Birgit Meyer

Birgit Meyer is a Professor of Religious Studies at Utrecht University, affiliated with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Her work focuses on material religion, postcolonial criticism, and the intersection of religion with media and globalization. She leads the research program 'Religious Matters in an Entangled World,' exploring how religion manifests through tangible forms in diverse societies.

Education: Trained in cultural anthropology at Bremen University and the University of Amsterdam, she held previous roles at VU Amsterdam and Utrecht University since 2011. Key academic contributions include studies on Ghanaian Pentecostalism, missionary legacies, and religious visual culture.

Research interests emphasize material and sensory dimensions of religion, including religious heritage in museums, media, and urban spaces. Awards include the Spinoza Prize (2015) and the Stewart Hoover Mentorship Award (2023). She has advised numerous PhD candidates and leads interdisciplinary teams in global collaborations.

Her work bridges empirical research and theoretical reflection, addressing contemporary challenges in religious coexistence and secularization. Current projects include unpacking colonial missionary collections and studying religious plurality in urban Africa.