Jason Ilagan

As societies face growing political and social tensions, citizenship education is increasingly being asked to help young people make sense of the world around them. In this episode, Jason Ilagan hears from Hans Svennevig about research into the knowledge citizenship teachers need and how classrooms can support informed, active participation in society. The conversation explores democracy, human rights, identity, sustainability, peace education and the ethical challenges raised by artificial intelligence. Hans reflects on what it means to educate citizens for an uncertain future and why citizenship education is ultimately about empowering young people to take action. Full show notes and links to follow. More Research for the Real World: https://uclioe.info/rftrw More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

10 years after the Brexit referendum, was Britain’s departure from the European Union inevitable or did it depend on a series of political choices? Mark Quinn speaks with Dr Roch Dunin-Wąsowicz and Max Josef Migden about their research comparing Britain’s experience with the prospect of Poland leaving the EU. They introduce a framework exploring how national structures, political narratives and the actions of influential politicians can combine to make "Polexit" possible. Why would a largely pro-European population continue to elect Eurosceptic leaders? Could Poland leave without holding a referendum? We also hear how the EU has changed since Brexit and why populist politicians may now be more interested in reshaping it than leaving it. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/sep/how-other-countries-could-leave-eu-research-real-world More Research for the Real World: https://uclioe.info/rftrw More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe Photo: FotoDax / Adobe Stock

We explore how conservative Christian women have become influential organisers, campaigners and political actors in the United States. Jason Ilagan is joined by Dr Katie Gaddini, who has drawn on a decade of ethnographic research with her new book ‘Esther’s Army’ challenging assumptions that women in right-wing movements are politically passive, instead revealing the diverse ways they organise, mobilise and influence political life. We hear how ideas around motherhood, protection and empowerment have become powerful political tools, and considers what these developments can tell us about the future of political mobilisation both in the US and beyond. The episode examines what these trends mean for policymakers, educators and anyone seeking to understand an increasingly polarised political landscape. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/sep/women-reshaping-conservative-politics-america-research-real-world More Research for the Real World: https://uclioe.info/rftrw More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe Photo: Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Political movements are crossing borders and challenging established ideas about power and participation. Researchers take us inside political movements in the US and Europe before turning to the classroom to ask how people can learn to navigate disagreement, uncertainty and change. Upcoming episodes: The role of Christian women in right-wing American politics - Dr Katie Gaddini A Polish Brexit and populism in Europe - Dr Roch Dunin-Wasowicz and Max Midgen How schools and teachers can help young citizens navigate social and political division - Hans Svennevig More Research for the Real World episodes: https://uclioe.info/rftrw More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

What does it take to create a study designed to last for generations? Professor Alissa Goodman joins Mark Quinn to talk about Generation New Era, a new birth cohort study that will follow 30,000 babies born in the UK in 2026. She describes how new approaches to data collection, including regular digital contact with families and the use of video data, will provide richer insights into children’s development. We hear about the challenges facing children growing up today, including economic uncertainty, digital technologies and pressures on families. The discussion considers how researchers balance responding to current policy priorities with building evidence that remains relevant in the future. Professor Goodman also reflects on the responsibility and opportunity involved in creating a public data resource that can support better decision-making for many years to come. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/apr/following-new-generation-understand-childhood-and-inequality-research-real-world More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

We explore retirement readiness, gender gaps in pension wealth, and the real-life consequences of inequality across the life course. Dr Amy Harrison speaks with Dr Sam Parsons about what long-running birth cohort studies can reveal about people’s lives as they approach retirement. Full show notes and links to research: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/worked-more-still-got-less-research-real-world More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

Mark Quinn speaks with Dr Gergo Baranyi about researching environment and health with a lifecourse approach, using data that follows people over time. Dr Baranyi describes how linking cohort data to administrative and geospatial sources can paint a richer picture of exposure than using a single home address alone. They discuss how these methods can connect housing and neighbourhood conditions to outcomes that matter, including schooling. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/how-poor-housing-shapes-school-outcomes-and-why-place-matters-research-real-world

What if we could trace the arc of a generation from the very beginning to understand how our earliest environments shape our adult lives? Coming up on Research for the Real World, we explore the work of the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies by following cohorts born in the 1950s all the way to a new generation arriving in 2026. Join our IOE researchers as they unpack decades of unique data to reveal how housing, basic skills, and geography influence lifelong outcomes, and discover how these insights are driving real-world interventions to tackle deep-rooted inequalities. Catch up on previous episodes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/about-ioe/ioe-life/podcasts/research-real-world More IOE Insights: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/podcast

As headlines warn of university closures and staff cuts, Professor Huw Morris offers a deeper look at the forces reshaping UK higher education. In conversation with Dr Elin Arfon, he explains why some institutions are struggling more than others, and what role government, regulation, and research can play in building resilience. They also explore the growing shift toward tertiary education and skills development, and what this means for future students. Useful links from this episode: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/aug/can-uk-universities-survive-and-thrive-rftrw-s25e03 Image: Alarichall / Wikimedia Commons

In this episode, Dr Benjamin Abrams speaks with Hend Aly and Dr Heather Rolfe about their research into public attitudes and how these views shape migration policy and the future of higher education. They explore surprising findings from their report, the role of media narratives, and the strategic challenges facing UK universities. With global competition for talent heating up, this conversation dives into what's at stake for the UK’s academic and economic future. Full show notes and links to research: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/jul/britains-got-international-student-talent-what-do-they-really-think-them-rftrw-s25e02

Professor Gill Wyness shares her expertise on the intricacies of university funding, the student finance system, and the ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access and attainment. Discover why the current funding model is under strain, how it impacts students from all backgrounds, and what urgent reforms are needed to secure the future of this vital sector. We also hear about the role higher education plays in fostering economic growth and social mobility. Full show notes and links: http://uclioe.info/4nohPrg

We explore the growing financial pressures on UK universities and what they mean for the future of higher education. From frozen tuition fees to the reliance on international students, the system is reaching a tipping point. But alongside the challenges, we highlight the research-driven solutions already emerging. Through expert insights and real-world stories, we uncover how universities are adapting and what sustainability could truly look like. Guests: Professor Gill Wyness Hend Aly and Heather Rolfe Professor Huw Morris

There is no form of culture or society without music – it's something that's part of us all. We take a look at the power of music, and how it intersects with technology, health and wellbeing. Show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/mar/we-are-all-musical-rftrw-s24e03

Those in creative sectors have made it loud and clear that there’s been a lack of funding and a disregard for the arts in the school curriculum. We hear about why media, arts and play is so important from an educational perspective. Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/jan/state-arts-and-media-education-and-whats-play-here-rftrw-s24e02

We look at the potential power of learning and understanding other languages to take on the challenge of bridging cultural differences in an increasingly divided world. Show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/jan/how-do-you-improve-language-learning-and-intercultural-understanding-rftrw-s24e01

It won’t come as a surprise to realise that the arts are struggling right now. This is certainly not just a UK-centric issue. When you look at how the cost of living crisis has impacted society, usually policies around the arts are slashed or go unnoticed. In this season of Research for the Real World, we’re exploring the contribution of IOE research on Language, Culture and Arts Education to turbo-charge this much-needed reset. Joining us will be experts from the IOE to unpack the key issues at play. Professor Zhu Hua will talk about the key pressing issues facing language learning and intercultural communication. Professor John Potter and Annie Davey will share artistic research collaborations with external partners and what that means in terms of developing arts education. Professor Evangelos Himonides joins us to talk about how research projects around music can impact our health and wellbeing, and the importance of music education. More Research for the Real World: https://bit.ly/researchfortherealworld

In this podcast, Jason Ilagan hears from Dr Benjamin Abrams about a theory on how and why movements such as the 1789 French Revolution, the Arab Spring as well as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter take place, his policy work looking at ‘coping strategies’ against populism and preventing violence in mass protest, and what might happen during and after the elections in the United States this November. Production note: This episode was recorded on Monday 8 July 2024, before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump (Saturday 13 July 2024) and Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the US presidential election race (Sunday 21 July 2024). Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2024/jul/protest-whats-point-rftrw-s23e03

What changes would benefit the UK early years education system? And what’s it like dealing with government and parliament to make funding and policy changes possible? Dr Claire Crawford’s research focuses on childcare and education and is particularly interested in understanding inequalities and how policy can help reduce these gaps. She also has a strong track record of high-impact research, including giving evidence to select committees on education, social mobility, and diversity and inclusion issues. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2024/jul/improving-childcare-and-early-years-education-rftrw-s23e02

The winners of elections in the UK and abroad need to ensure the right conditions are in place to allow cutting-edge ideas developed by experts in our universities to meet today’s policy challenges, and vice versa. Dr Laura Outhwaite talks to our guests, Professors Marc Stears and Huw Morris about their approaches to undertaking research that informs policy, their experiences working across the academic/political divide, and what they’d do if they had a direct line to the next UK government. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2024/jul/how-can-researchers-help-politicians-and-policymakers-do-their-jobs-better-rftrw-s23e01

Did you know that in 2024, more voters than ever in history will take part in elections across the world? In this season of Research for the Real World, it’s all about how research evidence informs policy. How could we not cover it when we know that policies implemented by the winning parties will prove consequential for years to come, shaping the future of democracy around the world? Guests: Professor Marc Stears and Professor Huw Morris on how policymakers can meet the challenges of modern Britain Dr Claire Crawford on what it's like providing evidence to government and the UK Parliament Dr Ben Abrams on how modern societies have responded to the rise of populist governments. More episodes of Research for the Real World: ⁠⁠bit.ly/researchfortherealworld⁠⁠ The IOE Podcast: ⁠⁠bit.ly/ioepodcast⁠