Conferences that put people before PowerPoint with Russell Arnott and Sarah McLusky (Episode 85)
Russell Arnott is an ocean science educator, facilitator and event organiser. Sarah McLusky is a research event consultant, trainer and facilitator. Sarah and Russell are reinventing research conferences to prioritise connection and collaboration through their joint venture Re:Conference.
Sarah and Russell talk about
Why traditional academic conferences are failing everyone - attendees, presenters, organisers and the wider world
Prioritising people, connection and collaboration over PowerPoint and information overload
The small changes that can make a big difference
How Russell, Sarah and Re:Conference can help reinvent conferences for good
Find out more
Check out the Re:Conference website (https://re-conference.org/)
Connect with Russell on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-arnott/) or visit the Incredible Oceans website (https://incredibleoceans.org/)
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmclusky/) or sign up for her newsletter Gathering with Purpose (https://sarahmclusky.com/gathering-with-purpose)
About Research Adjacent
Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/researchadjacent/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/researchadjacent/)
Email (mailto:hello@researchadjacent.com) a comment, question or suggestion
Leave a voice note (https://www.speakpipe.com/researchadjacent)
Post a review on Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/research-adjacent-5097891)
Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter (https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/2Cw205o2-Ro27JImLbQdb3A2fffjt)
Mentioned in this episode:
Interested in advertising on the podcast?
If you have a service, product, event, or opportunity that would be of interest to our audience get in touch via hello@researchadjacent.com to explore how we can work together.
Member of the Month: Vicky Bowskill, Inklusive Nature
Vicky helps researchers and changemakers to connect nature, science & society by telling compelling visual stories. Find out more at www.inklusivenature.com
13 Jan 2026
Impact is for life, not just for REF with Kirsty High and Sean McCaul (recorded live at Impact Ignite 2025) (Episode 84)
Kirsty High is Research Impact Manager at the independent research institution, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Sean McCaul is a faculty impact officer at Ulster University. Both are responsible for overseeing and supporting impact, but with different drivers and priorities.
This episode was recorded live at the Impact Ignite 2025 conference, an event dedicated to sharing best practices and sparking new ideas among research impact professionals.
Sarah, Kirsty, and Sean talk about
How supporting impact in a university compares to an independent research institute
The power of embedding impact rather than seeing it as the ‘icing on the cake’
Why trust and long-term relationships with researchers are key
Practical ways to spark impact including seed funding and cross-disciplinary peer learning
Find out more
Get the transcript and timestamps on the episode webpage (https://researchadjacent.com/impact-ignite-episode-84/)
Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-high-54b83634/)
Connect with Sean on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-ashe-mccaul-a6083515/)
Find out more about the Impact Ignite event, (https://impactignite2025.com/) the Research Impact Academy (https://researchimpactacademy.com/) and listen to Tamika Heiden’s podcast episode (https://researchadjacent.com/tamika-heiden-impact-consultancy-founder-episode-75/)
Listen to the Hidden REF podcast episode (https://researchadjacent.com/recognising-hidden-roles-in-research-episode-80/)
Thanks to All Parties and Events (https://www.allpartiesandevents.co.uk/) for recording this episode
About Research Adjacent
Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/researchadjacent/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/researchadjacent/)
Email (mailto:hello@researchadjacent.com) a comment, question or suggestion
Leave a voice note (https://www.speakpipe.com/researchadjacent)
Post a review on Podchaser (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/research-adjacent-5097891)
Sign up to the <a...
16 Dec 2025
2025 in Research Adjacent Land (Episode 83)
As the Research Adjacent podcast approaches its 3rd birthday, Sarah looks back on the past year and looks forward to 2026
Sarah talks about
What she does when she isn’t making the podcast
Top episodes and notable moments from 2025
Things she said she would do in 2025 vs what she actually did
Coming in 2026 – including live events and sponsorship opportunities
All the links Sarah mentions
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn or sign up for her events newsletter, Gathering with Purpose
Listen to Sarah’s personal playlist of new music in 2025
Check out the Challenges mini-series
Top episodes of the year – Policy Director Rosalind Gill and Influencing Others with Orla Kelly and Joanna Royle
Hear Sarah’s story on the Papa PhD collaboration episode
Live event episodes – at the IRCC25 Conference, Festival of Hidden REF and the Academic Adventures podcast
Working with freelancers episode and the Research Adjacent Directory
Complete this form to suggest a podcast guest
Browse the podcast back catalogue and take the quiz for personalised suggestions
Get in touch if you are interested in sponsoring or advertising on the podcast
Did you know Sarah donates a tree for every episode published? This year we have planted 24 trees with rewilding charity Trees for Life. Visit the Research Adjacent virtual grove here
Who has been a guest on Research Adjacent
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Louise Jopling
Andy Tattersall
Stephen Britton
Rachel Reeds
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
938
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.6 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
75
Contact Research Adjacent
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Research Adjacent?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
