BASR 2022 Conference

Booking is now open for the first in-person BASR conference since the beginning of the pandemic (with hybrid options)! The conference is taking place from 30 August to 1 September at The Open University, Milton Keynes. See here for booking and more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/british-association-for-the-study-of-religions-annual-conference-2022-tickets-380260729077

The conference schedule, including individual papers, is also available here:

We are also offering four full bursaries for students and early career researchers – which cover the full conference package accommodation, but not travel – and an additional eight bursaries of £100 to assist colleagues who are facing financial hardship. An application form, which must be returned to the BASR Secretary by 3 August, can be found here:

This year the theme of the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) conference focuses on Religion and Public Engagement. We want to explore the many ways in which religion engages with various specific publics, and various publics engage with religion (however construed).

Religion can be used to motivate and inflame ‘the public’ – from encouraging support or opposition to war in the Ukraine, storming the US Capitol building in support of freedom, or to accept or refuse a vaccine. Although relevant aspects of current events may seem obvious to scholars of religion, we must proactively work to justify our subject of study as important and relevant to others. We are also increasingly expected to engage specific publics and demonstrate impact from our research. Reflections on how, why, where, when, and with whom we engage are very welcome.

Fittingly, this year’s conference is co-sponsored by Inform (www.inform.ac) which exists to prevent harm based on misinformation by bringing the insights and methods of academic research into the public domain.

We look forward to welcoming you all at this year’s conference!