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Cubicus

prof.dr. E. Giebels (Ellen)

Full Professor
BMS-HIB-PCRS
Cubicus C243B
e.giebels@utwente.nl
+31534896051
Business card

I am a social and organisational psychologist (PhD, University of Groningen 1999) interested in human reactions and social interactions in high-risk, high-stakes situations. Key topics are:

  • Conflict and negotiation
  • Social influence and change interventions
  • Crime, coping and resilience
  • Social context of risks/crises

Highlights

About two decades ago, I became passionate about the field of hostage negotiations leading to collaboration with hostage negotiation teams from all over the world. I worked for a year within the Belgian Federal Police (Behavioural Science Unit) and still teach in the national Dutch hostage negotiation course. In 2015, I was part of the research team that officially evaluated the Dutch governmental functioning following the MH17 disaster. In 2017-2018, I chaired an independent committee commissioned by the State Secretary (Ministry of Defence) investigating the social safety climate within the Military (Committee Giebels).

Academic

In 2012, I received the RUBIN theory-to-practice award, co-sponsored by the International Association for Conflict Management (IACM) and the Harvard University Program on Negotiation. In 2017, I was elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. In 2019, I initiated the development of an innovative theatre program about academic integrity and “working life” in academia named Mindlab.

In 2024, our ADAPT team (led by Beatrice the Graaf) received a NWO gravitation grant. ADAPT combines insights from psychology, history, philosophy and public administration science to find out what the determinants of successful societal crisis responses are and how communities can better adapt to future crises. Together with citizens and frontline professionals, and with Adapt! Academy we will translate research findings into tools and strategies that help societies navigate through crises.

Governance

As a vice-dean of research at the Faculty of Behavioural, Management, and Social Sciences (2014-2022), I co-initiated a program on more cross-disciplinary research cooperation including a strong connection with technology (Tech4People program), and founded the BMSlab. Since June 2020, I am part of the Supervisory Board of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (vice-chair per 2023).

 

Additional roles/appointment (selection)

2022-            Member/chair of several evaluation panels (ITK-midterm/NVAO)           (Leiden University, VU University Amsterdam, University of Twente, Radboud University)

2021-           Chair VU-UT Impact Coalition Creating Secure Societies                           (together with Jacquelien van Stekelenburg-VU)

2019-2023            Member task force NWA route NeurolabNL-theme safety and security

2017- 2022    Board member Kurt Lewin Institute (KLI)

2011-2020     Head of Department Psychology of Conflict, Risk & Safety

Organisations

Ancillary activities

  • TNO Defensie & VeiligheidLid Strategische Adviesraad
  • Dutch PoliceWetenschappelijke Adviesraad Politie
  • LOWIRaad van Advies LOWI (namens NWO)
  • Erasmus University RotterdamRaad van Toezicht/Supervisory Board
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