Author: Vivian

Re: Threat to jobs in the Religion, Philosophy and Ethics department at the University
of Gloucestershire
Dear Vice Chancellor Stephen Marston,

As the executive committee of the British Association for the Study of Religions, we
write to urge you to reconsider the very real threat of job losses in the Religion,
Philosophy and Ethics department, a department that is greatly valued nationally and
internationally. We recognise the pressures on the university in the current economic
climate but consider this to be precisely the wrong time to diminish scholarly debate
about religion and religions. The academic study of religion has a key role within
higher education institutions in its critical examination of the essential historical role
of religions in culture and society. Moreover; the study of contemporary religions in a
global perspective is a vital aspect of scholarly studies informing current geo-political
debates, issues of religious identity, sustainability, social justice and what it is to be
human.

The Religion, Philosophy and Ethics department at the University of Gloucestershire
is a vibrant and dynamic department and colleagues are at the cutting edge in terms
of research in such areas as contemporary Hinduism and Islam, continental
philosophy, social justice and sustainability. Their work in the wider debate
concerning BAMEs and issues of social justice is crucial and more important than
ever in the current situation. The intersection of the growing importance of
understanding religion and the quality of your Religion, Philosophy and Ethics
department encourage us to hope that you will find ways to support the continued
work of our esteemed colleagues.

Yours sincerely,

Prof Bettina Schmidt, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, President of the British
Association for Study of Religions

Dr Stephen Gregg, Wolverhampton University, Honorary Secretary of the British
Association for Study of Religions

Dr Chris Cotter, University of Edinburgh, Honorary Treasurer of the British
Association for Study of Religions

BASR Ethics Guidelines final 17092019

Following several roundtable discussions at conferences, the BASR has decided to establish a guidelines of ethics for researchers to consider.

Are you a PhD student or Early Careers Researcher who wishes to attend the British Association in the Study of Religion? The BASR is pleased to present conference bursaries for early stage academics, in order to help to foster the helpful and learning environment the conference provides.

Please note that you must be (or become) a member of BASR to qualify for a Bursary, and that bursary holders are required to co-author a report on the conference for the BASR Bulletin, and to attend the BASR AGM during the conference.

Please email your application by 15 May 2019 to:  Dr Stephen Gregg, s.gregg@wlv.ac.uk

BASR Bursary Application Form 2019

Finalised schedule now available!! Click Here to Download Now

Book your place here!

The British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) is receptive to including the
participation of scholars in other disciplines and fields of study. This year, the conference
will be held in collaboration with documentary film makers from Leeds Trinity University’s Media, Film and Culture team and IRIS (International Research Centre for Interactive storytelling) and will include the screening of several documentary projects. As such, we welcome papers and panels on the theme of screen media, film and religion as well as on the academic study of religion/s more generally.

This can include religion in all types of media, including, but not limited to:
• Film
• Documentary
• Gaming – virtual worlds
• Digital technology
• Production of screen media projects on religion

In addition, we welcome any research approach applicable to the study of religion/s,
including but not limited to:
• Visual ethnography
• Filmmaking
• Collaborative practice
• Photo-elicitation
• Other innovative research methods

Selected papers will be published in the peer-reviewed open-access Journal of the British
Association for the Study of Religions (JBASR).

Keynote: Dr James Kapalo, University College, Cork, who is the Principal Investigator of
the European Research Council Project Creative Agency and Religious Minorities: Hidden
Galleries in the Secret Police Archives in Central and Eastern Europe (Hidden Galleries).
For his research profile, see http://research.ucc.ie/profiles/A040/jkapalo

Panel proposal (title, 200-word abstract, participants’ titles, abstracts) deadline: 15 May 2019

Paper proposal (presenter/s, title, 200-word abstract) deadline: 1 June 2019
Send to: basrcon@gmail.com

Bursary applications (to cover full conference package) for postgraduate and early-career scholars: please complete the form (which is available here) and send directly to the Secretary of the BASR (email is on the form). Deadline: 15 May 2019

Conference team:
Dr Suzanne Owen, Reader in Religious Studies [contact for conference queries]
Dr Stefano Odorico, Reader in Contemporary Screen Media
Ilaria Vecchi, PGR in the School of Arts and Communication

basr 2019 conference cfp
leeds trinity location map
campus map – sept 2018

BASRTeachingFellowship_ApplicationForm

The British Association for the Study of Religion’s Annual Teaching Fellowship is now in its second year, and taking applications.