Within our Executive Committee, the History of Education Society is supported by 3 individuals who have unique roles through the form of a paid Fellowship. These are the ‘Peter Gosden Fellow’, ‘Richard Aldrich Fellow’ and ‘Ruth Watts Fellow’.
However, what do these roles actually entail? We are currently working on creating a dedicated Fellowship page for the Society. In its lead-up to publication, HES are featuring a ‘What Is ?’ blog series, where we will be exploring these Fellowships to raise awareness of how they contribute towards the Society.
Oliver Mumford, our current Ruth Watts Fellow, explains what his role involves…
The Ruth Watts Podcast Fellow with the History of Education Society UK directs and produces the society’s podcast series: Passing Notes. Passing Notes explores current research in the field of the history of education and provides a valuable platform for researchers and academics to share their research with a wide range of audiences. The podcast is produced with a range of listeners in mind, from academics to students and engaged general audiences and showcases the scholarship and work being carried out in the field.
The role incorporates the identification of guests and themes for specific episodes. The preparation and writing of questions and discussion topics, followed by interviews. Finally, the episode is edited and mixed for upload onto the society’s website, and all major podcast platforms.
The fellowship has been an invaluable and formative experience for me. In preparing and producing the podcasts I have engaged with and encountered a range of research and publications from across the field of history of education, from award winning books, journal articles, to the foundation of museums. This has given me an insight into and the opportunity to engage with the new work being carried out in the discipline. The Fellowship has given me understanding into the importance and value in disseminating research to academics, students, and lay audiences. Consequently, the role requires consideration towards content and themes discussed in the episodes, and the drafting and preparing of questions to ensure the podcasts reach and engage a range of listeners. This has been valuable in my personal development, encouraging me to consider audiences and readership, and the fellowship mentors have always been on hand to help and guidance when needed.
The sharing of original, rigorous academic research with audiences across a wide spectrum is important in demonstrating the significance and value of research in the field. The Ruth Watts Fellowship is one of the many ways through which the History of Education Society ensures that research and work in this field of history is disseminated and shared.
The Ruth Watts Fellowship was named after Professor Ruth Watts, Emeritus Professor of History of Education at the University of Birmingham and former President of our Society from 2002-2005. She has worked in the history of education field for several decades, with a focus on the concept of gender and prominent female figures. She has published several notable works, including ‘Gender, Power and the Unitarians in England, 1760-1860’ in 1997, and ‘Women in Science: A Social and Cultural History’ in 2007. She continues to be involved in various networks in women’s history. For more information on Ruth’s career and publications, you can find out more on the University of Birmingham’s dedicated staff profile page.