IOE Insights

By UCL Institute of EducationSociety & Culture Education

IOE Insights episodes

August 03 The first grant | Academia et al
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-al
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
18 min
July 22 Painting our way through the PhD finish line and beyond | The PhD Sketchbook
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/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
Music featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
27 min
July 13 Making sense of science education | Academia et al
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-al
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
20 min
June 29 From glaciers to classrooms | Academia et al
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-al
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
18 min
June 25 Painting our way through balancing academia, research, and personal life | The PhD Sketchbook
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/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
Music featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
23 min
June 15 The village behind a career | Academia et al
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-al
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
26 min
June 12 Teaching in fully-inclusive classrooms | The Staffroom
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-s06e07
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
42 min
June 01 Starting academia later in life | Academia et al
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-al
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
26 min
May 22 How do you sustain an academic career? | Academia et al
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-al
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
12 min
May 20 Painting our way through data collection: memories and challenges in the field | The PhD Sketchbook
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-sketchbook
More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast
UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe
Music featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
23 min

About IOE Insights

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Thoughts and ideas on education, culture, psychology, social science and more from our academics, students, alumni and wider community to create lasting and evolving change. Podcasts brought to you by UCL Institute of Education (IOE), the world's leading centre for education and social science research, courses and teaching, and a faculty of University College London (UCL).