Dr. Anouk Smeekes

I'm an Associate Professor at the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science within the chairgroup Youth Studies at Utrecht University.

My research interests are in the field of social and political psychology/sociology. In particular, I study emotional responses and civic engagement of youth in relation to timely societal challenges, such as the climate crisis, the rise of populist radical-right parties and Europe's contested colonial past. 

In addition, I am involved as a teacher in the MERM Research Master (Ethnic prejudice course, thesis supervision), in the YDSC Master (Master thesis coordinator) and in the ISS bachelor program (e.g., Introductie ISW, BA thesis). I am also representing ISS in the Exam Comittee for the Bachelor programs in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. 

Currently, I am a consortium member and work package co-leader in a project on the changing colonial heritage in Europe (CONCILIARE) funded by Horizon Europe (2024-2027). I am also co-leading a research project on the developmental dynamics of climate anxiety and climate hope among youth, funded by an incentive grant from the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. 

 

Links