Today we introduce Dr Helen Knight, Helen is the Director of Education for the School of Psychology and a Senior Lecturer. Get to know Helen a little more here:
What are you currently watching on TV?
I am currently (re)watching an 8-part miniseries called Fellow Travelers and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It primarily tells the story of two men who meet and fall in love during 1950s McCarthyism and the “Red Scare” in America, and tracks their relationship through the 60s, 70s and 80s. It is an absolutely beautiful, heart wrenching and bruising story, that also serves as an LGBTQIA+ history lesson as it delves into a lesser-known event called the “Lavender Scare”. From The White House’s own website, they describe this as a “decades-long period when 5,000 to 10,000 LGBTQI+ Federal employees were investigated, were interrogated, and lost their jobs simply because of who they were and whom they loved”. It also touches upon race, intersectionality, grief, the AIDS crisis, and more. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
There’s a few things I like to do! When I have the energy, I love to go running and I try to go walking regularly as well – the local area around Aberdeenshire is stunning. I play Dungeons and Dragons with a great group of people every week (… can I cast fireball again, please??), and I play music (mainly the flugelhorn).
What drew you to your current profession?
I’ve always had an inquisitive mind. I used to drive my mum around the bend when I was growing up because I just wouldn’t stop asking questions. The questions were mostly down to understanding myself and other people more (How do we see? What exactly is a memory? How do we learn? What makes me want to do XYZ?). So, when I discovered that psychology was a subject you can study, I dove right in, and I’ve never left. Most of my time is spent on the more top-down elements of the School – what our curriculum as a whole looks like, how we can develop it, how we can stay innovative – but I also teach, research, engage in outreach, and more. I’m very lucky.
What's your go-to strategy for staying productive during the workday?
I am a sucker for writing to-do lists. I love a good list. I have a master list, then break this down in terms of weekly tasks and then tasks I’d like to accomplish on each day (with flexibility built in, because something will always crop up). Other tips include that I don’t have notifications turned on for anything – no Teams, no email. Instead, I have set times throughout the day where I will check my email (for example) and reply to a bunch in one go. It helps me to stay focus and not get distracted by a pop-up message or different pings from my computer, and I’ve found it has worked wonders for productivity.
City or country?
Country. Big cities get too much for me.
Night out or night in?
I love a nice night in with my Himalayan Salt Lamp, a mood light, a blanket and some tea! Bliss!
While walking: Podcast or music?
It depends how busy my mind is. Sometimes I need to put on a podcast to help focus racing thoughts. Other times, I love getting lost in music.
Dr Helen Knight
School of Psychology
