Meet the IDEA team!

Stylianos (Stelios) Syropoulos is the Director of  of the Intergenerational Decisions and Effective Action (IDEA) Lab. His work seeks to understand the human dimensions of sustainability, by studying individual differences and interventions to promote sustainable living. Broader interests include human morality, prosociality, intergenerational decisions and intergroup conflict. Prior to starting the IDEA lab, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Morality Lab, the Social Influence and Social Change Lab, and the The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College. He obtained his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Kyle is a moral psychologist at the intersection of social-cognitive psychology and ethical philosophy trying to make the world a better place for living beings now and in the future. In particular, he studies the cognitive, affective, and moral architecture of exceptional altruism with the ultimate goal of harnessing insights gleaned from the laboratory to help inspire real-world action. Prior to joining IDEA Lab, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in The Morality Lab –– directed by Dr. Liane Young –– at Boston College. Before that, I completed my PhD in the Imagination and Cognition Lab –– directed by Dr. Brendan Bo O'Connor –– at SUNY Albany.

Kayla is a current student of Sustainability and Nonprofit Leadership and Management at Arizona State University. She has worked in several major nonprofits in the valley region, specializing in education, volunteer management, and philanthropy/fundraising. Post-graduation, she hopes to be involved in the intersection between the nonprofit sector and community-driven advocacy in sustainability, seeking innovative solutions to complex environmental issues. Further interests include inclusivity in the arts and solving food accessibility in urban spaces.

Mochi is a 6-year old calico female kitty who has been with Stelios and his research partner and wife Dr. Deborah Wu (fellow Assistant Professor at ASU) for 3 years now. During her tenure, she has definitely grown, well at least physically, as she gained 2 pounds. The vet says she is a happy kitty who is enjoying herself, so she is fine. Her research interests include finding treats, playing with her toys, and meowing excessively whenever she is hungry (which feels like it's all the time). Mochi's goal is to maintain her fluffiness at all costs, so she sleeps at least 12-15 hours a day, but when she is awake, she wants your attention.