Professor Andrew Kemp

Professor Kemp teaches research methods, positive psychology and wellbeing science across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the School of Psychology. His teaching connects psychological theory, research evidence and real-world questions about wellbeing, resilience and human flourishing. His third-year positive psychology module has been recognised by Advance HE as an example of good practice in embedding health and wellbeing in the curriculum, and this work has informed wider developments in student wellbeing education.

Professor Kemp’s research explores how individuals, communities and places can flourish amid social, ecological and public health challenges. His work spans psychophysiology, affective neuroscience, epidemiology, wellbeing science, positive psychology and climate psychology, with a focus on sustainable wellbeing. His GENIAL framework brings together psychological, biological, social and environmental perspectives on wellbeing, emphasising connection to self, others and nature. This work also contributes to the Inner Development Goals, an initiative focused on promoting the inner capacities needed to respond to complex social and ecological challenges. Andrew's research informs research and practice across higher education, acquired brain injury rehabilitation, community wellbeing and climate adaptation. Recent work includes a Nature Human Behaviour network meta-analysis of wellbeing-focused interventions and the AHRC-funded REPAIR project on nature-based climate adaptation and biophilic living, including research on how buildings, housing and urban design can support healthier, fairer and more resilient communities.

Selected awards include:

• Doctor of Science (2019), University of Melbourne, Australia
• Fellow (2017), Association for Psychological Science, United States
• Fellow (2019), British Psychological Society, United Kingdom
• Fellow (2018), Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom

Professor Kemp works across disciplines and sectors to develop research that can support healthier, more connected and more sustainable communities. He co-leads a major AHRC Mission Award (REPAIR) on nature-based climate adaptation, collaborating with colleagues across arts, humanities and sciences as well as public, third-sector and community partners. He is co-director of the Sustainable Wellbeing Research Group in the School of Psychology and contributes to the Inner Development Goals initiative, linking inner development, systems thinking and sustainable transformation. He is also a steering committee member and theme lead within Swansea University’s Climate Action Research Institute, and holds an honorary Clinical Researcher role with the Community Brain Injury Service at Morriston Hospital.