Dr Melisa Basol

Topics: Misinformation – Psychology

Dr. Melisa Basol is a renowned social psychologist and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. As a leading global expert in the psychology of misinformation, resilience, and social cohesion, she bridges the gap between research and practice. Her impactful, award-winning interventions have reached over hundreds of million people worldwide, countering misinformation and promoting societal resilience. 

Dr Basol led some of the largest and most influential prebunking campaigns to date. These include a prebunking campaign with Google and local partners ahead of the European Parliamentary election, reaching over 100 million people to equip citizens with skills to recognise and counter election misinformation. She has also contributed to initiatives in conflict-affected regions like Ukraine, supporting social cohesion, digital trust, and resilience against misinformation. Additionally, she co-developed Go Viral!, an award-winning game to combat COVID-19 conspiracies, as part of the United Nations and WHO’s “Stop the Spread” campaigns. The game, now translated into over 10 languages, has reached over 200 million people worldwide, empowering users to critically engage with online content on vaccines and health crises.

A recognised thought leader, Melisa frequently shares her expertise across institutions such as BBC World,  the European Commission, and appears on prominent podcasts, including UNICEF’s, where she discusses countering misinformation and the risks and possibilities of generative AI. Her work is featured in international media, top scientific journals, and she also lectures at leading universities worldwide.

Melisa founded Pulse, an innovation lab dedicated to crafting strategies for ethical and responsible technological innovation that serves all of society.