professor of Environmental Psychology

Kayleigh is a world-leading environmental psychologist. Her research focuses on how people engage with the natural world (in particular the aquatic world) and the impacts these have on both the individual (e.g impacting human health and wellbeing, and their connection to nature) and on the environment (e.g. through individual behaviour). 

Supervised Research Degrees

Completed

  1. Mark Newman (P/T Psychology Dept. at the University of Surrey): The use of virtual reality in human-environment interaction research. Self-funded. Self-funded. October 2017-2025 (2nd Supervisor).
  2. Christopher Wiles (P/T Psychology Dept. at the University of Surrey): Virtual reality nature for mental health: Acceptability, usability, efficacy, and development of a VR nature intervention. School-funded PhD Studentship, University of Surrey. 2017-2024 (DoS).
  3. Sohvi Nuojua (P/T Marine Sciences): Does Connectivity with Nature Alter Consumer Behaviour? Linking Ocean Connectedness and Consumer Views on Single-Use Packaging. Private sponsor. 2017-2023 (2nd supervisor as of Jan 2021).
  4. Christy E. Hehir (P/T Tourism Dept.): Beyond Good Intentions: Wildlife Tourism as a Driver of Emotion and Philanthropic Behaviour Change. ESRC PhD Studentship. 2016-2021 (3rd Supervisor).
  5. Pablo Pereira-Doel (F/T Tourism Dept.): Persuasive communication: an experiment on hotel guests’ values, inconvenience and smart water-saving technology. 2017-2021 (2nd Supervisor). 
  6. Emma White (P/T Psychology Dept): Perceptions of Naturalness. 2012-2019 (2nd Supervisor as of Nov 2018).

In progress

  1. Alex Smith (F/T School of Psychology): Virtually painless: An investigation into the therapeutic potential of virtual natural environments for chronic low back pain [working title]. Faculty of Health PhD studentship. Jan 2023- (DoS).
  2. Carya Maharja (F/T School of Psychology): I do like to be beside the seaside: Understanding how environmental assets influence who and how people engage with the coast and its wellbeing benefits. NERC funded PhD studentship through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources. October 2024- (1st supervisor)
  3. Natalie Smith (F/T Â鶹´«Ã½ Marine Laboratory): Butt Out: A transdisciplinary approach in understanding and addressing the risks of littered cigarette butts [working title]. NERC funded PhD studentship through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources. October 2022- (2nd supervisor).
  4. Lorna Smith (F/T Peninsula Medical School) "Nature is not a place to visit, it is home": The value of nature on the quality of life of people with dementia. Faculty of Health PhD studentship. Oct 2024- (3rd supervisor)
  5. Becky Thomas (F/T School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey): Introduction and evaluation of a workplace simulator (‘AMRSim’) to improve the understanding and implementation of infection control by staff working in small animal veterinary practices [working title]. Zoetis funded PhD studentship. April 2022- (3rd supervisor).
  6. Tim Sykes (P/T Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton): Investigating the cultural contributions from chalk streams and their winterbournes and aquifers [working title]. Environment Agency & Wildlife Trust funded PhD Studentship. October 2019- (3rd external supervisor).

Teaching

  • World events - The role of psychology in environmental issues (PSYC002) 
  • Environmental Psychology - the impact the physical world has on us (PSYC423)
  • Psychology and the Natural World (PSYC604 / 609 / 706)
  • Dissertation supervision (PSYC605 / 707 / 781 / 783)

Contact Kayleigh

B219, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Â鶹´«Ã½, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 584847