I have extensive experience of providing expert commentary across TV, radio and print media; please contact me for any media contributions.
N.B. I have done very little (if any) formal media work since becoming Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in November 2023.
2023
- Interview for Radio Wales Breakfast with Oliver Hides on Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals
BBC Radio Wales (22 July 2023) - Professor Tom Crick talks to Dr Luke Jones and Gethin Foulkes about their WJE paper entitled Levelling the playing field: A Review of Mentoring in the CaBan Initial Teacher Education programme
Wales Journal of Education Podcast (20 July 2023) - Interview for Radio Wales Drive with Gareth Lewis on BT job cuts and the wider impact of AI
BBC Radio Wales (18 May 2023) - Interview on digital skills, personal data and citizen-centred tech
The Gem of All Mechanisms: Computing in Society Podcast by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT (10 May 2023)
2022
- Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (18 December 2022) - Interview for Wales Live on challenges with recruitment and retention of teachers in Wales
BBC One Wales (30 November 2022) - Professor Tom Crick talks to Dr Robin Owen about his WJE paper entitled Predicting undergraduate students’ learning from a lecture: The role of self-control, motivation, and mental effort
Wales Journal of Education Podcast (10 November 2022) - Quoted in Report shows the impact of COVID on Welsh school leaders’ wellbeing
Swansea University (7 November 2022) - Interview for That’s TV News on being awarded an IET Achievement Medal for STEM Education and Policy
That’s TV (4 November 2022) - Swansea Professor awarded prestigious medal for his outstanding contribution to STEM
Swansea University (2 November 2022) - Named in Registrants recognised at IET Achievement Awards
Engineering Council (25 October 2022) - Named in World-leading engineers celebrated at IET Achievement Awards
Engineering & Technology (21 October 2022) - Named in World leading engineers win IET Achievement Awards
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (21 October 2022) - Quoted in New study identifies link between parental health literacy with COVID-19 test results in children
Swansea University (21 September 2022) - Fellowship honour for uni Professor
South Wales Evening Post (2 September 2022) - Swansea academic named Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
Swansea University (1 September 2022) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (7 August 2022) - Interview for Sunday Supplement on Swift probe of China buyout of UK chip plant urged
BBC Radio Wales (7 August 2022) - Invited article: Professional services staff working through pandemia
Wonkhe (2 August 2022) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (22 May 2022)
2021
- Research quoted in The lessons teachers think schools need to learn from the pandemic
The Conversation (14 December 2021) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (5 December 2021) - Interview with Jason Mohammad on social media: do you love it or loathe it?
BBC Radio Wales (22 November 2021) - Interview for Radio Wales Breakfast with Oliver Hides on Tesco website and app back up after hack attempt
BBC Radio Wales (25 October 2021) - Interview for Radio Wales Breakfast with Claire Summers on the Wales COVID-19 pass: What is it and how do I get one?
BBC Radio Wales (7 October 2021) - Research quoted in Academics say teaching during Covid is as tough as they feared
The Australian (29 September 2021) - Research quoted in Academics report `pandemia’ work conditions in recent surveys
Worldwide Universities Network (28 September 2021) - Research quoted in Global study on the pandemic’s impact on university staff and student wellbeing
Worldwide Universities Network (4 September 2021) - Research quoted in Children from different classes mixing at breakfast clubs and after school activities didn’t increase Covid-19 infections in schools
Wales Online (31 August 2021) - Research quoted in UK academics seethe over universities’ cost-cutting moves
Nature (9 August 2021) - Quoted in Programming theory: A waste of time, or key to your dream coding job?
TechRepublic (23 June 2021) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (20 June 2021) - Quoted in Can Wales become a Hub for Digital Transformation?
Business News Wales (14 June 2021) - Interview on How Can Wales Become a Hub for Digital Transformation? (also on Box UK website)
Business News Wales (7 June 2021) - Research quoted in Universities grant administrators’ post-Covid home-working wish
Times Higher Education (26 May 2021) - Interview on Digital Inclusivity
Exploring Global Problems Podcast (26 May 2021) - Research quoted in ‘Eulogy to research’ as pandemic makes teaching the priority
Times Higher Education (24 May 2021) - Researcher in the Spotlight profile (Issue 36, Spring 2021)
Momentum (31 Mar 2021) - Quoted in Why computing will be key in our post-pandemic future
TES (2 March 2021) - Interview for the Drivetime programme with Gareth Lewis on 40 years of the BBC Micro
BBC Radio Wales (25 February 2021) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (17 January 2021) - Quoted in Covid: Networks ‘should give data to Wales’ schoolchildren’ (Cymraeg)
BBC News (14 January 2021) - Interview for Wales Today on mobile operators providing free data to students to access online educational resources
BBC One (14 January 2021) - Interview on Leading the Future of Science and Technology Education in Wales: Professor Tom Crick
BERA Podcast (6 January 2021)
2020
- Quoted in Tackling the threat of cyberattack could create opportunities for innovation
Times Higher Education (14 December 2020) - Interview with Mike Graham for a “homeschooling” segment on Bluetooth
talkRADIO (4 December 2020) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (30 August 2020) - Interview with Mike Graham for a “homeschooling” segment on digital cameras
talkRADIO (6 August 2020) - Interview with Mike Graham for a “homeschooling” segment on the history and future of the internet
talkRADIO (22 July 2020) - Invited article: Academic lives are in transition
Wonkhe (4 May 2020) - Invited article: Forced shift to online teaching in coronavirus pandemic unleashes educators’ deepest job fears
Nature Index (9 April 2020) - Quoted in REF 2021 ‘put on hold’ because of coronavirus outbreak
ResearchProfessional News (24 March 2020) - Quoted in REF plans under discussion as COVID-19 pandemic escalates
ResearchProfessional News (17 March 2020) - Interview for the Drivetime programme with Gareth Lewis on the decision to let Huawei have a limited role in the UK’s 5G networks
BBC Radio Wales (28 January 2020)
2019
- Interview for Wales Today on mobile phone bans in schools
BBC One (16 October 2019) - Interview for Radio Wales Breakfast with Claire Summers on mobile phone bans in schools
BBC Radio Wales (16 October 2019) - Quoted in Mobile phone ban in school relaxed to ‘ease friction’ (Cymraeg)
BBC News (16 October 2019) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (22 September 2019) - Interview for the Drivetime programme with Gareth Lewis on the #faceappchallenge and how, where and with whom we share our personal data
BBC Radio Wales (19 July 2019) - Interview for the Drivetime programme with Gareth Lewis on how to protect children online
BBC Radio Wales (5 July 2019) - Interview for BBC Wales News on the rise of fake reviews online
BBC Breakfast (2 July 2019) - Interviewed on BBC X-Ray on the rise of fake reviews online
BBC One (1 July 2019) - Quoted in Leading Welsh Employers Collaborate to Shape Digital Skills
Business News Wales (27 May 2019) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (12 May 2019) - Quoted in Regional differences in the UK’s computing curriculum
Computer Weekly (10 May 2019) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on UK to introduce porn age-checks in July
BBC Radio Wales (17 April 2019) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (6 April 2019) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on Twitter birth-year hoax locks users out of accounts
BBC Radio Wales (27 March 2019) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on 30 years of the world wide web (and TBL: “Stop web’s downward plunge to dysfunctional future”)
BBC Radio Wales (12 March 2019) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on Zuckerberg outlines plan for ‘privacy-focused’ Facebook
BBC Radio Wales (7 March 2019) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on 15 years of Facebook
BBC Radio Wales (4 February 2019) -
Interview for Good Evening Wales on YouTube bans dangerous or harmful pranks
BBC Radio Wales (16 January 2019) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on Apple blames China as it cuts forecast
BBC Radio Wales (3 January 2019)
2018
- Interview for Good Evening Wales on how Fortnite teen hackers are ‘earning thousands of pounds a week’
BBC Radio Wales (20 December 2018) -
Gower College Swansea launches Lego Education Innovation Suite
FE News (7 December 2018) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (10 November 2018) -
Economy and Transport Secretary appoints Members of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
Welsh Government (1 November 2018)
(also see: NICW, Infrastructure Intelligence and RNS press releases) - Interview for Heart News on the prospective 5G investment in Wales as part of Budget 2018
Heart FM (29 October 2018) - Comment for feature on Are Wales’ School Curriculums in Line with Emerging Technologies?
Business News Wales (26 September 2018) - Interview on Sunday Politics Wales on the potential for digital technologies to create smart city regions in Wales
BBC One (23 September 2018) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on 20 years of Google
BBC Radio Wales (4 September 2018) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on digital disruption and Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report
BBC Radio Wales (2 August 2018) - Interview for Business Matters on Facebook and Instagram introducing time-limiting tools
BBC World Service (2 August 2018) - Interview for World Business Report on Facebook and Instagram introducing time-limiting tools
BBC World Service (1 August 2018) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on the leaked DCMS report on disinformation and ‘fake news’
BBC Radio Wales (28 July 2018) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on full-fibre broadband pledge for new homes
BBC Radio Wales (23 July 2018) - Interview on BBC Wales News on the impact of digital education
BBC One (25 May 2018) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on Facebook and the potential impact of personal data breaches
BBC Radio Wales (9 April 2018) - Quoted in College brings in digital skills consultant
Insider Media (26 March 2018) - Interview for Sunday Supplement on Cambridge Analytica, Facebook and personal data
BBC Radio Wales (25 March 2018) - Quoted in Helping our dreams become reality (on the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales’ annual awards and scholarships)
Western Mail (15 March 2018) - Pictured in Experts’ view on City Deal’s impact
South Wales Evening Post (13 March 2018) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on new superfast broadband drive for Wales unveiled
BBC Radio Wales (30 January 2018) - Pictured in Minister gets first-hand experience of apprentices’ success stories
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg CHC (28 February 2018) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (21 January 2018)
2017
- Interview on ITV News on the launch of the National Network for Excellence in Science & Technology
ITV Cymru Wales (8 December 2017) - Quoted in drive to improve science and technology in schools begins (Cymraeg)
Welsh Government (8 December 2017) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on how Facebook and Twitter could face ‘online abuse levy’
BBC Radio Wales (11 October 2017) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (30 September 2017) -
High-profile academic joins board of Glas Cymru
Western Mail (27 September 2017)
(also see: Dŵr Cymru, Insider Media and RNS press releases) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on the challenges of censoring extremist web content
BBC Radio Wales (19 September 2017) - Interviewed on BBC X-Ray episode Back To Class on young people using technology and “digital detox”
BBC One Wales (11 September 2017) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (13 August 2017) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (29 July 2017) - Appointed MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2017
BBC News (16 June 2017)
(also see: BCS, University of Bath and Science Council press releases) - Interview for Science Cafe episode on fake news
BBC Radio Wales (2 May 2017) - Interview on BBC Wales News on the importance of a new strategy for “Digital Wales”
BBC One (5 April 2017) - Authored piece on are Welsh schools teaching enough digital skills? (Cymraeg)
BBC News (5 April 2017) - Narrated package for Good Morning Wales on the importance of high-value digital skills to the Welsh economy
BBC Radio Wales (5 April 2017) - Interview for BBC Wales News on the importance of high-value digital skills to the Welsh economy
BBC Breakfast (5 April 2017) - Interview for Business Daily on Snapchat’s IPO and future
BBC World Service (2 March 2017) - Paper review on Sunday Supplement
BBC Radio Wales (12 February 2017) - Interview for Science Cafe episode on investment in science and technology education in Wales
BBC Radio Wales (17 January 2017) - Interview for Good Evening Wales on Facebook to roll out fake news tools in Germany
BBC Radio Wales (16 January 2017) - Quoted in £4m to improve school results in science and technology
BBC News (7 January 2017) - Interview for Good Morning Wales on the Welsh Government’s investment in science and technology education
BBC Radio Wales (7 January 2017) - Interview for Science Cafe episode looking ahead to science and technology trends in 2017
BBC Radio Wales (3 January 2017)
2016
- Quoted in spam emails difficult to suppress, finds study
Times Higher Education (22 December 2016) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on fake news, information and algorithms on social media
BBC Radio Wales (12 December 2016) - Quoted in Minecraft blocks used to make virtual Atari 2600 console
BBC News (8 December 2016) - Quoted in Jeremy Hunt’s magical plan to block sexting is no help for teens
New Scientist (30 November 2016) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on 5G and next-gen broadband investment and what this means for Wales
BBC Radio Wales (22 November 2016) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (12 November 2016) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode looking ahead to the May 2016 National Assembly elections and the potential impact on science in Wales
BBC Radio Wales (19 April 2016) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on ten years of Twitter
BBC Radio Wales (21 March 2016) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode looking ahead to science and technology trends in 2016
BBC Radio Wales (5 January 2016)
2015
- New Year’s Eve paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (31 December 2015) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on Back To The Future Day and the difficulty of predicting the future of science and technology
BBC Radio Wales (27 October 2015) - Interviewed on The Jason Mohammad Show on TalkTalk’s data breach
BBC Radio Wales (27 October 2015) - Interviewed on ITV News on cyber security and TalkTalk’s data breach
ITV Cymru Wales (23 October 2015) - Listed in The 50 most influential UK higher education professionals on social media
Times Higher Education (7 October 2015) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (21 September 2015) - Quoted in Want to become a star blogger? Here’s how to do it
Guardian Careers (20 July 2015) - Panel member for How to turn blogging or vlogging into a career –- live chat
The Guardian Career Network (2 July 2015) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on the impact of leap seconds on technology
BBC Radio Wales (30 June 2015) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (10 June 2015) - Interviewed on The Jason Mohammad Show on the popularity of the ZX Spectrum
BBC Radio Wales (4 May 2015) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on the 10 year anniversary of YouTube
BBC Radio Wales (23 April 2015) - Interviewed on ITV News on computer science and digital literacy
ITV Cymru Wales (1 April 2015) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on the impact of technology on young people
BBC Radio Wales (1 April 2015) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (30 March 2015) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on the importance of computer science and programming in the new Curriculum for Wales
BBC Radio Wales (25 February 2015) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on the impact of algorithms on news and advertising
BBC Radio Wales (18 February 2015) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (27 January 2015) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on programming, creativity and computer science education
BBC Radio Wales (13 January 2015)
2014
- Barney plays The Doctor and The Dalek game
Blue Peter on CBBC (7 November 2014) - Interviewed for Doctor Who: The Doctor and the Dalek teachers’ pack
BBC Schools Computing (31 October 2014) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (21 October 2014) - Quoted in Doctor Who’s new web game aims to teach children programming skills
The Guardian (20 October 2014) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on the importance of superfast broadband rollout in Wales
BBC Radio Wales (16 October 2014) - Interviewed on ITV News on Monmouthshire schoolboys develop lifesaving app
ITV Cymru Wales (31 August 2014) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (15 August 2014) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on the role of social media in science research and communication
BBC Radio Wales (12 August 2014) - Panel member on Morning Call on how technology has changed people’s lives
BBC Radio Wales (7 August 2014) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report
BBC Radio Wales (7 August 2014) - Invited article in University View column on the importance of computing education
Western Mail (31 July 2014) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on new computing initiatives in Wales and the importance of digital skills
BBC Radio Wales (22 July 2014) - Quoted in Software university planned to tackle skills shortage
BBC News Wales (22 July 2014) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on new computing initiatives in Wales and the importance of digital skills
BBC Radio Wales (17 July 2014) - 2014 National Teaching Fellows announced
Times Higher Education (12 June 2014) - Interviewed on ITV News on Pupils call for more digital skills in schools
ITV Cymru Wales (9 June 2014) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (6 June 2014) - Quoted in Newport can ‘become UK hub for ICT’
Insider Media (5 June 2014) - Interviewed on BBC Wales News on ICT curriculum and digital skills in Wales
BBC One (23 May 2014) - Quoted in Wales’ schools ‘left behind’ in digital age (Cymraeg)
BBC News Wales (23 May 2014) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on the ICT curriculum and digital skills in Wales
BBC Radio Wales (23 May 2014) - Interviewed on The Wales Report on digital skills and education in Wales
BBC One Wales (7 May 2014) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (4 April 2014) - Interviewed on Newsweek Wales on the perceived dangers of computer games
ITV Cymru Wales (9 February 2014)
2013
- Invited article on Academic blogging — 10 top tips
The Guardian Higher Education Network (13 December 2013) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (2 December 2013) - Interviewed on BBC Wales News on the ICT curriculum review
BBC One (4 October 2013) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on the ICT curriculum review
BBC Radio Wales (4 October 2013) - Quoted in Computing ‘should become pupils’ fourth science’
Western Mail (4 October 2013) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (23 August 2013) - Quoted in Can tomorrow’s skills crisis be averted? Students continue to shun tech A-Levels
ZDNet UK (19 August 2013) - Panel member for How to teach the new computing curriculum –- live chat
The Guardian Teacher Network (15 August 2013) - Interview from the 2013 Winchester Science Festival for The Pod Delusion Episode 199
The Pod Delusion (9 August 2013) - Interviewed on Good Evening Wales on technology, social media and trolling
BBC Radio Wales (8 August 2013) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on computer science education in Wales
BBC Radio Wales (6 July 2013) - Quoted in Cynhadledd: Trafod addysg gyfrifiadurol
BBC Cymru Newyddion (6 July 2013) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (23 May 2013) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (20 February 2013) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on the Raspberry Pi
BBC Radio Wales (12 February 2013) - Interviewed on Woman’s Hour on Male Geeks Rise up for Women
BBC Radio 4 (25 January 2013)
2012
- Panel member for Science Cafe’s Review of the Year 2012
BBC Radio Wales (18 December 2012) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (8 November 2012) - Quoted in Teachers react to Gove’s computer science plans
The Guardian Teacher Network (19 October 2012) - Invited article: IT classes: Pupils need more than just coding skills (see the expanded blog post)
The Telegraph (12 October 2012) - Invited talk for The Pythagoras Lectures 2012
Pythagoras’ Trousers (20 August 2012) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (6 August 2012) - Quoted in US top of the class for teaching computer science
TechRepublic UK (20 July 2012) - Interviewed on BBC Wales News on computer science education in Wales
BBC One (22 June 2012) - Quoted in THE Scholarly Web (in reference to Academia vs. Industry blog post)
Times Higher Education (21 June 2012) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on A Century of Alan Turing
BBC Radio Wales (19 June 2012) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (11 May 2012) - Interviewed on Good Morning Wales on technology in education
BBC Radio Wales (29 March 2012) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on computer science education in Wales
BBC Radio Wales (20 March 2012) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (14 March 2012) - Panel member on Good Morning Wales on ramifications of further Welsh devolution
BBC Radio Wales (25 January 2012) - Panel member for Digital literacy campaign –- live blog and live Q&A
The Guardian (10 January 2012)
2011
- Panel member for Science Cafe’s Science Books of the Year
BBC Radio Wales (13 December 2011) - Paper review on Good Morning Wales
BBC Radio Wales (9 December 2011) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on logic and computation
BBC Radio Wales (4 October 2011) - Quoted in 14-year-olds to learn computer programming, Science Minister reveals
The Times (16 September 2011) - Quoted in Willetts announces new school IT curriculum
The Financial Times (15 September 2011) - Quoted in IT-centric GCSE on way to boost kids’ coding skills
ZDNet UK (15 September 2011) - Narrated radio package for Good Evening Wales: UWIC expert Tom Crick’s school computing concerns
BBC Radio Wales (3 September 2011) - Panel member for Live chat: surviving your first academic post
The Guardian Higher Education Network (26 August 2012) - Quoted in Specsaviours
Times Higher Education (25 August 2011) - Interviewed for Science Cafe episode on inspiration as a scientist
BBC Radio Wales (23 August 2011) - Quoted in Cyfrifiadura ar y Cwricwlwm?
BBC Cymru Newyddion (1 July 2011) - Quoted in Computing teachers ‘hamstrung’ by curriculum and training void
TES Cymru (24 June 2011) - Interviewed for I’m A Scientist, Get Me Out Of Here! for The Pod Delusion Episode 90
The Pod Delusion (24 June 2011) - Quoted in Lecturer calls for a clear strategy for teaching computing in Welsh schools
Western Mail (26 May 2011) - Listed in Top UK tech twitterers: CIOs, academics, analysts, politicos, bloggers
ZDNet UK (14 April 2011)
Digital Society & Policy 
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