SMU Professor of Psychology David Chan, who is also Director of the SMU Behavioural Sciences Initiative, is the first Asian and Singaporean to win the prestigious Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology's Raymond Katzell Award. Winners of this annual award are fêted for showing the public the importance of work done in industrial and organisational psychology to address social issues. Prof Chan, who has spent three decades in psychology research work, was recognised for his lifetime scientific and practical contributions.

The Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology (SIOP) has conferred the Raymond Katzell Award to SMU Professor of Psychology David Chan, who is also Director of the SMU Behavioural Sciences Initiative, for his outstanding contributions in using scientific research to address social issues and make a difference to people and society. Prof Chan is the first Singaporean and the first Asian to receive this top award. Prof Chan said, “It is always special to receive an award or be recognised by your peers.

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) has conferred the prestigious Raymond Katzell Award to Professor David Chan, Director of the Behavioural Sciences Initiative and Professor of Psychology of the Singapore Management University (SMU), for his outstanding contributions in using scientific research to address social issues and make a difference to people and society.

“We will all be better off if we get the psychology of disagreements and debate right, and not just the politics of it”, said Professor David Chan, at the SMU Behavioural Sciences Initiative Conference themed “Dealing with Disagreements” on 1 December 2021. Speaking to participants from academia and the public, private, and people sectors, he noted that different stakeholders such as the government, academics, journalists, and civil society advocates all have important roles in society, and therefore need to develop mutual respect and trust.

At a conference on identity, SMU Professor of Psychology and Director of the SMU Behavioural Sciences Initiative David Chan said it would be dangerous to act as if the Singaporean identity is the "only and most powerful force to bind people together and all other things don't matter". That is not the case, as common values and a respect for dignity can also bind people together. He noted that there is no country, government or people who in discussions deliberately leave out national identity and citizenship.

SMU Professor of Psychology and Director of the SMU Behavioural Sciences Initiative David Chan was a panellist at a conference on identity organised by the Institute of Policy Studies and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. He said that for platforms such as the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development to be effective, they must be made available, accessible and attractive for people to take part in.

Speaking at a panel discussion jointly organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), SMU Professor of Psychology and Director of the SMU Behavioural Sciences Initiative David Chan explained how identities are multi-dimensional, why some groups may be clashing from the standpoint of one set of identities and why getting angry online could be counter-productive.

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Volume 11 Issue 2 (June 2021)