Ms Eleanor Ratcliffe
PhD Candidate
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Research Methods in Psychology (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Email: e.ratcliffe@surrey.ac.uk
Phone: Work: 01483 68 6899
Room no: 22 AD 04
Office hours
I work at home for part of the week, so contact by email is preferred in the first instance.
Further information
Biography
I am studying for a full-time PhD in Environmental Psychology in collaboration with the National Trust and Surrey Wildlife Trust. Funded by an ESRC CASE studentship, my PhD explores how natural sounds can improve mood and attention after stress or fatigue. My work has been covered by both UK and international media, including The Guardian, The Times, and BBC News, and featured on radio programmes such as Today, All In The Mind, and One Planet.
Before coming to Surrey I studied at Goldsmiths, University of London, where I passed MSc Research Methods in Psychology with Distinction, and also gained a BSc in Psychology with First Class Honours. In the course of my previous research I have studied attention restoration in mediated natural environments, and how this varies with individual differences in affinity with nature. More recently, I collaborated with BAA Heathrow and London Gatwick airports to study the restorative effects of views of aircraft in airport environments. I am currently working with the British Science Association and the University of Salford on an online experiment, Calls of the Wild, for National Science and Engineering Week 2013.
I am a student representative for Surrey within the South East Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), and I sit on the DTC's Working Group for External Networks and Engagement.
Supervisors: Dr. Birgitta Gatersleben and Dr. Paul Sowden
Research Interests
- Restorative environments
- Attention Restoration Theory
- Soundscapes
- Environmental affinity and connectedness to nature
Publications
Ratcliffe, E. (2013). What it says I don't know, but it sings a loud song: Reflections on birdsong, meaning, and place. National Trust Places blog (click to view).
Ratcliffe, E. (2012). Collaborative postgraduate research: What's in it for you? PsyPAG Quarterly, 84, 7-9.
Ratcliffe, E., & Freeman, J. (in revision). Aircraft Views in Airport Environments: Affective Appraisals and Relationships with Attention Restoration.
Ratcliffe, E., Gatersleben, B., & Sowden, P. T. (in preparation). Bird sounds and their contributions to perceived restoration from stress and directed attention fatigue.
Presentations
Ratcliffe, E. (2013, February). Conference of the birds: A case study on impact. Oral presentation at ESRC 1st Year PhD Doctoral Training Centre Conference, Central Hall Westminster, United Kingdom.
Ratcliffe, E., & Schmidt, S. (2013, January). Dawn Chorus. Multimedia experiential piece at 3rd Postgraduate Research Conference, University of Surrey, United Kingdom. Click here to view excerpts on Vimeo.
Ratcliffe, E. (2012, July). Collaborative postgraduate research: a case study. Oral presentation at the South East DTC's Annual Conference, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Ratcliffe, E., Gatersleben, B., & Sowden, P. T. (2012, June). Exploring perceptions of birdsong as a restorative stimulus. Oral presentation at 22nd International Association for Environment-People Studies (IAPS) Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Ratcliffe, E., Gatersleben, B., & Sowden, P. T. (2012, May). Exploring perceptions of birdsong as a restorative stimulus. Oral presentation at 13th Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology, Montpellier, France.
Ratcliffe, E., & Freeman, J. (2011, September). Attention restoration in airport environments - exploratory studies. Oral presentation 9th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Ratcliffe, E., & Freeman, J. (2011, May). Fascinating views and sounds - their relationships to attention restoration. Oral presentation at Media and the Senses Conference, Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom.
