EARLI Research Stories

In this episode, Chris and Leonie sit down with Dr. Antonia Zachariou, Dr. Valeska Grau Cárdenas and Dr. Pablo Torres, the coordinating team of SIG 28 (Play, Learning and Development), for a conversation spanning three continents and one shared academic home. about their academic journeys and the ideas that drive their work. They reflect on the paths that led them into research, the mentors and unexpected encouragement that shaped their career choices, and how a shared academic background has influenced their development as scholars.

They also dive into their current research interests and discuss what it means to step into a mentoring role themselves as coordinators of one of EARLI's youngest Special Interest Groups. Along the way, they reflect on educational inequality and the value of being seen and encouraged early in an academic career.

Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on research, mentorship, and the communities that shape us as scholars.

In this episode, Cris and Leonie welcome SIG 8 JURE Coordinators Tanja Bross and Jonne Bloem for a candid conversation about their desire to give back to a community that supported them, navigating academia as non-native English speakers, and challenging cultural stereotypes where building community is concerned.

The conversation allows both guests to reflect on the power of mentorship and early exposure to research opportunities, highlighting how these experiences shaped their career trajectories. Here they share insights on networking beyond personal advancement and creating more authentic connections in academic spaces.

They also discuss the differences of work-life balance between being a student and a post-doc, offering valuable perspectives for researchers at various stages. Tanja and Jonne round off the conversation by diving into the research focuses of SIG 8, touching on test anxiety, student welling, immersion experiences, and achievement goal theory.

Tune in to discover how small acts of community building can create lasting impact in educational research.

In this episode, Cris and Leonie sit down with Dr. Tino Endres for an engaging conversation about his academic journey and the ideas that drive his work. He reflects on the path that led him into research, the motivations behind his career choices, and how the EARLI community has shaped his development as a scholar.

They also dive into his current research, including projects on translingual work, and discuss emerging trends in the field, such as the growing attention to conditional effects in educational research. Along the way, Dr. Endres reflects on maintaining a healthy work–life balance.

Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on research, community, and the evolving landscape of educational science.

Welcome to the final episode of this season of the EARLI Research Stories podcast! As in our previous episode, we continue to celebrate EARLI’s 40th anniversary. In this episode, Cris talks with past presidents Sanna Järvelä and Hans Gruber about their careers, how EARLI has shaped their work, and their experiences leading the association. They reflect on the challenges and opportunities they encountered, share their future perspectives on the EARLI community and educational research trends, and offer thoughtful advice on maintaining a healthy work–life balance.

In this special episode, we celebrate EARLI’s 40th anniversary with a conversation with its founder, Erik de Corte. Join us as we revisit the association’s origins and explore how it carved out its own path. Tune in for an inside look at how it all began.

Join our podcast hosts, Cris, Leonie, and Rachel, as they sit down with the co-presidents of the upcoming EARLI 2025 conference for a rich and engaging conversation. Together, they explore Roland and Stephan's personal academic journeys, discuss emerging trends in educational research, and reflect on the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance in academia. The episode also offers a sneak peek into the EARLI 2025 conference theme and what participants can look forward to.

Prof. Robert Klassen (University of Oxford, UK) talks about his academic career development, research projects and work-life balance.

Prof. Emerita Kari Smith (Norwegian University of Science and Technology | NTNU) talks about her extraordinary career, starting out as an EFL teacher in Israel up until her involvement in the founding of The Norwegian National Research School in Teacher Education (NAFOL).

If anyone has had an interesting academic journey, it's Vincent Hoogerheide. A high school drop out at 15, he first worked as a postal worker while planning for a career as a bus driver. He slowly made his way back to a degree, and thanks to the support of his supervisors Sofie Loyens and Tamara Van Gog, he became one of the most productive educational researchers. Our hosts Cris and Rachel talk with Vincent about his extraordinary career, the importance of having a "research family" and how to maintain a good work-life balance along the way.

The EARLI Research Stories are back, with new hosts and new episodes! Meet Cris Castro, Leonie Johann and Rachel Shanks as they talk to Leen Catrysse (EARLI Board Member) to introduce themselves and their ideas for the second season.