The Power of Behavioral Science: how to Combat the Crisis of Engagement

We live in an age of perpetual distraction. Our attention is fragmented by endless information streams, notifications, and digital stimuli that pull us away from meaningful engagement. Yet motivation remains a finite resource—and we're squandering it on trivial pursuits while critical challenges like education, health, and civic participation struggle to capture sustained attention.

This presentation explores how behavioral science and design thinking can transform this crisis into opportunity. What if we could make children as excited about mathematics as they are about gaming? What if following traffic safety rules felt as rewarding as earning social media likes?
Companies like Duolingo have already cracked this code, making language learning addictive through gamification. The Fun Theory's Piano Stairs transformed mundane stair-climbing into a musical experience, while their Speed Camera Lottery rewarded law-abiding drivers instead of just punishing speeders.

Through science-backed frameworks and real-world case studies, we'll discover how to architect experiences that naturally align human psychology with positive outcomes. Drawing from successful implementations across Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Novartis, Samsung, and Porsche, as well as governments and universities worldwide, this session reveals practical tools for creating "addictive" experiences that serve the greater good.

Joris Beerda is a former diplomat turned behavioral scientist and international speaker specializing in gamification and human motivation. As Co-Founder of The Octalysis Group, he has helped organizations worldwide design more engaging and effective human experiences.

Related Materials:
In order to have a richer experience the organizers recommend that you have a look at the following material before the Meetup.

• "Gamification to improve our world" a TEDx talk by Yukai Chou: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Qjuegtiyc
• "Applying Behavioral Science" by Kaiser Permanente: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiK5oJ2qW-g
• "What behavioral sciences can do for healthcare" by Small Talk Big Issues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7GnsgBnb0M

Audience Level:
All ages (recommended 10+)

Event Details:
Date: Thursday 28th August, 2025
Time: 19.00 - 21.00
Venue:Public House, Sukhumvit 31

All BKKSci events are free of charge. Please consider supporting Public House by enjoying something from their menu during the evening—it's a small way to thank our hosts for making this space available.

See you there!