In this episode, hosts Dr Sara Black and Dr Pippa Sterk speak with Dr Tania de St Croix and Louise Doherty about their research into how youth work is being reshaped by impact measurement and policy reform.

Having started off as youth workers, both Tania and Louise journeyed into academia through their desire to research the field within which they worked, which has been the subject of continual budget cuts and changes implemented by policy. They joined forces on the research project ‘Rethinking impact, evaluation and accountability in youth work’ in 2017.

Drawing on their article “Embers and Fragments,” they reflect on the pressures of proving value in a field rooted in trust, relationships, and voluntary participation. Together, they challenge the rise of a deficit-based model that demands evidence from marginalised young people, and explore how creative, critical research can help protect the future of youth work.

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In this episode, hosts Dr Sara Black and Liam Cini O’Dwyer are joined by Dr Sarah Steadman to explore her research into the emotional and complex journey of becoming a teacher.

Dr Steadman, a lecturer in English Education and Programme Director for PGCE courses at King’s College London, shares how her doctoral research unexpectedly led her to a deeper exploration of teacher identity—an area often overlooked in mainstream educational research. Rather than focusing on programme designers or institutional structures, her work centres the voices and lived experiences of the trainees themselves.

Our hosts and guest reflect on the pressure trainee teachers face, the complexity of navigating one’s sense of self in the classroom, and the individualistic nature of teaching in an increasingly standardised policy environment. Dr Steadman underscores the importance of acknowledging teacher identity in efforts to tackle recruitment and retention, especially as the profession continues to weather crises—from pandemic disruptions to policy shifts.

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On this episode of ‘It’s Just Research: Critically Questioning the world we live in,’ In this episode, hosts Dr Sara Black and Dr Pippa Sterk are joined by Dr Antonia Dawes to discuss her critical research into the presence of the military in the UK and its enduring imprint on the national psyche.

We delve into how military power is normalised in public life, through everything from Remembrance Day rituals to the symbolism of the poppy. And Antonia reflects on the contradictions of military expansion framed as ecological stewardship—such as protecting fairy shrimp in tank-made ponds—while questioning the secrecy around military spending and access.

Antonia's latest book, England's Military Heartland: Preparing for War on Salisbury Plains, is out now and shifts focus to the sprawling Salisbury Plain Training Area—the largest military training site in the UK.

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On this episode of ‘It’s Just Research: Critically Questioning the world we live in,’ hosts Liam Cini O'Dwyer and Dr Sara Black discuss Sara's PhD research into critical geography and the sociology of trust.

This conversation explores how education is deeply tied to social justice through the lens of time and space. Dr Black explains how schools act as a microcosm of our relationship with the state, revealing broader patterns of mistrust in public institutions. She also unpacks how critical geography helps us understand who benefits from education and who is left behind, touching on issues of wealth, class, and access. The discussion also delves into how poverty manifests in time—how far ahead someone can plan their future—and how this affects everything from school applications to daily commutes.

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Follow us:

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Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/its-just-research-an-ecs-podcast

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We kickstarted Season 2 of ‘It’s Just Research: Critically Questioning the world we live in,’ with our hosts catching up. And on this episode we have our first guest of the season, Dr Sophie Perry.

Hosts Dr Pippa Sterk and Liam Cini O'Dwyer are joined by Sophie Perry, a Lecturer in the School of Education, Communication and Society. Sophie shares with us her research into transformative educational practices and why she thinks education must change in order to address growing inequalities and accelerating social and environmental issues.

We also dig deep into the prevalence and problematic nature of ‘grind culture’ in the education sector, where Sophie challenges the presumption that ‘grind culture’ is the only way to make meaningful change.

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This episode of ‘It’s Just Research: Critically Questioning the world we live in,’ is our summer special and season finale. Hosts Dr Sara Black and Liam Cini O'Dwyer are joined by John Owens, a Senior Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy and Melissa Glackin, a Reader in Science & Environmental Education. Both are based in the School of Education, Communication and Society. In a group discussion John and Melissa share their research and practice within the fields of environmental education and climate crisis.

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In this episode of ‘It’s Just Research: Critically Questioning the world we live in,’ hosts Dr Sara Black and Liam Cini O'Dwyer are joined by Christine Harrison, a Professor of Science Education in the School of Education, Communication and Society. Christine reminisces on her pivotal collaborations with Professor Paul Black, who is very notable and at the forefront of physics and science education, which influenced her career path and the broader educational landscape. Their collective work, especially the influential 1998 review, revolutionised classroom assessment practices globally by showing how they can profoundly affect teaching methods and student learning.

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Email: justresearch-ecs@kcl.ac.uk

Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/its-just-research-an-ecs-podcast

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