Meet The Education Researcher

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 sustainability education, teachers' and young people’s views on how environmental issues should be taught, and the benefits of applying a geographical mindset to education research.

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 ongoing research into how women and girls are encountering the consequences of online toxic masculinity in schools, and what steps can be taken to combat the problem.

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 ideas about the self and freedom, how teaching might be seen as a process of ‘bad faith’, and why teachers need talk candidly and honestly about the vulnerabilities of being in the classroom.

Alison is the author of ‘Being a Teacher: From Technicist to Existential Accounts’ (Springer, 2023).

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 insights that can be gained from thinking about ‘things’.

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 students to develop ‘side hustles’, and the need for research into the loneliness of university life.

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 also discuss the various student behaviours that teachers can perceive as disruptive, as well as how computer simulations can prepare trainee teachers to deal with the realities of classroom conflict.

Marcus is based at Linköping University - this interview took place at the 2023 NERA conference in Oslo.

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 topic, and why school security and safeguarding is something that all countries need to take seriously.

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 school, and what can be learnt from paying attention to mundane ‘invisible’ objects that are otherwise easily overlooked.

Jakob is based at Malmö University - this interview took place at the 2023 NERA conference in Oslo.

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, the difficulties of being a critical researcher in the current US political climate, and the need for academic writers to celebrate their small wins.

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 between national contexts, and how problems of resource scarcity in schools can lead to heightened tensions between different student groups.

Paul is based at Linkoping University - this interview took place at the 2023 NERA conference in Oslo.