What is The Science or Fiction Podcast?
We interview researchers to separate the science from the fiction in news headlines on psychology and mental health.
Does social media damage teen mental health? Are mindfulness interventions effective? Why are young people lonely, and what can we do about it?
Youth development and mental health research scientist, Dr Kathryn Bates, started this with podcast with lived experienced young people to answer these big questions.
News headlines are increasingly alarming and the articles that go with them are increasingly short to grab our attention. We need to get to grips with the evidence behind the headlines to make informed decisions about the way we live our lives.
In each episode, we interview the researcher behind the study that has hit the headlines to empower our listeners with knowledge of the latest research methods and results from psychology and mental health science.
Why subscribe?
Catch new episodes on the first Monday of the month, and keep your eyes peeled for a live event in October with special guests!
We’d love to hear from you!
If you have suggestions for a future topic or would are interested in working with us as a youth advisor (only requirement is to be aged 16-24 years), please reach out: info@scienceorfiction.co.uk
Meet the team 🫶
Dr Kathryn Bates, Host and Producer
Hi! I am a Research Fellow at King’s College London in the LIFE-MAP Lab investigating how young people’s experience of the world - including adverse experiences and loneliness - relates to brain development, mental health, and cognition. I work with young people, charities, and educators in my research and use different methods from modelling development over time to understanding experiences from interviews. I started this podcast to make scientific research findings in mental health and psychology available to the public. Connect with me or find out more about my work here
Mariam Shah, Youth Advisor/Assistant Producer
Hello, I am a trainee clinical psychologist at King's College London with experience of working with young people in research and clinical settings. As a youth advisor I have supported the team in dissemination of their adversity in youth research, and I am helping to produce the Science or Fiction Live event. I believe that empowering young people to access, understand and contribute to scientific research that impacts them is of great importance. The Science or Fiction Podcast effectively opens the door to invite young people on this journey!
Alumni
Tin Tin Leong-Cheng, Assistant Producer: Tin Tin joined us as a King’s Undergraduate Research Fellow in the summer of 2024. She helped produce episodes and curated the From the headlines series.
Afraa Din, Youth Advisor/Assistant Producer: Afraa helped setup the podcast in 2021; she conducted focus groups with young people and helped produce the first series.
