In the tenth, and final episode of Series 1 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Toby Meredith, a doctoral researcher from the University of Portsmouth, who is exploring the complex and rapidly evolving role of drone technology in search and rescue operations and sea border surveillance in the English Channel.

Drawing on six years of experience in disaster management - including collaborations with the World Food Program and the UK Coast Guard - Toby examines how drone use intersects with humanitarian efforts and border control, with a particular focus on its impact on asylum seekers and refugees.

Toby aims to inform policy and practice, while also fostering international partnerships to broaden the reach and relevance of his findings. His research raises vital questions about ethics, technology, and the future of border management.

You can read a transcript of the conversation here.

Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.uk

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Guest: Toby Meredith, University of Portsmouth

Producer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts

Transcripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the ninth episode of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Isaac Thornton, a doctoral researcher from the University of Brighton. Isaac is researching the experiences of international students in the UK - a group 600,000 strong, whose presence brings vital financial and societal value.

Combining insights from social policy and psychology, Isaac explores how visa restrictions, housing challenges, and soaring tuition fees contribute to social exclusion. His research also reframes resilience not as an individual trait, but as a socially embedded process - one shaped by access to supportive communities and institutional resources.

You can read a transcript of the conversation here.

Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.uk

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Guest: Isaac Thornton, University of Brighton

Producer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts

Transcripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the eighth episode of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Elspeth Clark, a doctoral researcher from the University of Southampton. Elspeth’s research explores the relationship between meaningful occupation and a sense of belonging for young people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

Drawing on her background as an occupational therapist, Elspeth works collaboratively with students in a special school setting, using sensory and embodied methods to co-construct understanding. Her research challenges the idea that people who don’t use words to communicate can’t meaningfully engage in research, and she makes a strong case for more inclusive and participatory approaches.

Elspeth shares how she builds trusting relationships, how innovative audio-visual tools are amplifying student voices, and how her findings could inform better practices across education, health, and social care. This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising agency, promoting belonging, and designing research that centres those who are often left out.

You can read a transcript of the conversation here.

Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.uk

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Guest: Elspeth Clark, University of Southampton

Producer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts

Transcripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.