“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.”
_ Carl Jung
What is the
International Psychology Olympiad?
The International Psychology Olympiad takes all the elements of psychology and presents students with a platform to compete and evaluate their understanding of the different facets of psychology.
Psychology is the key to understanding how people:
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Feel
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Think
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Behave
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Remember
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Identity themselves
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Experience emotions
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Understand their role in society
The Olympiad is designed to give high school students the chance to explore all of these elements of psychology by challenging the new generation of thinkers to become the psychologists of tomorrow.
Whether students are:
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Fascinated by behavior
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Intrigued by mental health
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Curious about what shapes our decisions
The International Psychology Olympiad is the platform for students to showcase their insights and have their voice heard on a global stage.
Participants compete individually and submit essays online through a secure link. The national round response is capped at 1000 words and the international round responses at 1500 words.
Our judges panel of clinical psychologists and university lecturers evaluate submissions for depth, clarity, and originality, see Guidelines and Rules for more details.
"Olympiads are among the clearest markers of a student’s intellectual maturity. For subjects like psychology, which blend science, philosophy, and the arts, a high-level academic award like this can truly set a student apart."
—Dr. Amrita Verma, Harvard Clinical Psychology (PhD), Former Yale University Admissions Evaluator
Meet Our Judges
We are proud to introduce the judging panel for the International Psychology Olympiad. Our team includes clinical psychologists, professors of psychological theory and experimental design.
Their expertise spans everything from memory, emotion, and cognition to social behavior, development, and mental health.
Dr. Celeste L. Renaud
PhD, Cognitive Psychology – University of Geneva
MSc, Experimental Psychology – University of Edinburgh
BA, Philosophy and Psychology – McGill University
Dr. Renaud is a specialist in cognitive linguistics, exploring the interplay between language, thought, and memory. Her work focuses on multilingual cognition, attention processes, and the influence of conceptual metaphors in learning and behavior. She has conducted cross-cultural research in Switzerland, Canada, and Japan, and supervised numerous theses on bilingualism and semantic memory. Dr. Renaud is known for her holistic mentoring approach and has served as a lead reviewer for journals on language and cognition.
Dr. Isaiah Omondi Njeri
PhD, Cultural Psychology – University of Cape Town
MA, Social Psychology – Columbia University
BA, Psychology and African Studies – University of Nairobi
Dr. Njeri’s research centers on identity development, ritual, and narrative within post-colonial and indigenous frameworks. He has conducted fieldwork in East Africa and the Caribbean, examining the psychological effects of oral traditions, communal memory, and trauma healing. He is also a co-founder of the Pan-African Research Network on Indigenous Psychology. Dr. Njeri is highly regarded for integrating ethnographic methods with classic psychological theory in his mentorship.
Dr. Roxana S. Ivankovich
PhD, Clinical Neuropsychology – King’s College London
MPhil, Neuroscience – University of Oslo
BSc, Psychology (Honours) – University of Belgrade
Dr. Ivankovich specializes in emotion regulation, brain trauma, and adolescent neurodevelopment. A former clinical consultant for UNICEF mental health programs, her research merges clinical practice with neuroscience, focusing on vulnerable populations. She is a frequent speaker at international brain and behavior conferences and has mentored doctoral students on neuroplasticity, executive function, and trauma-informed interventions. Her interdisciplinary training shapes her rigorous and empathetic judging style.
Professor Nathaniel C. Wyatt
MA and BA, Psychology – University of Oxford
Postgraduate Diploma, Performance Studies – Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
Prof. Wyatt is a performer-scholar, known for his pioneering work in performance psychology, embodiment, and group dynamics. With a decade in theatre and a second career in academic psychology, he brings a unique lens to topics like emotional intelligence, self-presentation, and improvisation as therapeutic practice. He has taught psychology at several UK institutions and has advised education and arts organizations on emotional learning frameworks. Prof. Wyatt adds depth, warmth, and creativity to the judging panel.