BPS Awards in Psychology
Posted on 20 June 2025
The BPS is delighted to announce Mike Burton as the winner of the Research Board's Lifetime Achievement award 2025.
The Lifetime Achievement award recognises a psychologist who has had an impressive and impactful career in psychological research. It also celebrates their achievements outside of academia such as publishing books and papers, supervision and leading research groups.
Mike's early work was in social psychology and AI, however he began to study face perception in the early 1990s and has focussed on that topic ever since. His work on familiar faces emphasises the natural patterns of our exposure to one another, usually employing behavioural and computational methods. He also has an applied interest in identification for security and forensic purposes, and has published work with police and passport officers.
He is currently Professor of Psychology at the University of York and Professorial Fellow at Bond University, Australia, and has previously worked at the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Stirling and Nottingham.
Mike has taken on various roles throughout his career, serving three terms of office as Head of Department (in Glasgow and York), twice on the national Research Excellence Framework panel, and as President of the Experimental Psychology Society.
On being presented with the award, Mike said:
"I am delighted to receive this award and very grateful to the BPS for the honour. I have been very fortunate to work with some outstanding collaborators and colleagues over the years, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them."
As part of the award, Mike will receive a lifetime membership of the British Psychological Society and £1,000 to spend on an area of research.
Visit our website to see all the available BPS awards and grants that members can apply for.