Alumni Activities

Student news. Mariel Havard Griffiths, who graduated in Philosophy and Religion last summer, is now working as a tutor in Community Outreach at an Arts and Culture centre which is part of Bangor University. Mariel facilitates and leads various arts projects such as Dance for Parkinson’s movement sessions, art projects in a children’s clinic in a local hospital, and creative sessions for young people who are experiencing grief. Mariel writes: "It is very interesting and rewarding, but a bit emotionally tiring as you can imagine! But I’m enjoying it very much, and it has been great to get to experience working with a variety of people!"

Faiths in Charity - Food Drives and Iftar Dinner

Student event. Food drives for Greater Manchester are running food banks on 10th and 17th March 10am-5pm in the Student Union and an interfaith Iftar dinner on the 10th from 5.15pm in Academy 3. Tickets free. If you'd like to attend or help out at the food drives email Neva at diversitydialogues. Click here for Iftar booking link.

Lifelong Learning, Limmud Talks

Jewish studies. Honorary research fellow Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz gave two lectures at Netherlands Limmoed in Amsterdam, on 'Orthodox women rabbis' and 'Women in the Book of Judith' on 8th March. Limmoed is an annual Jewish learning event (social responsibility) featuring a variety of lectures, workshops, and cultural activities in the Amsterdam region. Further information. In December, Lindsey also gave 5 lectures and participated in a panel at UK Limmud in Birmingham.

New Publication

Biblical Studies. Sarah Parkhouse has published 'Perpetua in the Amphitheater: Spatial Power, Colonial Archaeology, and Christian History', Journal of Early Christian Studies 34.1 (2026): 19-44. This paper won the SBL Diamond Award for Integrative Studies 2023. Further information.

Online Exhibition

Digital humanities. As part of Centre for Biblical Studies’ CIDRAL-funded programme of events entitled Encountering Biblical Bodies the exhibition has today launched in the glass corridor in Samuel Alexander as well as online, with audio commentary from staff, students, and friends. Check it out here. Remember to sign up for the research cafe conversation on March 16th here (in-person only).

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 23rd March: Professor Katherine Southwood (University of Oxford), "Arranged Marriage and Migration in the Hebrew Bible: Rehumanising Women’s Stories through Narrative Imagination", 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Going Beyond Belief Highlights

Public resource.  Is Assisted Suicide Permissible? Michael Hoelzl takes readers through moral, religious, legal, and philosophical dilemmas of decision making on his Beyond Belief pages on Assisted Dying and Decision Making. Drawing on a real-life case taken from the Beyond Belief radio episode on assisted dying, these pages raise questions about autonomy, faith, and issues regarding time-pressured decision making. They challenge readers to think critically about who gets to decide when life ends - and why.

Art History Lecture

Art History. On 9th February, Siobhán Jolley chaired the Pilkington Lecture 2026 by Susanna Avery Quash of the National Gallery speaking on the topic ‘In Search of Women at the National Gallery'. Further information. 

Television Appearance and Consultant - Sky History

Biblical Studies. Andrew Boakye contributed to the TV documentary "Lost Grail with Alice Roberts" available on Sky History and other platforms. Andy spoke about the legends surrounding Joseph of Arimathea and the holy grail. Further information.

R&T Employability Event

For students. All 2nd and 3rd year Religion students on all degree programmes are welcome at a specialised careers event. 25th March, 2-4pm, Simon Building 4.38.

NSS appeal

National Student Survey. A few years back our department of Religions & Theology was one of very few subject areas in the University to achieve the legendary 100% student satisfaction score, and the only religious studies department with publishable results in the Russell Group to do so. We'd like to achieve this again and that means asking you, our students, for feedback and ideas on what we could do to improve your satisfaction. We're particularly interested in hearing about improving assessment and feedback, and also how encourage a  greater student voice. If you have a suggestion, please send it to our Head of Dept, Daniel Langton, or to our Staff-Student Liaison Officer, Eve Parker. Otherwise, please go ahead and complete the NSS!

CreativeAI Fully-Funded PhD Studentship

Digital humanities. Scott Midson is co-leading a CreativeAI PhD studentship with Łukasz Szulc (Digital Humanities) titled: "Love in the Time of AI: Online Dating, AI Bots and Romantic Relationships of Young Adults". The study is guided by three research questions: How are dating bots designed, deployed and envisioned for future use within the dating industry? How do young adults perceive, interact with and integrate dating bots into their romantic lives? What opportunities, challenges and ethical concerns do dating bots pose for young adults? Applications from students with a strong track record of exploring questions at the intersection of technology, society and intimacy, particularly within the humanities and social sciences are particularly welcomed. The application deadline is March 30th. Further information.

SALC Placement Scheme

Employability. The SALC Placement Scheme allows SALC students on a 3-year programme to convert their course into a 4-year programme with the third year being a placement year. Successful completion of the placement year will allow you to graduate with ‘with Professional Experience’ added to your degree title. Taking a placement year provides a wide range of benefits including valuable experience for future job applications, insight into your potential career choices, and the opportunity to apply your academic learning in a professional setting. You can apply for the scheme during your second year, and applications close on 1 May 2026. Further information.

Encountering Biblical Bodies Exhibition and Event

Biblical studies. Join us for an informal research cafe and exhibition viewing of Sarah Lightman’s Biblical Women. As part of the Centre for Biblical Studies’ CIDRAL-funded programme of events entitled Encountering Biblical Bodies, we are pleased to host works from artist Sarah Lightman’s Biblical Domestic and Menstrual Hystery series in the Samuel Alexander Glass Corridor. In these paintings, biblical heroines trade halos for housework and divine serenity for the messy reality of ageing bodies, menopause, and domestic labour. On Monday March 16th 4:30–6:30pm there will be an informal research cafe where artist Sarah Lightman will be in in conversation with Dawn Llewellyn (Chester), Holly Morse, and Siobhán Jolley. The exhibition is free to see any time Samuel Alexander building is open but the research cafe conversation must be booked in advance. Get your tickets here.

Career Spotlight: Human Resources Officer

For students. Interested in how organisations support and develop their people? Human resources (HR) officers help with recruitment, training, employee wellbeing, and workplace policies. A RELT degree equips you with strong communication skills, empathy, cultural awareness, and the ability to think carefully about fairness and ethics, all central to HR work. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers meeting to discuss your career ideas further.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 9th March: Dr Sherry Ashworth (University of Manchester), "Creative Engagement as Method in Biblical Studies: A Case Study and Reflection Drawn from Rewriting the Book of Esther", 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Interdisciplinary Event on Faces

Interdisciplinary event. Siobhán Jolley is presenting at an interdisciplinary seminar at the John Rylands Institute and Library, provisionally titled  "(Re)imagined and imaging faces: beliefs, arts, and physics." The event is part of a University of Manchester Research Institute 2025 project, ‘Challenging the Impossible’, aiming to reassess some of the issues surrounding the reconstruction of historical faces through interdisciplinary conversations across a wide range of research fields, including Science and Engineering, Dentistry and Maxillofacial surgery, Anatomy, Egyptology, Ancient History and History, Art History, Archaeology, and more. Siobhán's paper is titled "(Re)Constructing a Biblical Woman: Art, History, and the Many Faces of Mary Magdalene". 25th Feb 2026. Further information.

Paid Opportunity for Students - Back to School Programme

For UG students. We have recently opened recruitment for the second cohort of the 25/26 Back to School Programme, where Humanities undergraduate students are paid to return to their former schools/colleges to share their experiences of studying at Manchester. The aim is to inspire prospective students and showcase Manchester as a great place to study. This is a paid opportunity (with travel costs covered) that develops public speaking and presentation skills, enhances your CV, and is a chance to give back to your school community. Sign up here for training. Any questions can be directed to hums-outreach@manchester.ac.uk.

Seminar Presentation

Egyptian History. Honorary Research Fellow Youssef M. Choueiri has been invited by the Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography under the directorship of Professor Davide Cadeddu to deliver a presentation on 26th February 2026 to students at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge on the Egyptian historian al-Jabarti (1753–1825). The seminar offers a unique opportunity for students and scholars to reflect on several great historical works and engage in discussion with renowned experts.

SALC Students Community Page

For students. On the SALC Students Community Page you'll find everything you need to know about your programme, employability, assessment, advising, where to find and access support, and what opportunities are available to you.

Fellow of Royal Historical Society

Jewish History. Daniel Langton has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Founded in 1868, the Royal Historical Society (RHS) is the UK’s foremost society working for historians and history.

Reading Group, Biblical Hebrew

Biblical and Jewish Studies. Philip Alexander leads a Biblical Hebrew reading group focusing that meets weekly online on Mondays, 11am. The primary aim of this non-credit course will be to provide students at BA, MA or PhD levels and researchers beyond who have done some Hebrew with the opportunity to advance their knowledge. For further information, email philip.alexander@manchester.ac.uk.

PhD Success

Islamic and Biblical studies. Daniel Arnold has completed, defended, and been awarded the PhD for his thesis, “Qur’anic Memories of Genesis: Creation and Identity Formation in the Ummah of Mohammed”. Daniel was supervised by Dwight D Swanson and Philip S Alexander.

Religion & Theology Research Seminar

 

Religion & Theology. Monday 16th February, Joy Clarkson (KCL) will present her latest research in the R&T departmental seminar. 3–5pm University Place 5.209 and online. Email Siobhán Jolley for further information. 

Bogdanow Lectures 2026

Holocaust and Jewish Studies. The CJS is delighted to announce that the Bogdanow Lectures in Holocaust Studies 2026 will be given by Professor Susannah Heschel (Dartmouth and Harvard University). The lectures are entitled: The Yellow Star in Church: Baptized Jews in Nazi Germany and It's Happening Here: Antisemitism in the United States. 16 and 17 February 2026, 5.30pm, on campus and online. Venue TBA via registration, which is required - tickets here.

Creative Careers Workshop

For students. Interested in a creative career? Find out what freelancing really involves from professionals working in the music, TV, media and publishing industries. Take part in interactive activities to build your confidence and develop key freelancing skills and hear practical advice from industry experts on how to get started. Run in partnership with the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), SALC and the Careers Service. Go along to the workshop on 25th February. Further information.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 23rd February: Professor Loveday Alexander (University of Chester/Manchester), "Holy Ghost Greek? Calibrating the Linguistic Register of Luke and Acts", 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Going Beyond Belief Highlights

Public resource. Has Judaism Updated the Word of God? Alex Samely explores the issue of how ancient religions transmit their content, practices, and ideas to a new generation on his Beyond Belief page. He discusses whether the commandments given in sacred scriptures are received as immutable and what effect such debates have on contemporary Jewish practices. This page, aimed at RS A-level students, is based on Alex’s research on the development of Jewish thought and is complementary to Radio 4’s Beyond Belief programme on ‘Why Religions Change’

Islamic Society and Christian Union Event

Student event. For the first time, Manchester Islamic Society and Manchester Christian Union are co-hosting a joint event to learn, discuss and understand each others' faiths in an open, friendly environment. Wednesday 4th February, 7-9pm in Academy 3, Student Union.

Sherman Conversation in Jewish Studies

Jewish studies event. Prof. Susannah Heschel (Dartmouth) and Dr. Roy Bar Sadeh (Manchester) in conversation "Muslim-Jewish Modernity: Towards an Entangled History?" Chaired by Dr. Tom Woerner-Powell (Manchester). Wednesday 18th February 2026, 5.30-7.00pm, on campus and online. Venue TBA via registration, which is required - tickets here.

Holocaust Memorial Day Event

Event. All students and staff welcome and encouraged to join the Holocaust Memorial Day Event led by the Jewish Society. Includes talks from Michael Newman, CEO of the Association of Jewish Refugees, and Stuart Ferster, son of Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster. Tuesday 3rd February, 2pm-3pm, in Club Academy, Basement Floor, Steve Biko Students' Union Building, Oxford Road, M13 9PR. Admission free but tickets needed. Get tickets here.

Grant Success

Biblical studies. Colleagues in the Centre for Biblical Studies have been awarded a Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Arts and Languages (CIDRAL) Grant for the project "Encountering Biblical Bodies". Led by Holly Morse, Siobhán Jolley, and Peter Oakes, they are working with Dr Gillian Redfern and other colleagues across the School to host an exhibition in March the Creative Manchester Glass Corridor gallery in Samuel Alexander and also a symposium later in the semester. Further updates to follow.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Honorary research fellow Helen R. Jacobus has published "A Response to the Alleged Fallacy of Jaubert's Hypothesis: The Question of Biblical Calendars and the 364-day Year in the Qumran Flood Calendar," Harvard Theological Review 118.4 (2025): 617-639. It's open access so read it here. Helen presented this paper in the Ehrhardt seminar a few years ago.

PhD Success

Biblical studies. Congratulations to Rachel Miller who has successfully completed and defended her PhD titled "Of Metaphors and Men: An Intersectional Analysis of Women’s Agency, Men’s Violence, and Victim-Blaming in the Hebrew Bible". Rachel was supervised by Holly Morse and Todd Klutz.

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. Emeritus Professor George Brooke has published a short essay: “The Dead Sea Scrolls as Archaeological Artifacts,” in A Voice from the Desert: The Great Isaiah Scroll, ed. Marcello Fidanzio (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2026) pp. 14-19.

Career Spotlight: Public Relations Officer

For students. Enjoy writing, relationship-building, and shaping how organisations are seen? Public relations officers help manage reputation, create engaging content, and communicate key messages to the public and the media. Your RELT degree develops excellent communication skills, cultural awareness, and the ability to analyse complex issues, all highly valued in PR and communications roles. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers meeting to discuss your career ideas further. 

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 9th February: Professor Peter Oakes (University of Manchester), "A New Approach to Use of Manuscripts in Commentary Writing", 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Samuel Ferguson Lecture 2026

Public Theology Event. Peter Scott writes: ‘I’m delighted to announce that the 2026 Ferguson lecturer is Prof. Maureen Junker-Kenny (Trinity College, Dublin). Among other topics, Prof. Junker-Kenny has made a distinctive and widely acknowledged contribution to public theology. She will give the Ferguson Presentation at Manchester Cathedral at noon. The title of the presentation is “Conceptions of the Biblical God and the Hope for a Responsive Humanity”. At 4 PM, she will give the Ferguson Lecture at the University of Manchester—the lecture title is “Frameworks for Social Theology: Habermas and Ricoeur on Agency, Ethics, and Religion". Please do come and hear Prof. Junker-Kenny at either or both these events.’ Both lectures take place on Thursday 5th March. Further details, including a description of the Presentation and the Lecture, may be found here. The Presentation will be followed by lunch; the Lecture will be followed by a drinks reception. The venue at the University for the Lecture is the Ellen Wilkinson Building, Room C1.18. Both events are free and without ticket. Contact: peter.scott@manchester.ac.uk.

YouTube interview for European project

Biblical Studies. The ECCLESIAE Project of the Universities of Bern and Bonn interviewed fifteen academics from around the world who specialise in understanding early Christianity in its historical context, to produce videos for the project’s Early Christian Centers YouTube channel. From the UK they interviewed Tom Holland, N.T. Wright and Peter Oakes. Peter’s interview is online here. He considers why Philippi was special and, more broadly, argues that ‘questions arising from the textual sources of the early Christ movement can only be adequately answered when they are embedded in the lived reality of people in the first century. Archaeological and epigraphic evidence opens up access to this world.’ The channel also includes a one-hour video, Christ and the Gods: How a Jewish Sect Swept the Cities of Rome.

Pizza Party

Event. Everyone from Religion and Theology and Liberal Arts are invited to a Pizza Party, Weds 4th February, 5–7pm, Lime Cafe (bottom floor Samuel Alexander South Wing).

New Publication

Ecotheology. A special issue, Ecotheology in Asia and the Pacific, has been published in the Indonesian Journal of Theology. Co-editor Seoyoung Kim (UoM honorary research fellow) explores what she calls “ecotheology beyond adjective,” bringing together voices from Asia and the Pacific that reflect the region’s lived ecological realities. Contributors come from Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Sri Lanka. Further information.