Nathaniel Barr, PhD, is a Senior Innovation Advisor at BEworks. In addition, he is a Professor of Creativity and Creative Thinking at Sheridan College. Prior to these roles, he earned his PhD and held a postdoctoral research fellow in the Psychology Department at the University of Waterloo. 

Nathaniel brings his expertise in human cognition and behavior to BEworks in a variety of capacities spanning strategy, practice, and innovation. His contributions range from interfacing with clients in diverse sectors, fostering partnerships with various academics and organizations, and envisioning how behavioral science, and BEworks, can solve important challenges and drive innovation. 

In the academic sphere, Nathaniel is an award-winning lecturer and researcher who’s work on bridging creativity and behavioral science has been funded by multiple federal research grants. He has published popular and scientific articles on a wide variety of topics within the cognitive and behavioral sciences including creativity, innovation, the intersection of thinking and technology, how best to align human and artificial intelligence in the workforce, the psychology of belief, and how to apply behavioral science toward solving the greatest challenges of this era. His research has been covered extensively in the media, including Scientific American, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal and he frequently acts as an expert commentator for print, radio, and television.

What is a big idea or question Nate has been thinking about?

“In an era defined by human impact, the most important questions to answer are ones about ourselves. We must learn about how we, as humans, think and act, and then use that knowledge to improve outcomes for people around the world. Behavioral science offers both insights and methods to accomplish these aims, and holds special promise in securing a safe and prosperous future for humanity.”