BSPHN #26 was our biggest conference to date – View a recap →

BSPHN Conference 2026 – Complexity and Behavioural Science: Practical Strategies and Innovation for Complex Problems

March 2026

The 2026 conference at Leicester De Montfort University featured pre-conference workshops on 9 March and the main event on 10 March, offering interactive sessions, research presentations, and networking in public sector behavioural science.

BSPHN #26 was the biggest conference we’ve had to date. We had so much to share, it needed to spill over into a second day!! We had more posters, more delegates and more speakers than ever before. We had a Health Check machine, art installations, meet the author and a pop-up book store. We had beatboxing lessons and poetry from Leicester’s Poet Laureate. Oh, and ninjas…..

We started with an afternoon of interactive workshops, where delegates joined in sessions around Citizen Circles, how to evaluate impact using the COMPACT tool, and using arts for behaviour change.

On the main conference day, we were joined by esteemed keynote speakers Cecile Knai, Theresa Marteau and Paul Dolan. Unfortunately, Daisy Fancourt was unable to attend on the day, but has kindly provided a recording of her presentation for delegates to enjoy from home with a cup of tea!

Thanks to everyone who attended in any capacity. We hope to see you again next year, and in the meantime, here’s a recap….

Oral presentations

Download detailed abstracts for all the oral presentations

Using behavioural science to design and mainstream a self-service, digitally enabled NHS Health Check model for lower-uptake working-age adults – Paul R. Stokes (Cambridgeshire County Council)
From Insights to Impact: Applied Behavioural Science in Primary Care – Kate Abendstern (Caja Ltd)
Supporting adherence to UK lower-risk alcohol guidelines amongst middle-aged risky drinkers: a randomised trial of a brief intervention – Dominika Tkacova (Sheffield Hallam University)
Exploring the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Towards the HPV Vaccination and How this Impacts Intentions to Attend Screening Among Individuals Invited/Eligible for Their First Cervical Screening in Wales: A Qualitative Study – Caitlin Mason (Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, University of the West of England Bristol)
Developing a Behaviourally Informed Playbook for Life Course Immunization – Alina Ojha (Busara Center for Behavioral Economics)
Keep Your Cool, Ditch the Vape: A Behavioural-Science and Co-Creation Approach to Tackling Youth Vaping in Tameside – Magpie Creative Communications
Tackling Medicines Waste Through Behavioural Science: A Human-Centred Approach to Reducing Repeat Prescription Over-Ordering – Magpie Creative Communications

Driving digital adoption in London’s 111 services to improve care using patient insights and behavioural change approaches – Kate Lambe (Health Innovation Network)
Integrating Behavioural Science into PHW’s Leading for Improvement and Innovation Programme – Clara Barnes (Public Health Wales)
Better Conversations: Behavioural Science Strategies for Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy in Complex Systems – Caitlin Williams (ICE Creates)
Investigating the representation of behavioural factors in participatory systems maps illustrating ‘Thriving Net Zero Communities in the West Midlands’ – Naomi Bennett-Steele (University of Sussex)
Wales Without Violence: Integrating Behavioural Science to Support Whole System Change for Violence Prevention – Bryony Parry (Public Health Wales)
Supporting Staff Living with Diabetes Survey – Rhian Meaden (Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board)
Your Medicines, Your Health: Applying behavioural science to medicines optimisation – Jen Thomas & Dr Melda Lois Griffiths (Public Health Wales)
Improving fidelity and capability in addiction services: developing a behaviour change toolkit for Middlesbrough Council using the COM-B model – Dorothy Szinay (Applied Behaviour Change Ltd)

Designing for Diversity: Simplifying Complex Healthcare Navigation Through User-Centric Behavioural Design – Magpie Creative Communications
Using Behavioural Science and Real-World Data to Simplify Complexity in Community Prevention: Insights from Scalable, Self-Service Health Checks – Caitlin O’Brien (SISU Health)
Understanding Mental Health Help-Seeking in Black-Majority Faith Communities Using the COM-B Model and TDF Framework – Ope Atanda (London South Bank University)
Neighbourhood Approaches to Digital Inclusion: Using Participatory Behavioural Systems Mapping for Improving Digital Inclusion Intervention Outcomes for Older People – Lara Suraci (DG Cities)
COMMIT to change: a community-centred approach to tackling smoking inequalities in Gloucestershire – Tiago Moutela (Claremont)
Community Connectors: Improving cancer screening uptake through an innovative approach to campaign design and dissemination – Marta Campagnola (Claremont)
What really engages local communities in healthy lifestyle services? Learnings from a public health service in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – Emily Rayner (Claremont)