New Publication

Religion and environment. Finlay Malcolm and Peter Scott have published "The ecotheological values of Christian climate change activists" in the journal Environmental Values. This is the first research output of the AHRC-funded research project, Religion, Theology and Climate Change—which is now in its third year. Further project publications are planned for 2025. Further information.

New Publications

Biblical studies. Behind the Scenes of the New Testament: Cultural, Social and Historical Contexts, ed. Bruce Longenecker, Elizabeth Shiveley, and T.J. Lang (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2024) is just out and contains chapters by a stellar cast of international scholars including HRFs Loveday Alexander (on ‘Historiography’) and MiJa Wi (‘Wealth and Poverty’). Further information.

Student Placements Scheme

For students. Convert to a 4-year programme with the third year being a placement year and learn key job-seeking skills by securing your own placement, with support from SALC and the Careers Service, with the SALC Placement Scheme. Placements do not need to be related to your degree subject and can be in the UK or abroad. Add 'with Professional Experience' to your degree title! Open to UK and international students. Applications are open until the 1st May 2025. Contact salc.placements@manchester.ac.uk with any questions! Further information.

Plenary Conference Paper

Science and Religion. Peter Scott will be a plenary speaker at the conference Ecology between Religions and Sciences: Minds and Bodies in Nature, being organised by the International Society for Science and Religion in summer 2025. See the full announcement here.

PhD funding success

Jewish History. This AHRC-funded PhD studentship for a collaborative doctoral project with the Manchester Jewish Museum is entitled "Defying Disability in Victorian Jewish Manchester: The Diaries of David Isaacs and Social Marginality in a Minority Community.” The project will be supervised by Daniel Langton. It offers a unique opportunity for the doctoral student to both advance their research and archive skills and also work with a museum on public-facing initiatives. The deadline for complete applications is 13 February, 2025. For more information and contact details for any questions, please see further information.

New Publications

Biblical studies. Holly Morse and Siobhán Jolley have just had chapters published in Bibles and Popular Cultures, edited by Rebekah Welton and Zanne Domoney-Lyttle (Bloomsbury 2024). Holly’s chapter is titled ‘Serpentine Saviours and Woke Women: When the Satanic Witch Met Eve in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ and Siobhán's is ‘“I can't be physical with you” – Reimagining John 20:17 through Fleabag’. Further information.

Semester 1 Assessment Period

For students. It is the time of the year when you might submit written coursework for summative assessment and get ready for exams in January. Please make good use of any formative feedback that you have received. What are the recommendations that you should follow in order to improve your work and gain a higher mark? Please make good use of your lecturers’ office hours. We are here to talk you through the assignment requirements and formative feedback. All questions you have about assignments should be asked. The University offers useful resources to support your work: 

 • My Learning Essentials for anything from essay planning to critical thinking. 

• Academic Success Programme to help you use Academic English with accuracy and confidence. 

• Referencing and how to avoid plagiarism 

• SALC UG Programme Handbook for anything from mitigating circumstances applications to grade descriptors.

National Gallery Documentary

Theology and the Arts. Siobhán Jolley featured in Episode 2 of "200 Years of the National Gallery: Towards Modernity (1900-1945)", a documentary about the history of the Gallery. The episode is now available to stream in full here on YouTube.

Interfaith Coffee at Manchester Museum

Interfaith student event. On 27th November, the Baha'i Society, Jewish Students kehillah, the Jewish Society, and the Council of Christians and Jews hosted interfaith conversations with coffee, followed by a trip around Manchester Museum.

For Graduates

Did you finish your UoM course between August and October 2023? You are now invited to complete the #GraduateOutcomes survey! Search your inbox for an email from universityofmanchester-uom@graduateoutcomes.ac.uk and take the survey—it only takes 10 minutes and is your change to influence the future of Higher Education! Find out more about why you should take the survey here.

Spotlight on Georgia Loynds, alumna

Head of Secondary School Religious Studies. After completing my undergraduate studies at Manchester, I decided that I wanted to stay in education. I completed my PGCE in secondary religious studies and went on to work in several Manchester secondary schools. I am now the Head of Department for RS at Co-op Academy Belle Vue, an Ofsted rated ‘outstanding’ school, where I get to share my love of religion and theology with students every day. One of the best parts of my job is having full discretion over the curriculum; much of my KS3 curriculum is inspired by the courses I took during my undergrad at Manchester, including ‘Paul: Theology, Ethics, Philosophy’, ‘Holocaust Theology’ ‘All about Eve’ and ‘Religion, Ethics and the Environment’ all which have inspired my students. I am also involved in the coaching of other teaching staff, including the opportunity to mentor trainee teachers. Due to the exceptional study opportunities at Manchester, I have been able to share my passion with the younger generation and promote a genuine love of academic and scholarly habits.

St Paul's Advent Reflections

Theology. Siobhán Jolley is writing this year’s advent reflections for St Paul’s Cathedral. Read here.

International Symposium of Biblical Exegesis

Biblical Studies. HRF Maria Cioată co-organised the fourth edition of the International Symposium of Biblical Exegesis, at the West University Timisoara, which took place online 11–12 November. The theme was 'The Reception of Bethlehem in Holy Scripture and Judeo-Christian Literature (up to the 6th century CE)'. One of the speakers was another member of the Ehrhardt Seminar and HRF, Dr. John Applegate, emeritus Archdeacon of Bolton, who spoke on 'Bethlehem? In Jeremiah? Or: Why does Matthew refer to Jeremiah 31:15 in relation to the Slaughter of the Innocents in Matthew 2:16-18". Further information.