Summary: This project chooses Shaolin Temple – the Temple of origin for Kung Fu – as a site for investigating Chinese monks’ views on science in contemporary society. The purpose of the research is to investigate the relationship between science and Buddhism in China today. The research questions are three-fold. Firstly, we explore the bi-directional influence, between Buddhism and Science, in the lived experience of Shaolin monks. Secondly, we aim to examine the nature of the relationship between Buddhism and science in the thinking and philosophy of Shaolin monks. Thirdly, we will examine the practice of science in the monastic practices at play in Shaolin Temple. Religions in different geographical and national contexts will form along their own paths of development which will reflect particular dynamics in the relationship between science and society. This project is necessary for providing insight into the science-religion relationship in the context of Chinese society

Summary: The main objective of this project is to examine various characteristics and attributes that hinder or promote proenvironmental behaviour in Turkey. We aim to answer one key question: What affective, religious, psychological, and ecological perceptions influence environment-related values and practices in Turkey? We will conduct surveys with individuals having diverse demographic and socio-economic profiles. We will draw on, in part, a novel survey instrument that has been developed by Taylor, Wright, and LaVasseur (2020), combined with an additional and novel survey scale focusing on the world’s most prevalent religious perceptions and beliefs. To answer our research question, we will reconsider our hypotheses in the non-western, predominantly Muslim, context. This project comes to address two gaps in our knowledge. First, the role that non-western religious, non-religious, and hybrid identities play in the way people respond to environmental challenges. Second, the vast majority of research on Islam and the environment has

Summary: The aim of this project is to survey contemporary Orthodox Christian attitudes in “cradle” (traditionally Orthodox countries) and “diaspora” (migrants) Orthodox communities towards technological advancement, especially artificial intelligence/AI. The research questions the project will answer are as follows: Is there an Orthodox view of AI? If there is, is this view consistent with the overall Orthodox attitude towards scientific research and technological advancement? Does this view draw on theological anthropology? How would technological advancement and AI impact Orthodox Christians’ theological anthropology? Are there discernible differences regarding these matters between “cradle” and “diaspora” Orthodox communities? This project is necessary, first, because there exists almost no specialised literature on the topic of interest. Second, while the internet “apologists” debate the topic fiercely—especially in a conspiratorial sense—the Orthodox Churches have not taken yet official positions on AI. Third, the official positions on scientific research and technological advancement mainly discuss biotechnological developments, seemingly

Summary: We propose to establish a multidisciplinary network of scholars to collaborate on research concerning the social and cultural aspects of the intersection of religion and astrobiology. Despite the great cultural traction and public interest in this topic, it has received little attention within the social sciences and allied disciplines (e.g., history). Our network will begin to rectify this. Our project will ‘examine a social or cultural aspect of science [astrobiology]… in relation to [one or more] religious, spiritual or non-religious tradition[s], position[s] or worldview[s], including unbelief’. We will do this by creating a network of interested scholars from a wide range of disciplines, career-stages (including ECRS and PGRs), and worldviews to approach this topic from a variety of different angles. This will foster novel, synergistic collaborations and outputs during both this stage of the project, and beyond this initial 24-month period. The network will primarily be based in the