Digital challenges at heart of cyberpsychology conference
The University of Huddersfield recently hosted a highly impactful Cyberpsychology Conference, organised by the Cyberpsychology Research Network (CRN) in collaboration with the Professional Doctoral Academy (PDA).
The event brought together experts from academia, law enforcement and industry to explore the most pressing issues in cyberpsychology, including online risks, sextortion and emerging digital threats.
The conference was opened by Professor Monty Adkins, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE). Speaking to the delegates, Professor Adkins underscored the importance of interdisciplinary research in tackling modern-day digital challenges and highlighted the University’s commitment to leveraging research to address key issues in public safety, mental health and technology ethics.
CRN addressing range of issues posed by technology
CRN co-founders and co-directors Professor Maria Ioannou and Dr Calli Tzani introduced the Cyberpsychology Research Network, which was founded with a vision to unify cutting-edge research initiated by its founders and their international collaborators under one umbrella. The network aims to develop innovative projects that address pressing societal issues, foster collaborative partnerships nationally and internationally and provide academic engagement through joint funding opportunities and multidisciplinary research.
“The Cyberpsychology Research Network began as a simple idea, one sparked by countless discussions and a shared concern about how technology is transforming our everyday lives. CRN was created to explore these transformations and unite researchers and practitioners who want to better understand how digital environments shape identity, alter our perceptions of reality and influence society at large,” said Professor Ioannou.
Amongst the speakers was Dr María José Garrido Antón, Head of Area at the State Secretariat for Security (SES), Ministry of the Interior in Spain. She was joined by Mara O’Halloran Fernández and Laura Morón Sánchez from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and presented on current cyber-related challenges affecting vulnerable populations.
From the UK, Heather Wilson, Detective Superintendent and Strategic Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Operation Soteria at West Yorkshire Police, addressed the intersection of digital crime and gender-based violence. Richard Wallis, Detective Inspector and Operational 4P Lead at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit, shared law enforcement perspectives on coordinated responses to cybercrime and prevention strategies.
Developing strong links between academia and law enforcement
The contributions from law enforcement representatives—both as speakers and attendees—highlighted the growing importance of collaboration between research and policing in tackling cybercrime and safeguarding online spaces.
The conference marks a significant milestone in the University’s efforts to lead the way in cyberpsychology research, with a clear commitment to societal impact and global reach. While an integral initiative of the CRN is the organisation of an annual international conference to share the latest research and strengthen the cyberpsychology research community.
“The success of this event reflects the very heart of CRN’s mission—to bring together diverse voices across academia, law enforcement, and industry to address the psychological implications of digital life. From online manipulation to digital resilience, our goal is to ensure research translates into action, training, and policy that protect and empower individuals in the digital age,” said Dr Tzani, Co-Founder of CRN.
The success of the conference was made possible through the dedicated efforts of many individuals. Special thanks go to the following PhD researchers, supervised by the founders and directors of the CRN:
- Sally Crosland for her instrumental role in coordinating the event
- Lucas Rogers and Summer Herbert, who presented integrative research conducted in CRN on sextortion and cyber sexual violence
- Dr Thomas Williams, Research Fellow at CRN, who played a key role in planning and delivering the event as well as the expansion of CRN.
Pictured in the main photo are:
Detective Inspector Richard Wallis, Detective Superintendent Heather Wilson, Professor Maria Ioannou, Professor Monty Adkins, Dr Calli Tzani, Mara O’Halloran Fernández, Dr María José Garrido Antón, Laura Morón Sánchez, Dr Dara Mojtahedi