IOE Insights

Episódios

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  The first grant | Academia et al 03.08.2026 17min

  In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb speaks with Professor Lynn Ang about her route from preschool teaching to research leadership at the IOE. Professor Ang reflects on the doctoral journey that transformed her career, and recalls how a senior colleague sharing the details of a successful research grant application helped her also secure one of her own.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/aug/first-grant-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Painting our way through the PhD finish line and beyond | The PhD Sketchbook 22.07.2026 26min

  What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it?In their final episode of the series, Tooba and Louise talk about getting a PhD over the finish line, staying motivated in the face of challenges and discuss how they envision their future. You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jul/painting-our-way-through-phd-finish-line-and-beyond-phd-sketchbook More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioeMusic featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  Making sense of science education | Academia et al 13.07.2026 19min

  In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb speaks with Dr Jasper Green about a career that has moved between biology, classroom teaching, doctoral research and teacher education. Jasper shares how an inspiring biology teacher helped him develop a sense of identity within the subject, and how later academic experiences led him to questions about learning, misconceptions and what it means to teach science well. He also offers advice for early career researchers on thinking with precision, writing with confidence and taking time to understand smaller questions in greater depth.More about Dr Jasper Green and his work: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jul/making-sense-science-education-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  From glaciers to classrooms | Academia et al 29.06.2026 17min

  In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb talks to Professor Nicola Walshe about a career that has moved from studying glaciers to shaping climate change and sustainability education.Professor Walshe reflects on the currents that carried her from science into teaching, from classroom inquiry into education research, and from individual practice into collaborative work with schools, policymakers and colleagues. She also offers advice for early career researchers on following your passions, building partnerships and taking care of yourself while doing work that matters.More about Professor Nicola Walshe and her work: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/glaciers-classrooms-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Painting our way through balancing academia, research, and personal life | The PhD Sketchbook 25.06.2026 22min

  What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it? On a hot summer evening, Louise and Tooba meet at Louise's flat somewhere in London to reflect on balancing life and a PhD while painting our thoughts on canvases. Their conversation meanders along the tricky pathway of finding and maintaining the balance between pursuing PhD degrees, consistently striving for career development, and managing personal and medical commitments.  You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/painting-our-way-through-balancing-academia-research-and-personal-life-phd-sketchbook More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioeMusic featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  The village behind a career | Academia et al 15.06.2026 26min

  In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb speaks with Dr Gideon Sappor about the people and experiences that shaped his academic path. From his early ambitions in Ghana, Gideon traces the influence of his parents, his teachers, his PhD supervisor and senior colleagues who helped him understand how to develop and stay focused. He also reflects on inclusion, academic identity and the advice he would give to those beginning a career in research or higher education.More about Dr Gideon Sappor and his work: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/village-behind-career-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Teaching in fully-inclusive classrooms | The Staffroom 12.06.2026 41min

  Children with rare genetic syndromes are already in our classrooms, yet many teachers receive little training in how best to support them. So what does meaningful, practical, research-informed support actually look like?As the Department for Education gives renewed priority to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), experts discuss their research into children with neurodevelopmental disorders."Trying to be curious... not just the child and their different syndromes, but about their individual characteristics, curious about what information is already out there, curious about parent perspective as well... that's the key thing."Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/teaching-fully-inclusive-classrooms-staffroom-s06e07More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Starting academia later in life | Academia et al 01.06.2026 25min

  Dr Brian Irvine describes himself as an early career researcher, but not someone who is early in life. In this episode, he shares the varied experiences that brought him to the IOE, from teaching and childminding to specialist autism mentoring and doctoral study.His story highlights the value of bringing your whole life into research, including the skills and perspectives developed outside traditional academic roles. He also reflects on parenthood, purpose and the importance of making research more inclusive. It's your reminder that there is no single correct route into academia, and that different paths can lead to thoughtful, meaningful work.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/starting-academia-later-life-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  How do you sustain an academic career? | Academia et al 22.05.2026 11min

  In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb speaks with Professor Martin Oliver about what it really takes to build a career in academia today.Drawing on his own journey and leadership experience, he speaks about the realities of progression, the pressures many early career researchers face and the importance of recognising the human experiences behind academic systems.Professor Oliver discusses one of his most significant roles, bringing together equity and inclusion responsibilities with the real mechanisms of progression and promotion.  He explains what it taught him about lived experience, fairness and the systems that shape academic careers.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/how-do-you-sustain-academic-career-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Painting our way through data collection: memories and challenges in the field | The PhD Sketchbook 20.05.2026 22min

  What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it? Today Louise and Tooba are talking - and painting - about data collection. From paper to implementation, what really goes into designing thoughtful data collection methods, and then putting them into practice? What about how the researcher felt while conducting interviews or travelling to not‑so‑accessible places? These experiences colour not only the research, but also how we understand ourselves as researchers.You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/painting-our-way-through-data-collection-memories-and-challenges-field-phd-sketchbookMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioeMusic featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  When academia feels tough or uncertain | Academia et al 15.05.2026 27min

  Professor Richard Freeman joins Zeinab El-Khateeb to discuss the realities many researchers are feeling, and how easy it is to become pessimistic at times. But the heart of his message is supportive, reminding listeners that doctoral skills travel well and that people with doctorates often find satisfying work in many sectors, not only academia. His advice? Try not to lock yourself into only one definition of success, and stay open to what interests you as your career grows.Full show notes and links (including the MOOC - 'Is a PhD Right for Me?'): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/when-academia-feels-tough-or-uncertain-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Between identities, emotions and ethical practice in fieldwork​​ | Research Ethics 11.05.2026 27min

  What happens when a researcher’s own story becomes part of the data? And how do you ethically navigate moments when participants’ emotions – joy, frustration – surface in the interview process?In this episode, Dr Hakan Ergül speaks with Stephanie Hoi-Ying Chan, a PhD student at IOE. Stephanie’s doctoral research explores the lived experiences and professional identity development of primary music teachers in Hong Kong.Drawing on her background as a classically trained musician and former primary music teacher, Stephanie reflects on the ethical tensions of managing multiple identities in the field, handling emotionally charged interviews, and translating rich Cantonese narratives into English without losing meaning or voice.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/between-identities-emotions-and-ethical-practice-fieldwork-research-ethicsMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  When teacher education becomes a lifelong return | Academia et al 20.04.2026 22min

  Professor Caroline Daly explores the powerful pull of the IOE and how it shaped her academic identity over decades. She discusses how returning as a master’s student and then a tutor sparked new curiosity about online professional learning.Professor Daly offers an inside look at building cross‑institutional partnerships and co‑constructing programmes that support teacher inquiry. She highlights the transformative impact of mentoring networks and bilingual learning in Wales. For those starting out in academia, she emphasises staying open, staying connected and embracing the unexpected turns that shape a career.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/apr/when-teacher-education-becomes-lifelong-return-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  AI tech wearables and ethics​ | Research Ethics 17.04.2026 28min

  Hans Svennevig joins Dr Hakan Ergül to explore the ethical challenges that emerge as researchers use AI tools and wearable technologies.Hakan and Hans discuss how these systems complicate consent, privacy, autonomy, and the researcher–participant relationship. They ask whether existing ethical principles are robust enough for technologies that collect and interpret data continuously, often without active awareness.Their conversation draws on the AI and Technology Wearables Task and Finish Group Report and Recommendations (2025), commissioned by the UCL Institute of Education Research Ethics Committee and chaired by Hans.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/apr/ai-tech-wearables-and-ethics-research-ethicsMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Painting our way through milestones with a splash of colour | The PhD Sketchbook 15.04.2026 20min

  What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it? Louise and Tooba explore the first major milestones that shaped their PhD research paths. They think back to what support they had, what might have been different, and how it felt to go through those initial stages. You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/apr/painting-our-way-through-milestones-splash-colour-phd-sketchbookMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioeMusic featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  Following a new generation to understand childhood and inequality | Research for the Real World 13.04.2026 27min

  What does it take to create a study designed to last for generations?Professor Alissa Goodman joins Mark Quinn to talk about Generation New Era, a new birth cohort study that will follow 30,000 babies born in the UK in 2026. She describes how new approaches to data collection, including regular digital contact with families and the use of video data, will provide richer insights into children’s development.We hear about the challenges facing children growing up today, including economic uncertainty, digital technologies and pressures on families. The discussion considers how researchers balance responding to current policy priorities with building evidence that remains relevant in the future. Professor Goodman also reflects on the responsibility and opportunity involved in creating a public data resource that can support better decision-making for many years to come.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/apr/following-new-generation-understand-childhood-and-inequality-research-real-worldMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  The power of language, identity and education | Academia et al 30.03.2026 16min

  This conversation traces Professor Li Wei’s path from classroom teacher to Director and Dean of the UCL Institute of Education, showing how lived experience drove his research questions. He explains language shift in three generations and why some children become English‑dominant despite living in multilingual homes. With deep expertise in bilingualism and multilingual education, he shares evidence‑based ways to support heritage language maintenance. There's practical insights for educators, families, and early career researchers alike.More about Professor Li Wei and related links: https://uclioe.info/4sHzlJrMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Disinformation, misinformation and conspiracy theories | The Staffroom 27.03.2026 47min

  In an increasingly digital landscape, what can teachers do to guide, safeguard and support their students?Teacher training is largely designed for an analogue world, but teachers now find themselves in exactly the opposite of that. Disinformation and misinformation are on the rise and conspiracy theories have become ubiquitous.In conversation with our hosts Mark and Elaine, Jeremy Hayward weighs up the consequences of all this for the profession and provides some much-needed practical guidance for teachers and leaders."I don't think we're adequately preparing young people for a life online... We need a real reform of the curriculum, and we need to spend more time reflecting on why we believe what we believe."Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/disinformation-misinformation-and-conspiracy-theories-staffroom-s06e06More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Worked more, still got less | Research for the Real World 23.03.2026 29min

  We explore retirement readiness, gender gaps in pension wealth, and the real-life consequences of inequality across the life course.Dr Amy Harrison speaks with Dr Sam Parsons about what long-running birth cohort studies can reveal about people’s lives as they approach retirement. Full show notes and links to research: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/worked-more-still-got-less-research-real-worldMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
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  Painting our way through research, belonging, and London | The PhD Sketchbook 18.03.2026 15min

  What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it?Louise and Tooba are two international doctoral students at the UCL Institute of Education, and in 2026 they are navigating the third year of their PhD programmes. Each month they will meet to sit down, talk, and paint. These sessions turn reflective conversations into visual stories, using art to bring their PhD experience to life on the page - their 'PhD Sketchbook'.In this episode they explore the beginnings of their journeys: the “seeds” that motivated them to start a PhD, their paths to London, and the small moments that help an unfamiliar city slowly feel like home, all shared over canvas and colour.You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/painting-our-way-through-research-belonging-and-london-phd-sketchbook Music featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/