Academic research is becoming increasingly peripheral to education policy-makers and practitioners. Prof. Sally Power (Cardiff University) talks about the current shortcomings of our work, and how education research might be reinvigorated thr

Academics’ use of social media and generative AI (Mark Carrigan)

Mar 13th, 2024 26m 21s

Why did Twitter so quickly fall apart as a place for scholarship? Where are academics now going for their social media buzz? How can you use Chat GPT as a genuinely useful interlocutor? Mark Carrigan (University of Manchester) joins us to tal

Educational leadership, gender and race (Pontso Moorosi)

Feb 24th, 2024 19m 7s

A/Prof Pontso Moorosi (University of Warwick) joins us to talk about her research on leadership preparation in South African schools, and the varying experiences of Black women school principals around the world.

Sustainability and climate change education (Lizzie Rushton)

Jan 27th, 2024 18m 38s

How can schools tackle issues of sustainability and climate change? Prof. Lizzie Rushton (University of Stirling) talks about her research around environmental education in England and Scotland. We discuss the current state of UK sustainabi

Schools and online ‘toxic masculinity’ (Stephanie Wescott)

Nov 29th, 2023 15m 36s

Schools are beginning to report a notable change in boys’ behaviour as a result of their increased exposure to the so-called ‘manosphere’ and online extremist influencers like Andrew Tate. Dr. Stephanie Wescott (Monash University) talks about

Teachers and existentialist philosophy (Alison Brady)

Oct 31st, 2023 26m 37s

What relevance does existentialism have for teachers? Dr. Alison Brady (UCL) uses the existentialist philosophy of Jean Paul Sartre to rethink what it means for teachers to reflect and account for their own practice. We talk about Sartre’s

Actor-Network Theory (Helene Ratner)

Oct 4th, 2023 26m 31s

Actor-Network Theory is growing in popularity in education research. Helene Friis Ratner (Aarhus University) discusses the strengths and limitations of ANT, how this approach can be best applied to understand education, and the fascinating in

Student experiences of higher education (Kirsty Finn)

Sep 5th, 2023 18m 3s

Dr. Kirsty Finn (University of Manchester) researches a wide range of sociological issues related to students and higher education. We discuss Kirsty’s interest in student mobilities, the gendered ways in which universities are encouraging s

Classroom management (Marcus Samuelsson)

Aug 1st, 2023 16m 33s

Marcus Samuelsson researches issues of classroom management with Swedish teachers. We talk about how Marcus has shifted from talking about ‘classroom management’ to ideas of ‘classroom leadership’ and ‘teaching through interactions’. We als

School shootings and student safety (Nadine M. Connell)

Jul 3rd, 2023 16m 17s

Nadine M. Connell (Griffith University) is a criminologist working in the area of school safety. We discuss Nadine’s research around school shootings in the US, how she navigates the politically-charged nature of public debate around this top

Everyday objects of education (Jakob Billmayer)

Jun 3rd, 2023 19m 46s

Dr. Jakob Billmayer is fascinated by the ordinary aspects of education – from classroom doors and furniture, through to students' school-bags and Jamie Oliver’s cook-books. We talk about socio-materialism, Foucault’s historical accounts of sc

Critical race theory in science teacher education (Felicia Moore Mensah)

May 6th, 2023 17m 52s

Prof. Felicia Moore Mensah (Teachers College) works in the area of science education and teacher preparation. We talk about Felicia’s application of critical race theory to science and STEM education, the power of teacher counter-storytelling

Bullying in schools (Paul Horton)

Apr 9th, 2023 13m 36s

Dr. Paul Horton's work addresses school bullying in terms of the social, institutional, and societal contexts within which it occurs. We talk about the benefits of researching bullying as a relational issue, the ways in which bullying differs

The importance of teachers’ talk (Adam Lefstein)

Mar 12th, 2023 15m 3s

Adam Lefstein (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) discusses his recent research on teachers’ talk as a form of professional learning. We discuss the nature of ‘pedagogically productive talk’, how this can be supported within schools, and why onl

Datafication and education policy (Sam Sellar)

Feb 13th, 2023 25m 33s

Sam Sellar (UniSA) is a leading commentator on the rise of numbers and data in education and education policy. We discuss the phenomenon of ‘PISA-shock’, the emergence of algorithms, AI and ‘synthetic governance’ in education, as well as the

Inequalities in STEM participation (Louise Archer)

Jan 18th, 2023 15m 34s

Professor Louise Archer (UCL) is involved in large-scale research looking at inequalities in young people’s participation in STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths. We talk about the importance of young people’s ‘science capital’,

The hard work of being a teacher (Nicole Mockler)

Nov 24th, 2022 17m 6s

Prof Nicole Mockler (University of Sydney) is well-known for her work on the teaching profession and education policy. We talk about Nicole's recent study of news media representations of teachers, her ongoing project on how teachers manage t

Inequalities in early years and primary education (Alice Bradbury)

Nov 1st, 2022 17m 39s

Professor Alice Bradbury (UCL) is a leading sociologist of early years and primary education, focusing on matters of inequality and social justice. We talk about Alice’s research on phonics teaching in English primary schools, the dataficatio

The International Baccalaureate (Julia Resnik)

Oct 8th, 2022 14m 58s

Prof. Julia Resnik (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) talks about her ongoing research into the International Baccalaureate – comparing the program’s take-up in US and Canada through to Argentina, Ecuador and Chile. We discuss how the idealisti

Techno-scepticism in the classroom (Marie Heath)

Sep 18th, 2022 17m 21s

“I’m not anti-technology … I’m pro-justice”. Dr. Marie Heath (Loyola University) works to encourage an informed scepticism about digital technology in education. We talk about getting critical tech issues into Social Studies lessons, conduc

Education in an era of pervasive automation (Mark Andrejevic)

Aug 31st, 2022 34m 58s

Mark Andrejevic (Monash University) is a leading commentator on surveillance, information and digital media. In this interview Mark looks back on his highly acclaimed 2020 book ‘Automated Media’, and considers how these issues are beginning t

Students’ engagement with work and employment (Alison Taylor)

Aug 3rd, 2022 16m 25s

Professor Alison Taylor (UBC) has spent her career looking at the interplay between students, education, work and the economy. We talk about the changing nature of student life in time of precarious employment, the limitations of talking abou

What makes for ‘good’ education research? (Bob Lingard)

Jul 8th, 2022 20m 43s

Professor Bob Lingard (ACU) reflects on the art and craft of being an education researcher. He talks about the distinction between ‘education’ research and ‘educational’ research, standing up for the added value of university-based research,

Bringing ‘knowledge’ back in (Kate O’Connor)

Jun 23rd, 2022 16m 26s

Knowledge is a fundamental aspect of education, but something that education research rarely addresses head-on. Dr. Kate O’Connor (La Trobe University) specialises in the sociology of knowledge, and in this episode talks about her work around

Schools and sexuality (Jen Gilbert)

May 28th, 2022 16m 24s

Prof Jen Gilbert (York University) is a leading international researcher in the area of sexuality, gender and education. We talk about school as a site of sexuality, Jen’s use of storytelling methods, tips for dealing with the media, and how