Ganga is an Assistant Professor in Behavioural Science in ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳’s Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science and co-director of the MSc in Behavioural Science programme.
She is an applied behavioural and experimental economist studying how to change human behaviour in ways benefit people and the planet. Her research examines how people perceive and understand complex dilemmas like mass extinction and climate change, and consumer and citizen motivations and choices (e.g., diet, food waste, fashion, altruistic actions like giving time and money). She also studies how behavioural interventions (e.g. education and informational campaigns, nudges and incentives) can be transformative and create sustainable habits.
At the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Ganga teaches Behavioural Science for Planetary Wellbeing (PB435) at the MSc in Behavioural Science and Behavioural Policy Appraisal and Ethics (PB454E) at the EMSc in Behavioural Science. She is also an Affiliate of the Department of Geography and Environment, an Associate at the Grantham Research Institute of Climate Change and the Environment and the Inclusion Initiative, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
She has completed a PhD in Environmental Economics and a Master’s in Public Administration at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, and a Master’s in Development Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Prior to academia, she worked with the International Food Policy Research Institute on agricultural and food security policy.
Awards
1) Public Understanding of Mass Extinction: Explores public knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards the Sixth Mass Extinction, and support for transformative solutions to address it. Awarded by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳’s Research Research and Impact Support Fund.
2) Tackling Water Scarcity in Kuwait: Promoting sustainable household consumption: Explores the impact of people’s attitudes and beliefs underlying willingness to pay for water conservation and consumption habits in Kuwait. Awarded by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳’s Middle East Centre Kuwait Programme Research Grant (link).
3) Incentivising Acceptability of Climate Change Mitigation Measures in the GCC: Explores people's willingness to adopt associated low-carbon lifestyles in GCC countries in partnership with Canadian University Dubai. Awarded by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳’s Middle East Centre as part of their ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Academic Collaboration with Arab Universities Programme (link).