Using human behaviour change theory to develop educational programmes promoting the conservation of critically endangered crested macaques (Macaca nigra) in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Applications are invited for a fully-funded three year PhD to commence in October 2025.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health within the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Science, within the Centre of Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, and will be supervised by Dr Jérôme Micheletta, Dr Leanne Proops and Dr Cressida Bowyer. 

Candidates applying for this project may be eligible to compete for one of a small number of bursaries available. Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees at the UK/EU rate for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2025/26). Bursary recipients will also receive a contribution of £1,500 per year towards consumables, conference, project or training costs.

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.

Human behaviour change models use psychological theories of human behaviour to develop interventions that change habits, beliefs and attitudes in order to promote positive and long-lasting behaviour change. These theoretical models are widely used to improve health outcomes and are increasingly being used in other fields, such as pro-environmental behaviour. However, the use of established pedagogy and behaviour change theory in the development of conservation education programmes is still in its infancy. Moreover, the impact and efficiency of these initiatives are rarely assessed systematically.

Despite this, in areas where primates are threatened, environmental education interventions and community initiatives are a crucial means to increase the local population’s knowledge of their environment and foster positive attitudes and behaviours to preserve the environment and wildlife. Since 2011, Tangkoko Conservation Education, the Macaca Nigra Project’s education programme has been implementing lessons and activities for school children aged 9-18 years old to encourage the local community to safeguard their local wildlife. The project focuses on the protection of crested macaques (Macaca nigra), a critically endangered Old World monkey found on only two islands in Indonesia where historically they were considered a pest and hunted for bushmeat. 

A recent evaluation of this programme revealed an overall positive impact but also highlighted some areas for improvement (Chanvin et al, 2023). Thus, aim of this PhD project is work alongside the local Indonesian communities, the Macaca Nigra Project and the Indonesian government to develop new theory-driven conservation education activities and materials that utilise methods including but not limited to participatory action research, arts-based education, and knowledge co-production. In tandem, the project aims to develop robust new evaluation tools and methods to assess the effectiveness of conservation education activities. 

This PhD is aimed at making important theoretical and applied contributions to the field of conservation education.

How to apply

If you have any project-specific questions please contact Dr Jérôme Micheletta (jerome.micheletta@port.ac.uk), quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, please use the online application form of the respective project on our PhD scholarships page. Please note that email applications are not accepted.

Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV.  Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code PSH50100125 when applying.