Will Wootton

Will Wootton
Area of work: higher education
University: King’s College London
Qualifications: BA classics, Bristol (1998); MPhil and DPhil classical archaeology, University of Oxford (2001, 2006)

I was drawn to King’s because of its reputation and the fact that it runs an undergraduate degree in classical archaeology. I liked the idea of setting up research projects as well as working with students. I didn’t want to be just a brain in a box; for me, research and teaching go hand in hand.

Challenging the next generation of young minds

As the Research Council UK fellow in Roman Art, my main role is in research but I teach one course per academic year, alternating between Roman Art for undergraduates and ancient mosaics for postgraduates. Challenging the next generation of young minds really appeals to me. The students can be very witty and amusing in class and it’s a pleasure working with them. I’m also part of the Outreach programme, which aims to make schoolchildren more aware of classics and archaeology through visits and workshops. 

Balancing teaching and researching

It’s important to have a disciplined approach to balancing research and teaching. Research often involves working alone for long periods so it’s important to be social and to discuss ideas. You have to be confident and believe in your own ability. It can be tough to live up to the expectations of being an academic – you’re surrounded by very bright people. You have to realise that you don’t know everything and that you’re always learning.