Prof Tim O'Brien

I’m not saying I’m boring - but - the lengths some people go to so they can avoid speaking to me on a train. This is taking it to a new level...

Confidence is not always a predictor of competence

Thinking about my dad today. My mum and dad were from Cork city. When I was a teenager, my mum would ask me to go and get my dad from the pub. She'd say, "If you can't see him, follow the laughter - and there he'll be, telling stories".

I was team psychologist when Arsenal played Real Madrid in 2006. Won 1-0. Thierry scored. Here's to a win for the Arsenal tonight. Come on you Gunners! Vamos!

Today, I have mostly been talking about how cognition and emotion is transmitted and embedded in groups and teams.

My new Thesaurus is useless. It is also useless

Architecture: Modern and classic showcased in the sun in Birmingham. Courtesy @Doctob #Birmingham #LookUpBirmingham

The results are in: I'm 98% Irish 2% Scottish

Is anyone else irritated by those plastic lids that have recently become far too emotionally attached to bottles?

All schools communicate with parents - but that doesn’t mean that all schools connect with parents.

We must be careful about sanctifying research as absolute truth. We must also be careful about interpretations of research that are driven by confirmation bias.

Tread very carefully if you meet someone who is in a hurry to let you know that they are an “expert”.

It is problematic framing resilience as a fixed personality trait that people have or do not have. Resilience is emergent. It is also context-dependent: we adapt to some contexts and not to others.

I've been a member of a DfE Expert Advisory Group (Wellbeing) due to my research/applied work in the field over many years. I said it then, and I say it now. DfE expert groups should always include teachers. I mean classroom teachers. Their voice -an expert voice- must be heard.

A bit windy in the Cairngorms #Scotland #Reindeer

Today I have mostly been giving a keynote about why we behave the way we do and how we can behave better than we feel.

I know the term 'non-verbal' is commonly applied to certain young children. However, some children might suddenly begin speaking, for example, at aged 8. This is why I prefer to use the term 'pre-verbal'.

I was one of the first people on the platform today. I did that thing of standing confidently in a particular place - as if I knew exactly where the train stops and the doors open. I now have about ten people around or behind me. I have no clue where the train will stop.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… stop giving them human names. It only encourages them #StormKathleen

When I was a child I went to a catholic school. We were told to pray to St Anthony if we lost something. One day I was given a tiny statue of St Anthony to take home. I lost it. I worked out that St Anthony would know I'd lost it. Me - 6 years old, frozen in existential angst.

A few months ago, I was pleased to accept the invitation to be the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board for the UCL Centre for Inclusive Education @UCL_IOE_CIE. I'm looking forward to our first board meeting next week .