UCL Knowledge Lab celebrates its 20th anniversary

The Lab was established in 2004 as the London Knowledge Lab, founded by Professor Richard Noss, part of a collaboration between educators from IOE – then known as the Institute of Education – and computer scientists from Birkbeck, University of London. Initial funding came from the UK Government Science Research Investment Fund. 

The Lab is a research laboratory with a focus on digital media and technologies, bringing together experts across various disciplines and backgrounds to reduce social barriers to knowledge. 

Now with UCL as its current home, the Lab’s work revolves around key research themes:

• Technology and human learning, 
• Technology, body and cognition,
• Technology, communication and knowledge,
• Technology, culture and society,
• AI and education, and
• Media arts and play.

The Lab’s legacy is based around two decades of interdisciplinary research, with funders such as UKRI, ESRC, EPSRC, AHRC, Leverhulme, and the EU among others, generating books, articles and policy papers. 

Their impact exchanges with industry and public organisations have led to the design of award-winning digital artefacts, including apps, games, learning designs, media and art.  

The UCL Knowledge Lab is based at Emerald Street in High Holborn, London. It is led by Professor Allison Littlejohn (Director) and Professor John Potter (Associate Director). 

It hosts around 70 experts from diverse fields and comprises over 400 students across the Master’s and Undergraduate levels, over 100 PhD students, and a network of global alumni who have made meaningful contributions to education, technology and media. 

The Lab is also home to the Researching Media Arts and Play (ReMAP) Centre, whose research collaborations include work with the British Film Institute and the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Professor Potter says, “I first joined the Knowledge Lab as a continuing doctoral student when it opened 20 years ago, and I’ve been here ever since. I have always enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of the lab, which reflects the vision of Richard Noss as founder. 

“We have a great team across all disciplines and I am really proud of the teaching and research of colleagues in ReMAP, the centre within a centre, researching media, arts and play through the years, and developing innovative MA and BA programmes and working with students in doctoral supervision, many of whom have come right through to work as staff here. It’s great to be a part of the Lab at its 20th year celebrations.” 

The Lab’s 20-year anniversary celebrations include series of events, such as:

• The book launch of ‘Online Learning Futures: An Evidence-Based Vision for Global Professional Collaboration on Sustainability’ by Dr Eileen Kennedy and Professor Diana Laurillard in January 2024;
• A three-day AI and Education event in March 2024 exploring the role of AI, part of AI UK Fringe from the Alan Turing Institute; and
• Professor Potter’s inaugural professorial lecture, ‘Things worth knowing: Participatory Research with Children on Media Cultures and Play,’ which explored children’s lived experiences and their engagement with media cultures and play, in April 2024.

Professor Littlejohn says, “It’s thrilling we are now in the 20th year of the Knowledge Lab. Over the last two decades we have worked with organisations worldwide to reduce social barriers associated with human learning, technologies and media cultures. Our success has been achieved largely by extending beyond research and by working with others in ways that address these barriers. 

“The Lab is now regarded widely as a leading research centre, bringing together insights from across diverse fields, and we aim to showcase how we will extend our work over the next ten years.”

Links

• UCL Knowledge Lab
• Research in Media Arts and Play (ReMAP)
• Department of Culture, Communication and Media

Image

Close-up of UCL Knowledge Lab polytrope. Credit: IOE Communications.