Louise Aukland
Teacher and Impact Evaluation Officer
Biography
Current Project: Football on the Brain
I am currently working part-time with the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN) on a four-year public engagement project called 'Football on the Brain'. The project involves researchers and football communities understanding more about how our brains are involved in football. We are working with partner football coaches to embed neuroscience theory into training, help students improve their (football) skill learning, and help football fans to better understand and look after their brain health. My role involves translating the neuroscience and research into training materials for players and coaches, and leading on impact evaluation.
SEEN Programme
Alongside my role at WIN I continue to lead the SEEN Programme for Kindred2, the charity that funded the original research project as part of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Group (Department of Psychiatry). The programme aims to embed the key principles of early child development and neuroscience into the curriculum for schools, primarily focussing on Key Stage 3 science lessons (age 11-14). The project draws on my background in research, policy and education (I have 15 years experience working as a science teacher).
Other research interests
Previous research interests are focussed on the prevention of mental health difficulties through education-based interventions during adolescence. Prior to leading the SEEN project I was a researcher with the MYRIAD project (University of Oxford Mindfulness Research Centre). I was researching the social and emotional learning of the schools participating in the main trial. I collected and analysed data on PSHE (Personal and Social Health Education).
Alongside my research with MYRIAD, I managed the project's public engagement programme. We developed interactive workshops on the teenage brain; ran a young researcher challenge; put together teacher and student resources around the analysis of data (MYPAD); used focus groups to inform the research; and worked with young people to explore their experiences of mindfulness.
I also run my own teaching and training consulting company (Mindcraft Consulting), I teach mindfulness and am an author and trainer on Oxford University Press' International Curriculum on Wellbeing.