Laura Outhwaite

Dr. Laura Outhwaite is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London (UCL) Institute of Education, affiliated with the Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO). She co-directs the Child Development and Learning Difficulties Lab and serves as an Editor for the British Journal of Educational Technology. Her research bridges developmental psychology and educational technology, focusing on how EdTech can reduce educational inequalities for disadvantaged children globally.

• Education:
  • PhD (2018) - University of Nottingham
  • MSc (2015) - University of Nottingham
  • BSc (2014) - University of Nottingham

Her work examines educational app effectiveness, particularly for early mathematical development, with recent projects like the Maths@Home app co-created with families. She investigates home learning environments and structural barriers to education in low- and middle-income countries, funded by organizations including the Nuffield Foundation, UNESCO, and ESRC.

Key article trends show consistent focus on EdTech evaluation, early numeracy assessments, and caregiver support mechanisms. Her publications span topics from spatial reasoning in classrooms to psychological distress in caregivers during the pandemic.

• Scientific Recognition:
  • UKRI Policy Fellowship
  • Jacobs Foundation & MIT Solve LEAP Fellowship
  • UNESCO Technology in Education Working Group member
  • Editorial leadership in British Journal of Educational Technology

As a co-host of the Research for the Real World podcast and research mentor for UCL's EDUCATE EdTech project, she emphasizes knowledge exchange between academia and practice. She actively contributes to policy discussions through parliamentary evidence submissions and global reports.