Expressions of interest open for Mothers’ Futures Studio

Building on a successful pilot delivered in east London in autumn 2025, Phase 2 will provide a structured, supportive space for participants to reflect on technological change and its impact on their professional and personal worlds. Through facilitated discussion and peer dialogue, the Studio focuses on sensemaking: helping participants interpret complex technological shifts in relation to their lived experiences as researchers, professionals and caregivers.

The Studio is designed to be dialogic and collaborative, encouraging participants from across disciplines and backgrounds to share perspectives and develop new ways of thinking about the future of work and care. A particular aim is to widen access to conversations around AI and data-driven change for women and mothers, recognising that disparities in access and confidence around these technologies remain significant and can be even greater for those from diverse social, cultural and disciplinary contexts.

Alongside supporting participants, the programme will also function as a learning lab for Mother's Future Studio Model. Insights from the cohort will help refine and formalise the Studio’s materials and approach, while exploring questions such as how collective reflection spaces influence confidence, agency, sense of belonging and engagement with technological change.

The project will also consider how the insights generated might inform place-based initiatives in east London, including potential future collaboration with local data initiatives led by Newham Council.

Programme structure

Phase 2 will run fortnightly during working hours from week commencing 20 April 2026, with four sessions held at UCL East's Marshgate Building:

• Session 1: Week commencing 20 April 2026

• Session 2: Week commencing 4 May 2026

• Session 3: Week commencing 18 May 2026

• Session 4 (final session): Week commencing 1 June 2026

Sessions will take place from 11:00-13:00 on either Tuesday or Wednesday, with the final delivery day confirmed based on participant availability.

To support meaningful discussion and connection, the cohort will be intentionally small, with 10-15 participants selected from expressions of interest.

How to express interest

UCL staff and doctoral students who are mothers and interested in taking part are invited to submit an expression of interest. Applications will be reviewed once the form closes, and selected participants will be contacted to confirm their place in the cohort.

Apply now

For further information about the Mothers’ Futures Studio or this cohort, please contact janniah.evans.19@ucl.ac.uk.

The Mothers’ Futures Studio is delivered in collaboration with the UCL Entrepreneurship Community of Practice and supported through UCL Grand Challenges x ChangeMakers.