To launch the 2014 Engaging Research Awards, winners of the 2013 awards, Christothea Herodotou, Natalia Kucirkova, John Maidenand Emma Rothero,will reflect on what ‘engaged research’ means to them. Please keep an eye on the OU’s Engaging Research Blog for news about the new Awards scheme.

Christothea Herodotou is a research fellow at the Institute of Educational Technology. She has been working for the nQuire project since September2013, running evaluation workshops for the design of web-based and mobile tools to engage young people in research practices. Her research interest revolve around the development of new technologies for learning and entertainment and their intersection with young people's cognitive and socio-emotional development.

Natalia Kucirkova researches innovative ways of supporting shared book reading and the role of personalisation in early years. Natalia’s doctoral research inspired the development of the Our Story tablet/smartphone app. She is currently interested in fostering children’s trans-media experiences and identity growth.

John Maiden was Co-Investigator for Building on History: religion in London, which was recently shortlisted for a THE award in the ‘widening participation or outreach  initiative of the year’ category. The project enhanced understanding among individual groups of their own histories; promoted inter- and intra-religious understanding and community cohesion based on shared learning; and facilitated greater grassroots involvement in historical research. John will be talking about the project’s unique approach to ‘public’ religious history and explain some of its successes and challenges.

Emma Rothero is the Outreach Co-ordinator of the Floodplain Meadows Partnership, a research project based on key academic work carried out at the Open University by Professor David Gowing and others on the response of species-rich floodplain meadows to changes in management, particularly hydrological changes.