Taciano Milfont
Professor of Psychology
Welcome
I am an academic psychologist interested in the contributions social and behavioural sciences can make to address environmental problems and other social issues. I am ranked 3rd on Google Scholar for number of citations, out of all academics worldwide who have listed ‘applied social psychology’ as one of their areas of research expertise.
I am currently a Lead in Behavioural Insights and Behavioural Change at the Ministry for the Environment — Manatū Mō Te Taiao, and I split my time between that role and being a Professor of Environmental Psychology at the University of Waikato (Tauranga).
I am currently a Lead in Behavioural Insights and Behavioural Change at the Ministry for the Environment — Manatū Mō Te Taiao, and I split my time between that role and being a Professor of Environmental Psychology at the University of Waikato (Tauranga).
Find more information on the links below
Latest Publications
Here you can see my latest publications around the world
Predictors of New Zealanders' belief in anthropogenic climate change.
While there is a scientific consensus that climate change is happening and that it is predominantly caused by human activity, public opinion on this issue remains divided. When people do not accept that climate change is caused by human activity, they may be less likely to adopt climate mitigation behaviours and less...
MoreAn Investigation into heritage, sustainability, and place attachment: The Ōtātara case study.
Heritage not only concerns old buildings, but also the layered quality of historic places. These are buildings or sites that help create a sense of value, discovery, and mystery that can lead to increased levels of place attachment.
MoreA just transition for antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance is among the most urgent global health challenges of our time, with an estimated 4·95 million deaths associated with resistant bacteria in 2019.1–3 That microbes develop resistance to antimicrobials is accepted as an evolutionary inevitability for their survival, driven by competition between and among micro-organisms in the natural environment.
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About me
I am originally from Pindorama Brazil, but have been living in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2003. I am thus a Briwi — a Brazilian Kiwi — and have dual nationality.
I obtained my PhD in social and environmental psychology at the University of Auckland in 2007. Following completion of my PhD I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, examining the impact of schools’ climate on the health and wellbeing of students. Prior to this I received my BA (organisational psychology) and MSc (social psychology) from Brazilian universities.
I worked at the Victoria University of Wellington for twelve years (2008-2020), becoming Deputy Director, Co-Director and Director of its Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research (2015-2019). In May 2020 I started a new role as Reader in Environmental Psychology at The University of Waikato, being promoted to Full Professor in 2022. In September 2022 I started a 2-year fixed-term (80%) role as Behavioural Insights Lead at the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment.
I obtained my PhD in social and environmental psychology at the University of Auckland in 2007. Following completion of my PhD I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, examining the impact of schools’ climate on the health and wellbeing of students. Prior to this I received my BA (organisational psychology) and MSc (social psychology) from Brazilian universities.
I worked at the Victoria University of Wellington for twelve years (2008-2020), becoming Deputy Director, Co-Director and Director of its Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research (2015-2019). In May 2020 I started a new role as Reader in Environmental Psychology at The University of Waikato, being promoted to Full Professor in 2022. In September 2022 I started a 2-year fixed-term (80%) role as Behavioural Insights Lead at the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment.
Experience
I have published over 200 refereed publications, and have received local and international awards.
Over the years I have also held visiting scholar positions in universities around the world, including Humboldt University (Germany), Hokkaido University (Japan), California State University in San Marcos (USA), both University of Toulouse and Paris 8 University (France), University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal), and Federal University of Paraiba (Brazil).
Over the years I have also held visiting scholar positions in universities around the world, including Humboldt University (Germany), Hokkaido University (Japan), California State University in San Marcos (USA), both University of Toulouse and Paris 8 University (France), University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal), and Federal University of Paraiba (Brazil).
I am a member of the Advisory Board as well as Researcher of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey (NZAVS), lead by Professor Chris Sibley (The University of Auckland). The NZAVS is a longitudinal national probability study of social attitudes, personality and health outcomes. For more information about the study, click HERE
Awards
• 2020 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2018 Elected Fellow
Association for Psychological Science
• 2018 Discovery Project ($228,253)
Australian Research Council
• 2011 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2017 Research Excellence Award
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2014 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2013 GV Goddard Early Career Award New Zealand Psychological Society (for achievement and excellence in research and scholarship in basic psychological science)
• 2012-2014 Marsden Fast-Start Grant ($450,000)
Royal Society of New Zealand
• 2011 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2018 Elected Fellow
Association for Psychological Science
• 2018 Discovery Project ($228,253)
Australian Research Council
• 2011 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2017 Research Excellence Award
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2014 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2013 GV Goddard Early Career Award New Zealand Psychological Society (for achievement and excellence in research and scholarship in basic psychological science)
• 2012-2014 Marsden Fast-Start Grant ($450,000)
Royal Society of New Zealand
• 2011 Sabbatical Leave
Victoria University of Wellington
• 2010 Early Career Research Excellence Award Victoria University of Wellington
• 2009 Interamerican Award of Environmental Psychology (Student Category) Interamerican Society of Psychology
• 2008 Young Scientist Award
International Union of Psychological Science
• 2008 International Networking of Young Scientists Award
British Council of New Zealand
• 2007 Full Doctoral Completion AwardUniversity of Auckland (PhD degree awarded with no corrections to the thesis)
• 2005 World Youth Forum on Sustainability
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
• 2009 Interamerican Award of Environmental Psychology (Student Category) Interamerican Society of Psychology
• 2008 Young Scientist Award
International Union of Psychological Science
• 2008 International Networking of Young Scientists Award
British Council of New Zealand
• 2007 Full Doctoral Completion AwardUniversity of Auckland (PhD degree awarded with no corrections to the thesis)
• 2005 World Youth Forum on Sustainability
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Scholarships
• 2003-2006 International PhD Scholarship University of Auckland
• 2000-2001 MSc Scholarship Brazilian Ministry of Education
• 2000-2001 MSc Scholarship Brazilian Ministry of Education