Join us on Tuesday 1 April at the NOVA National School of Public Health, Lisbon to take part in workshops, ideation sessions, meet behaviour change experts and network.
Go straight to... workshops | creative ideation sessions | meet the experts session | networking reception
About the day
Anyone with an interest in behaviour change is welcome to join us for any part of the day. There is a nominal fee to attend the workshops, the rest of the day is free of charge.
Workshops
We are delighted to offer a range of full-day and half-day workshops.
- Workshop fees
Category Half-day Full-day Standard rate £38 / €45 £50 / €60 Students & LMIC* £21 / €25 £34 / €40 Please note that the price in Euros is indicative only - based on the exchange rate from the UK Government Consular rate of exchange for October 2024 (£1: €1.25)
*Low, middle income countries (LMIC) Discount: to be eligible, participants must work for an organisation that has its administrative offices based in an LMIC, or be employed by an organisation and live in an LMIC. This includes university staff and students from LMIC. LMIC List of Countries (Wellcome Trust)
Full-day workshops
Full-day workshops will start at 09:30 and finish at 16:30. These are available to book on the UCL Store. You can choose from the following workshops:
- Applying the Behaviour Change Techniques Ontology: Improving methods for selecting and specifying behaviour change techniques
Facilitators: Dr Paulina Schenk (Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, UK), Dr Marta Marques (NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal), Dr Maya Braun (Ghent University, Belgium & University of Zürich, Switzerland) & Carolina Silva (NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal).
Summary
This workshop will present the Behaviour Change Techniques Ontology (BCTO), an updated method of specifying and describing behaviour change techniques (BCTs; the smallest active intervention components). Building on the widely used BCT Taxonomy v1, this ontology provides a more comprehensive and precise tool for selecting and synthesising BCTs. The workshop will provide guidance to apply the BCTO to research and practice, transitioning from taxonomy to ontology. This guidance will include how to use the ontology to select, precisely describe and synthesise information about BCTs. The workshop also explores the potential of ontologies for interdisciplinary communication and advanced data analysis.
Learning objectives
This workshop aims to train participants to apply the Behaviour Change Techniques Ontology (BCTO) in research and practice. By taking part in this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy v1, and the updated Behaviour Change Techniques Ontology (BCTO)
- Navigate the BCTO using the tools available, such as bciovocab and onto-vis.
- Describe the content of a behaviour change intervention using BCTO
- Code and synthesise content of interventions using BCTO
- Identify BCTs in the BCTO to design interventions, using the ontology and existing tools, such as the Theory and Techniques tool.
- Storying change: developing digital stories for health promotion
Facilitators: Dr Irina Catrinel Craciun, Gregor Lederer & Sophia Seidel (Hasso Plattner Institute, Department of Digital Global Public Health, Potsdam, Germany).
Summary
Digital stories (DS) are short knowledge transfer interventions that enable behavior change at individual and community level, help tackle health inequalities and provide cost-effective health communication solutions. This workshop will guide attendees through the process of developing a DS for specific health behavior change aims. Attendees will learn in a highly interactive manner how to tailor their DS to specific target audiences, design effective and evidence-based DS, tackle potential ethical issues and ensure engagement of the target audience. Through several practical exercises, guided reflection and specific feedback, the experienced facilitators will help participants develop their own health promotion DS.
Learning objectives
By taking part in this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the process of developing digital stories (DS) for health behavior change
- Design their own storyboards using our DS development framework
- Know how to use DS as health communication interventions for individual and community level change
- Identify target audience characteristics and tailor DS to fit these
- Translate behavior change models into a DS storyboard
- Identify and address potential ethical issues related to DS design
- Know how to increase target audience engagement with the DS
- Hands on Workshop: Practical use of Generative AI for ethical health behaviour change approaches
Facilitators: Isabelle Amazon-Brown (The MERL Tech Initiative / Natural Language Processing Community of Practice, SBC Working Group, USA), Sarah Osman (Osman Advisors, Norway), Nicola Harford (iMedia, UK and Zimbabwe) & Linda Raftree (The MERL Tech Initiative, USA).
Summary
The workshop will give participants both a solid grounding in the ‘state of the field’ when it comes to the use of AI within SRH and other health behaviour change programming, rooted in our team’s collective work in the development and humanitarian sectors, as well as hands-on guidance on exactly how AI can be used within this field. With a strong emphasis on ethical approaches, the workshop will combine opportunities for learning from the facilitators; participatory activities where we solicit participants' own experiences, concerns or questions on this topic; and practical sessions with the opportunity to use AI tools.
Learning objectives
By taking part in this workshop, participants will:
- Understand the many ways AI can be, or is being, used in the context of global health SBC programming
- Be informed on the ‘state of the field’ and contribute ideas towards a global research agenda on AI within family planning and health behaviour change programming
- Understand the key ethical risks related to the use of AI within health SBC programmes related to SRH and how to mitigate them
- Get practical guidance on both how to use AI tools for SBC and Family Planning design, and how to design an ethical AI-powered SBC tool.
- Designing Impactful health & social Interventions: Integrating behaviour change theory & creative co-design
Facilitators: Dr Ana Gama (NOVA National School of Public Health, Portugal), Dr Amanda Moore (Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, UK), Dr Alison Thomson (Queen Mary, University of London, UK) & Dr Maria João Marques (NOVA National School of Public Health, Portugal).
Details of the workshop will be added soon.
Half-day workshops
Half-day workshops will start at 13:30 and finish at 16:45. These are available to book on the UCL Store. Choose from the following options:
- Persuade & Inspire: The Art of Behaviour Change Campaign Creation
Facilitators: Julia Bainbridge (Freuds+, UK), Professor Robert West (University College London, UK).
Summary
To connect with audiences in a way that is resonant and relevant, and changes the social discourse around an issue, we must translate behaviour change strategies into compelling narratives that connect with audiences and the cultural conversation. To complement Professor Robert West’s keynote speech, this workshop explores with participants how to apply the COM-B framework to design creative behaviour change campaigns to drive meaningful impact. Through this interactive session attendees will gain an understanding of how to move from identifying which behaviour change interventions must be applied to address the capability, opportunity or motivation gap, to using these insights to develop powerful communications strategies.
Learning objectives
By taking part in this workshop, participants will learn to apply behaviour change interventions within powerful communications strategies.
- Vaccination acceptance in the EU/EEA: supporting diagnosis and intervention development with the 5C model
Facilitators: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Summary
Several frameworks and tools have been introduced to describe and explain vaccine acceptance and behaviours influencing vaccination decision making; all have both strengths and limitations. We will present the 5C model, which focuses on Constraints, Confidence, Complacency, Calculation and Collective Responsibility. Based on this, we will also present a survey tool aimed at identifying the various Cs within the vaccine acceptance spectrum in specific population group/s. The participants will afterwards be guided through a practical exercise to use the results from a survey tool, to draft an intervention plan. The workshop will end with a plenary discussion.
Learning objectives
By the end of this workshop, the participants will:
- Have become familiar with the 5Cs model
- Have had experience of a diagnostic tool, built on the principles of the 5Cs model, as a means of “diagnosing” vaccine acceptance in under-vaccinated populations
- Have practiced intervention development for promoting vaccination acceptance and uptake using the 5Cs model as a basis.
- Participatory Research Methods to Uncover Norms & Develop Insights
Facilitators: Shazeeda Bhola (Firsthand, USA), Miguele Issa (Firsthand, Lebanon) & Cassie Hornsby-Waide (Common Thread, Kenya).
Summary
Traditional behavioral science approaches often emerge from Western, Global North contexts, reinforcing Western norms and values. The resulting imposition of these values on other cultures reinforces a ‘WEIRD’ power imbalance. Feminist Participatory Research Action (FPRA) offers collaborative, community-centric approaches that prioritizes voices within marginalized communities. Through techniques like diaries (verbal/photo), story-sharing, and collective visual stimuli, FPRA empowers participants to co-create knowledge and break the dynamic of researcher and researched.
Learning objectives
By taking part in this workshop, participants will be exposed to highly participatory approaches to research and design shift research from exploitative and extractive to inclusive, empowering, and participatory. Participants will learn the principles of Feminist Participatory Research Action (FPRA), try-on relevant tools in small groups, and hear case studies of its application in Latin America (on immunization) and West Africa (on child protection).
Creative ideation sessions
Our creative ideation sessions are free to attend and are designed to bring people together to brainstorm ideas and potential solutions to tackle issues relating to behaviour change.
Spaces are limited, reserve your place on our Eventbrite page.
09:15-11:00 - choose between:
- From abstract ideas to concrete behavioural projects
Facilitators: Nina Mathilde Dyrberg (BeWaviour, Denmark).
Summary
Purpose: This creative ideation session aims to guide participants from abstract ideas to actionable behavioural projects that drive meaningful change. The session will focus on transforming concepts into projects that influence everyday behaviours and create tangible value in health and sustainability contexts. Through hands-on activities, participants will work on personal cases, collaborate to develop “prototypes”, discuss measurement strategies, and explore how to present and implement their ideas for maximum impact.
Rationale: While many organisations recognise the potential of behavioural science and design, they often face challenges in moving from theory to practice. This session is designed to bridge that gap by providing hands-on guidance and inspiration. Through a combination of interactive activities and group discussions, participants will learn how to transform ideas or concepts into actionable projects. The session will guide them through the process of prototyping, measuring effectiveness, presenting their project to stakeholders, and ultimately implementing it to drive everyday behavioural change. By following this structured approach, attendees will leave with a clear, actionable framework for launching and sustaining behaviour change initiatives within their own fields. This session is essential for empowering participants to effectively apply behavioural insights and convert abstract ideas into measurable, real-world impact.
Objectives: Equip participants with a practical toolbox of behavioural design methods: By the end of the session, participants will have acquired a new set of methods that can be applied to drive behavioural change, regardless of their sector or workplace. Inspire action with real-world examples: Drawing on successful health-related projects in Denmark, such as the transition towards more sustainable hospital environments, participants will see how behavioural design methods can translate broad goals into concrete outcomes. For example, the initial objective—"we want a more sustainable hospital environment"—unfolded into several smaller, actionable projects that resulted in everyday behavioural changes. These examples will demonstrate to participants how large, abstract ambitions can be broken down into manageable steps that drive real change. This process will serve as a powerful motivation for attendees to continue developing and implementing their own ideas after the session.
- Mobilising Citizen Ambassadors to Boost Engagement in the Circular Economy
Facilitators: Julia Terlet (Behaven, France / Belgium) & Ayşe Allison (Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, UK).
Summary
The circular economy has become an increasingly important focus for many cities, particularly as new regulations are introduced across Europe. Local authorities and organisations are under growing pressure to encourage residents to sort waste, reduce littering, and buy second-hand—not only to comply with regulations but also to lower operational costs. Yet, despite numerous local events and initiatives to engage the public, participation in circular behaviours remains low. Based on our experience in behaviour change projects with organisations in France, Belgium, and the UK, we have found that citizens are often hesitant to get involved. This reluctance frequently stems from a lack of trust in local authorities or a weakened sense of community connection. Certain groups are also harder to engage due to language barriers and cultural differences. Communications from authorities can sometimes feel disconnected from citizens' everyday lives, coming across as a top-down approach that imposes additional constraints on their lives. While peer-to-peer engagement through citizen ambassadors has shown potential in some cases, many organisations struggle to recruit and retain these ambassadors. As a result, the few who do engage often feel isolated and unsupported.
To address these challenges, we propose a creative ideation session focused on the following questions:
- How can we effectively recruit, motivate, and empower citizen ambassadors and ensure their continued engagement?
- How can these ambassadors inspire broader community involvement and foster a positive social dynamic?The session will include design thinking exercises, collective intelligence activities, and exploratory discussions. The aim is to identify research needs and set a future agenda for academics and practitioners to make this issue a priority. We also plan to share the session's outcomes and initial recommendations on social platforms, offering insights to organisations and authorities to support their ongoing efforts.
11:15-13:00 - choose between:
- Equity at the juncture of physical and mental health: where and how is change needed?
Facilitators: Professor Emily J. Oliver (Newcastle University, UK) & Dan Steward (Newcastle University, UK).
Summary
Purpose: A major global challenge is inequitable access to evidence-based, theoretically-informed health behaviour change interventions. The purpose of this session is to creatively and collectively consider how we, as healthcare professions, researchers, and policymakers, might address this. To do so, we need to think beyond traditional ways of working in terms of how we engage ourselves and colleagues in the process of changing behaviour within services and wider health delivery systems. We aim to share learning from our experiences, including failures and frustrations, to generate testable and actionable ways forward.
Rationale: While behavioural sciences have increasingly helped to develop programmes, pathways, and policies supporting behaviour change for those in greater need (e.g., UCLP-PRIMROSE), implementation has been slow to start and to spread. Our previous work has identified that this is partly due to the need for changes in the way healthcare professionals, but also commissioners, researchers, and the system itself, behave. Given resource pressures, siloed working, and rapidly-changing demands are ever-present, we need to think about how we support large-scale behaviour and system change even in challenging circumstances. Without this, we will not impact health inequalities. If recent years have taught us anything, it is that we do have the capacity to join together, adapt and implement creative innovations and solutions to a health threat when needed.
Objectives: We aim to share with delegates learning from multiple regional implementation approaches in the UK (in London, Bradford, the North East and North Cumbria). We will invite input and critique of our emerging recommendations for service enhancement, particularly related to sustainable change, and together we will co-develop proposals for new ways of tackling long-standing challenges in the roll out of behaviour change support services. We hope this session will identify opportunities for behavioural sciences to support system as well as individual change, serve as a call to action for greater attention to implementation challenges, and generate a set of action priorities for those working in this space.
- Harnessing Communities of Practice for advancing behavioural and social science in public health
Facilitators: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Summary
The ECDC Lighthouse, launched in November 2024, is an online collaboration space where professionals working in the prevention of infectious diseases come together, driven by the shared goal of integrating social and behavioural sciences in their public health work. It is open for people who are interested, experienced, or currently involved in the prevention of infectious diseases through use of social and behavioural sciences, and who work for or are affiliated with organisations and institutions in the EU/EEA, such as public health authorities, universities and research institutions, civil society and community-based organisations, among others. Communities of practice (CoP) are based on collaboration and knowledge sharing, and their members “share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” (Lave and Wenger, 1991 and 1996). They rely on the innate human tendency to engage in collective and collaborative problem-solving. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which so many professionals were working in isolation, might explain the growing interest in communities of practice; equally, new digital tools and platforms provide the right opportunity for quick sharing of information, social learning approaches, as well as communion of explicit and tacit knowledge.
This ideation session is designed for professionals working in behaviour change in public health who want to understand more about the dynamics of communities of practice, gather good practices on the process of putting together a CoP, and explore how CoPs can enhance public health impact.
We will challenge participants with collective brainstorming exercises, for example: - Ideas on how to leverage CoPs to scale up successful interventions in public health, with a focus on infectious disease prevention; - Use CoPs to develop inclusive, community-centric, culturally adapted public health interventions; - Design mechanisms to ensure a multidisciplinary approach within CoPs, - how to ensure epidemiologists, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists collaborate effectively?
15:00-16:45 - choose between:
- Towards effective behavior change for sustainable and healthy diets: improving interventions to reduce meat consumption
Facilitators: Dr Elif Naz Çoker (University of Oxford, UK) & Dr Emma Garnett (University of Oxford, UK)
Summary
Rationale: A societal shift to better diets is necessary for mitigating climate change and improving public health. One of the biggest contributors to unsustainable and unhealthy diets is the overconsumption of processed and unprocessed red meat (Clark et al., 2019). While there has been increased efforts on reducing meat consumption, some of the most widely studied techniques and mechanisms might not be the most effective. Systematic reviews have found that information provision (Bianchi et al., 2018), environmental footprint labelling (Garnett, 2023; Potter et al., 2021), and social norm messaging (Pollicino et al., 2024) interventions have not been successful in meaningfully reducing meat consumption. On the other hand, interventions such as changing defaults to plant-based options that have received less attention but appear to be more promising (Meier et al., 2022). Additionally, most meat consumption intervention studies suffer from serious limitations including measuring intentions instead of actual behaviors, the use of weak study designs and methodologies, and a lack of diversity in sample population characteristics. This limits the generalizability of their findings and their ability to inform policy for a large scale shift to sustainable diets.
Purpose: This proposed creative ideation session intends to critically appraise existing evidence for ‘what works’ in meat reduction and identify and evaluate shortcomings that future research can address. It aims to encourage a complex understanding of meat consumption that takes into account social, cultural, economic, religious, political factors that influence this behavior. It invites participants to think creatively about behavioral intervention design in the context of a variety of food purchasing settings by using existing behavioral change frameworks.
Objectives: 1. Use the COM-B model to identify unique capability, opportunity, and motivation barriers and enablers to reducing meat consumption. 2. Reach a consensus on which behavioral interventions could benefit from further study to effectively reduce meat consumption. 3. Suggest innovative interventions that address known mechanisms that influence meat consumption behaviors in more effective ways than previous studies have done. 4. Create strategies to encourage more international research on reducing meat consumption and promote the inclusion of more diverse populations, with an appreciation of cultural contexts and nuances.
- Creative ideation for rapid change of climate-health co-beneficial behaviours
Facilitator: James Green (Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland)
Summary
Purpose: Collectively, we are making dismal progress on meeting our climate-related targets. While some change must be driven at a political level, effective strategies to create change towards healthier and more sustainable behaviours is urgently needed. There are many co-beneficial behaviours that can improve both human health and also have a positive impact on the climate crisis (e.g., modal shift from cars to active transport, decreasing meat consumption in favour of healthy and sustainable food options). In this session we will select several potential behaviours where we think we are able to have the swiftest positive impact, and will then work on sharing expertise and brainstorming potential solutions.
Objectives:
- Identify target behaviours to focus on in this session
- Brainstorm potential interventions/solutions for each target, focussing on e.g., scalability and impact
- Consider concrete next steps
Rationale: We are simultaneously facing multiple serious health and climate challenges. Participants in the CBC conference are uniquely placed to help address these, and a creative ideation session is ideal for developing potential solutions.
Meet the Experts
From 17:00 - 18:00 join one of our Experts for an informal Q&A / discussion. Our Experts include:
- Professor Susan Michie (Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London)
- Professor Vera Araújo Soares (Heidelberg University)
- Professor Lucie Byrne-Davies & Professor Jo Hart (University of Manchester)
- Professor Robert West (UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London)
- Dr Fabiana Lorencatto (UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London)
- Dr Marta Marques (NOVA National School of Public Health, Lisbon)
- Dr Rosie Webster (Zinc Ventures, UK)
- Dr Julia Terlet (Behaven, France / Belgium)
Further details and a sign-up form will be available shortly.
Networking Reception
The day will close with a Networking Reception from 18:00-19:00. This is a great opportunity to meet all of our Experts, the Conference Organising Committee, and other people with an interest in behaviour change.