Lots of people walking across a busy zebra crossing

Centre for Societies and Groups

The ARU Centre for Societies and Groups (ARU-CSG) brings together researchers and scholars who have an interest in the well-being of individuals, social groups, and populations. We consist of two hubs: the Applied Social Change Hub and Empowerment & Social Justice Research Hub.

We focus on exploring how individuals make sense of their selves, bodies, and the social and physical worlds they inhabit, as well as wider psychological processes that impact mental health and well-being.

Our mission is to conduct inter-disciplinary, theoretically diverse, and multi-methodological (both quantitative and qualitative) research across a wide range of individual, community, healthcare, and societal contexts. Staff associated with the ARU-CSG produce original research that responds to real-world problems, with an aim to inform public policy and practice, and effect change in the wider public. To that end we also offer training and consultancy.

Three students sitting on the steps in front of the revolving doors leading into ARU's School of Medicine on the Chelmsford campus

Opportunities

We offer Psychology PhD scholarships, Post Doc and Postgraduate research projects as well as training and consultancy opportunities for big and small businesses, government organisations and charities.

Contact the Centre Directors for more information:

Dr Emma Kaminskiy Dr Magdalena Zawisza Prof Viren Swami
Empowerment and Social Justice
Applied Social Change