About us
Mission of the CBC
The Centre for Behaviour Change (CBC) brings together academics, policy-makers, practitioners and others, from a wide range of disciplines to create a vibrant hub for developing ideas, methods, theories and evidence relating to behaviour change, and translating that expertise to achieve real-world impact, nationally and internationally.
We are a leading, world-renowned interdisciplinary Centre for expertise in behaviour change. Based on an understanding of behaviour in context, we enable change through the interacting influences between people and the social, organisational and economic systems in which they exist. Our research, consultancy and training seek to advance the science and application of behaviour change, generating practical solutions to complex problems using a systematic approach. We collaborate and partner with a wide variety of individuals, communities and organisations (including local and national governments, NGOs and industry).
Within University College London we are based in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, within the Faculty of Brain Sciences, but we are an interdisciplinary centre, frequently collaborating with many faculties.
The CBC is guided by UCL’s ethical principles.
Our overarching principle governing the activities of the CBC is to advance scientific understanding of behaviour change in promoting wellbeing for individuals and for society, including physical, mental, social and environmental wellbeing.
- The CBC is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in its activities, events, governance and representation
- The CBC adheres to UCL’s Guiding Principles, especially the commitments to ‘apply ethical investment and procurement practices’ and to ‘focus the impact of UCL education and research on improving the lives of people around the world and respect for human rights, and countering ignorance, poverty, ill-health and political tyranny’.
- The CBC will collaborate with organisations that support wellbeing and positive behaviour change. In line with the principles above, there are circumstances where it is not appropriate for the CBC to collaborate with or accept funding, money or other incentives from certain industries.
- These industries include: tobacco; alcohol; gambling; pornography; cosmetics where animal welfare is not assured; arms and weapons; nuclear power; production of fossil fuels, and resource extraction using controversial processes. By 'industry', we refer to producers and manufacturers, as well as retailers, distributors, importers and business associations whose primary income comes from trade in these products, corporate philanthropic foundations and charities whose income derives largely from those who trade in these products, trade associations, and social aspect public relations organisations.
- The CBC will also not collaborate with or accept funding, money, or other incentives from organisations which: are involved in bribery and corruption; violate human and labour rights; trade or use threatened species, or conduct other activities harmful to animal welfare; are associated with deforestation; do not actively minimise pollution.
- Other industries, organisations or activities which have a questionable role in relation to promoting human well-being or where there may be a conflict of interest will be considered by CBC’s Senior Management Team.
- The CBC will, where possible, only provide vegetarian food at our events to encourage healthy and sustainable food production and consumption.
- Our overarching principle governing the activities of the CBC is to advance scientific understanding of behaviour change in promoting wellbeing for individuals and for society, including physical, mental, social and environmental wellbeing.
- In our work to build and translate evidence, we seek to further the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our research portfolio
Our interdisciplinary research portfolio addresses central questions facing society, particularly in the fields of health and sustainability.
Our research