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Professor Roel Sterckx is the Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science, and Civilization at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with Clare College. He specializes in pre-imperial and early imperial Chinese thought, classical Chinese language, and natural history. His research bridges anthropology and the history of science, focusing on topics like ritual, economic thought, and animal studies. He has authored influential books including Food, Sacrifice, and Sagehood in Early China and Animals through Chinese History . Sterckx is a Fellow of the British Academy (since 2013) and holds leadership roles at the Needham Research Institute. He supervises PhD students on subjects ranging from Warring States rhetoric to Han Dynasty apocrypha. Education: BA/PGCE in Sinology and History, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Masters in Classical Chinese and Philosophy, National Taiwan University PhD in Chinese History, University of Cambridge Research Interests: Early Chinese cultural ecology, ritual economy, and the interplay of moral and material values. His work analyzes texts like the Rites of Zhou , Mozi , and Huainanzi , emphasizing agricultural thought and animal symbolism. Awards: British Academy Fellowship (2013) Grants and Labs: Directs the Cambridge-based Needham Research Institute, focusing on East Asian science and technology history. Current projects include studies on Han perceptions of southern regions and the economics of ritual in early China.

• Chinese thought
• pre-imperial and early imperial cultural history
• natural history
• +7 more

Professor Adam Yuet Chau is a Fellow and Director of Studies at St John's College and holds the Professor of the Anthropology of China position at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge . His academic journey includes training at Stanford University (PhD in Anthropology, 2001) and teaching roles at Oxford and SOAS before joining Cambridge in 2008. Focus on Chinese religions and their social dimensions Specializes in ritual theory and cultural transformations Develops comparative frameworks for understanding religious practices His research spans religion under socialism , hosting in political/religious contexts , and ritual polytropy . Recent projects include editing Chinese Religious Culture in 100 Objects and analyzing 'spheres' (界) in Chinese society . Publications like Miraculous Response (2006) and Religion in Contemporary China (2011) establish him as a key figure in religious anthropology. Current and past PhD/MPhil students explore topics from temple festivals in Taiwan to religious subjectification . He actively reviews for leading presses (Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard) and journals ( Ethnos , Modern China ), and participates in international academic workshops.

• Chinese Religion and Ritual
• Ritual Theory
• State-Society Relations
• +7 more

Lucia Dolce serves as the Numata Professor of Japanese Buddhism within the Department of Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University of London, part of the School of History, Religions and Philosophies. Her academic base is room 342 in the Russell Square: College Buildings campus. Her educational background includes: Laurea MA (University of Venice) PhD (Leiden University) Professor Dolce's research centers on two interconnected projects: first, the discourse on the body in medieval Japanese Buddhist rituals and its connections to continental Tantric practices, emphasizing ritual fluidity and performative theory applications; second, contemporary Buddhism-Shinto syncretism with focus on revival of premodern practices in Kyoto shrines. She also examines Tokyo's urban pilgrimage routes like the Seven Gods of Fortune, analyzing institutional negotiations and religious marketing dynamics. Her journal articles (1992-2023) consistently explore ritual knowledge transfer in Japanese Buddhism, with recent works on scriptural repurposing and tantric exegesis highlighting material culture and practice-centered approaches. Earlier publications establish foundational studies on Nichiren Buddhism's esoteric dimensions, astrological cults, and celestial body worship, revealing enduring thematic threads across three decades of scholarship. Scientific awards: No awards listed in provided text Advising and grants: She currently supervises four PhD candidates: Rachel Williams (Japanese Secularity), Haruka Saito (Repentance Rituals), Sooyeun Yang (Korean Astrological Buddhism), and Yeonju Lee (Korean Nationalism). Previous supervisees include twelve PhD graduates such as Emanuela Sala (2022, Sannō Shintō), Ronit Wang (2022, Thai Hell Parks), and multiple 2011 completions. Dolce led the Newton Fellowship-associated project 'The Lucky Gods of Tokyo' (2014-2016), investigating spatial politics in Buddhist-Shinto pilgrimage networks.

• Japanese Buddhism
• Medieval Japanese Religious Culture
• Ritual Studies
• +7 more

Katherine Swancutt is Reader in Social Anthropology at King's College London, where she serves as Director of the Religious and Ethnic Diversity in China and Asia Research Unit (REDCARU) and Project Lead for the ERC Synergy Grant 'Cosmological Visionaries: Shamans, Scientists, and Climate Change at the Ethnic Borderlands of China and Russia' (2020-2026). She has conducted anthropological fieldwork for over two decades across Asia, focusing on Southwest China (among the Nuosu), Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Buryat regions of Russia. Her research centers on the anthropology of religion, with particular emphasis on shamanism, animism, dreams, and the relationship between cosmology and the environment. Her fieldwork explores how religious innovations are used to manage conflict and shape everyday life among diverse ethnic communities. She has established herself as a leading scholar in indigenous knowledge systems and their relevance to contemporary environmental challenges. Dr. Swancutt's extensive publication record reveals consistent thematic focus on ritual practices, divination systems, and cosmological frameworks, particularly among the Nuosu people of Southwest China. Her recent work examines how spiritual practices intersect with environmental change, social renewal, and cultural memory, bridging anthropology, religious studies, and environmental humanities to create innovative frameworks for understanding indigenous cosmologies in the context of climate change. ERC Synergy Grant 'Cosmological Visionaries' (£6m project connecting shamans, scientists, and rural communities) Author of four major publications including 'Fortune and the Cursed' (2012) and 'Crafting Chinese Memories' (2021) Founder of REDCARU, now an international network with branches in Chinese universities Recipient of significant research funding including ERC Synergy Grant As an educator, Dr. Swancutt teaches anthropology of religion at all levels and supervises PhD students focusing on long-term ethnographic fieldwork among ethnic minorities in China, Mongolia, or Russia. She actively engages with public audiences through exhibitions like 'Vital Signs: Another World is Possible' at the Science Gallery London, which showcases indigenous visions of climate change.

• Anthropology of Religion
• Social Sciences in China
• Shamanism
• +12 more

Robert L. Chard is a Professor of Chinese Classics and Tutorial Fellow in Chinese at St Anne's College, University of Oxford. He is affiliated with the China Centre, a leading institution for East Asian studies. His research focuses on the cultural history of Confucianism, Confucian ritual studies (禮學), and the intersection of religion, politics, and military history in early China and premodern East Asia. He teaches courses on classical Chinese texts, historical methodologies, and Chinese religious traditions. His recent scholarship explores Confucian ritual authority in early China, the role of Confucian temples in Japanese domain (han) education systems during the Tokugawa period, and transnational intellectual exchanges between China and Japan. He has published extensively on topics such as ritual practices, temple symbolism, and the socio-political dimensions of Confucian learning. While no specific grants or awards are listed, his work demonstrates deep engagement with primary sources and cross-cultural analysis. He advises students in classical Chinese studies and oversees tutorial programs at St Anne's College.

• Cultural history of Confucianism
• Confucian ritual studies (禮學)
• History of Chinese religion and magical beliefs
• +3 more

Lars Laamann is a Lecturer at the School of History, Religions and Philosophies, SOAS University of London. His research focuses on the historical interplay between religion, colonialism, and cultural exchange in East Asia, with particular emphasis on Christianity in China and Mongolian religious traditions. He maintains an active research profile as evidenced by his publication record spanning from 1996 to 2025. Dr. Laamann's primary research interests include: The historical development of Christianity in China from the Qing Dynasty to modern times Mongolian religious syncretism and its political implications Protestant and Catholic missionary strategies in Southeast Asia Orthodox Christianity's role in contemporary geopolitical conflicts Colonial-era religious encounters and their sociocultural impacts His scholarly publications demonstrate consistent focus on religious encounters in East Asia, with recent works exploring Orthodox Christianity in conflict zones (Ethiopia/Ukraine), memory studies in Chinese Christianity, and missionary history. The publication trends show increasing attention to comparative religious analysis across different Asian contexts. Dr. Laamann has supervised several doctoral students researching topics including: Qing Dynasty state formation and religious policy (J. Lu) Republican China's communication infrastructure (L.-C. Chen) Cross-cultural encounters in early Qing Empire (W. Kang) Economic transformations in Mongolia (S. Shan) He serves as editor for the Central Asiatic Journal and participates in collaborative research projects examining Orthodox Christianity's political dimensions.

• History of Christianity in China
• Mongolian Religious History
• Missionary Studies
• +3 more

Guangtian Ha is an academic researcher specializing in Sufism, Chinese Islam, and ethnic studies. His work critically examines the intersections of sound, gender, media, and religion in Chinese contexts. His most notable contribution is the book The Sound of Salvation: Voice, Gender, and the Sufi Mediascape in China (2022), which explores the role of sound and media in Sufi spiritual practices and their gendered dimensions. His research extends to themes of ethnic politics, religious identity, and state policies affecting Muslim minorities in China. Key areas of focus include the Hui Muslims, Uyghurs, and the dynamics of halal certification. He employs ethnographic and cultural analysis methods in his studies. Ha’s publications reflect interdisciplinary approaches, combining insights from religious studies, anthropology, media studies, and sociology. His recent work addresses translingual practices in Islamic contexts and the socio-political implications of cultural markers like headscarves. Despite not being explicitly affiliated with any university in the provided texts, his academic output positions him as a prominent scholar in Chinese Islam and minority studies.

• Sufism
• Chinese Islam
• Ethnic Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Luke Heslop is a Senior Lecturer in Anthropology and Global Challenges at Brunel University London's College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. His work focuses on South Asian development, infrastructure, and kinship systems across Sri Lanka, Maldives, and the Indian Ocean region. As founding member of the South Asia Studies Research Group and Director of Research at PRISA, he bridges academic and policy domains through ethnographic approaches to global challenges. Education: PhD in Social Anthropology, University of Edinburgh (2015) MSc(res) in Social Anthropology, University of Edinburgh (2010) BA(Joint Hons) Anthropology and Development Studies, Sussex University (2009) Introduction to Project Management, City University of London (2020) His research examines how macro-economic shifts manifest in everyday life through three interconnected strands: mercantile kinship networks in Sri Lankan business families; infrastructure development (particularly roads and connectivity in the Maldives); and evolving 'advice ecosystems' in South Asian business development. Recent work analyzes Chinese infrastructure projects in island nations, financial architectures of development, and the social life of work in emerging economies. His ethnographic approach centers on lived experiences of political and economic transformation, with emphasis on labor, mobility, and financialization. Heslop's publications reveal consistent focus on South Asian political economy through infrastructure studies (40%), business anthropology (35%), and kinship dynamics (25%). His 2021-2024 work increasingly addresses climate vulnerability in island contexts and decolonial approaches to development advice. Key journals include Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute , Current Anthropology , and Journal of South Asian Development . PhD Supervision: First Supervisor: Matthew Adams (Metaverse ethnography), Ramish Chohan (Pakistan brick kiln workers) Second Supervisor: Bandana Adhikary (Nepalese education), Veronika Senkyrova (Policing/obesity) Research Development Advisor: Kat Lacey, Mercy Brown Heslop directs the MSc Global South Asia Studies program and convenes 'Practising Anthropology' while contributing to modules on South Asian societies, religion, and development. His 'Migration Menu' podcast and public exhibitions translate research into accessible formats, demonstrating commitment to impact beyond academia. Current projects include 'South Asia in West London' exploring diaspora communities through food, education, and entrepreneurship lenses.

• Development Anthropology
• Infrastructure Studies
• South Asian Economies
• +6 more

Dr. Thomas White is a Lecturer in China and Sustainable Development at the Lau China Institute, King’s College London . He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2016) and has contributed extensively to environmental anthropology, focusing on Inner Asia’s pastoralist communities and their interactions with state policies. Education: PhD, University of Cambridge (2016) Current Role: Lecturer in China and Sustainable Development, King’s College London Former Role: Research Associate at Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit (MIASU), University of Cambridge (2022-2023) Research Interests span environmental anthropology, human-animal relations, spatial politics, postsocialist transformations, and China’s ecological governance. His work critically examines the Belt and Road Initiative, grassland conservation policies, and the role of nonhumans in state territorial imaginaries. Publications address topics like camel-based connectivity in Inner Mongolia, cosmopolitical ecologies, and the domestication of infrastructure. Key articles analyze how the Chinese state mobilizes narratives of terrain friction and animal labor to construct territorial legitimacy. Projects include the ESRC-funded Trading Mongolia’s Sovereign Meat , which investigates Mongolia-China livestock trade dynamics, and contributions to special issues on spatial transformations in China’s borderlands and multispecies pastoralism in Inner Asia.

• Environmental Anthropology
• Human-Animal Relations
• Political Geography
• +5 more

Jingyi Jenny Zhao is a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with Clare Hall and the Needham Research Institute. Her research bridges ancient Greek and early Chinese philosophy, focusing on comparative ethics, moral psychology, and cross-cultural reception. She co-edited Ancient Greece and China Compared (Cambridge University Press, 2018) and authored Aristotle and Xunzi on Shame, Moral Education, and the Good Life (Oxford University Press, 2024). Her work examines shame as a moral emotion across civilizations, analyzing educational frameworks in Aristotle and Xunzi. Publications explore childhood in premodern China and methodological challenges in cross-cultural comparisons. Outreach includes public engagement on classical traditions and a children's book, Adventures with the Ancients . Dr. Zhao participates in global conferences on philosophy and classical reception.

• Ancient Greek Philosophy
• Early Chinese Philosophy
• Comparative Ethics
• +3 more

John Brough (1917–1984) was a renowned Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge (1967–1984) and a Fellow of St John's College. He held previous academic roles as Professor of Sanskrit and Head of the Department of India, Pakistan and Ceylon at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London (1948–1967). His research focused on Sanskrit philology, Buddhist texts, and textual criticism, with notable contributions to the study of Gandhari Dharmapada, Bhattikavya, and early Buddhist manuscripts. Education: Dundee High School; Edinburgh University (MA 1939, DLitt 1945); St John's College, Cambridge (BA 1941, MA 1945). His work involved extensive field research in Nepal and collaboration with international scholars. Brough tragically died in a road accident in 1984. Research Interests: Sanskrit textual studies, Buddhist literature, linguistic theory, and the history of textual transmission. His publications include critical editions of classical texts and influential articles on philology, epigraphy, and comparative mythology. He also contributed to the understanding of early Buddhist translations and the cultural interactions along the Silk Road.

• Sanskrit Studies
• Buddhist Texts
• Philology
• +3 more

Dr. Stefania Travagnin is a Reader in Chinese Buddhism at SOAS University of London and Chair of the Centre of Buddhist Studies. She holds a MA in Chinese Studies from Ca’Foscari University (Italy) and a PhD in the Study of Religion from SOAS. Her roles include academic leadership, research coordination, and editorial work for journals like Review of Religion and Chinese Society . Education: Laurea MA (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice) PhD (SOAS, University of London) Her research focuses on modern Chinese and Taiwanese Buddhism, combining textual analysis with ethnographic fieldwork. Key projects include Mapping Religious Diversity in Modern Sichuan (Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation, 2017-2023) and a British Academy-supported study on Tzu Chi humanitarianism (2024-2025). She collaborates with institutions like Sichuan University and Georgetown University on topics like AI ethics and Buddhist humanitarianism. Publications span over 30 articles and edited volumes, including Religion and Media in China (Routledge 2016) and co-editing the three-volume Concepts and Methods for the Study of Chinese Religions (De Gruyter 2019-2020). Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, emphasizing marginalized voices like Buddhist nuns in Sichuan and digital religious practices. Grants & Projects: British Academy (2024-2025): Tzu Chi humanitarianism study Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation (2017-2023): Sichuan religious diversity mapping Georgetown University-led AI ethics project She supervises PhD candidates like Zhang Yuting (focused on Sichuan’s historical landscapes) and leads interdisciplinary teams exploring Buddhism’s intersection with technology, law, and global ethics. Her lab/work involves collaborative research networks spanning Europe, Asia, and North America.

• Chinese Buddhism
• Modern Religious History
• Ethnographic Studies
• +3 more

Canglong Wang is a Lecturer in Sociology at the School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Brighton. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh and has taught at multiple institutions including the University of Hull, Birkbeck University of London, and East China Normal University. Currently, he serves as Joint Course Leader for Criminology and Sociology programs and previously led the BA (Hons) Chinese Studies program at Hull. His research focuses on Confucian education revival in China, Chinese citizenship, transnational migration, and sociological theory. He has authored two books: The Rise of Confucian Citizens in China and Cultivating the Confucian Individual , and co-edited special journal issues on citizenship and education. His work includes a £24k international research project on Confucian citizen cultivation via heritage education spaces. Teaching specialties include sociological research methods, cultural sociology, and East Asian studies. He supervises PhD students in citizenship studies, race/ethnicity, and China-related topics. Research interests span Confucian education revival, cultural roots of citizenship, gender studies, and comparative sociology between China and the UK. He holds FHEA status and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. Professional memberships include British Sociological Association and Chinese Educational Research Association. Recent articles explore linguistic dilemmas in citizenship under Xi Jinping, paradoxes in classical education, and Confucian pedagogy's interplay with modernity. Key projects include guest editing Citizenship Studies and China Perspectives special issues, and leading a comparative study on early career researchers' challenges in the UK. His work bridges Western citizenship theories with Confucian moral frameworks, examining how classical education shapes modern Chinese identity and civil society.

• Race/ethnicity studies
• Chinese citizenship studies
• Education and social justice
• +6 more

Luis Fernando Bernardi Junqueira is a D. Kim Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Fellow at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge. He holds a PhD in History from University College London (2023), awarded with no revisions, and has held research positions at Tohoku University and the University of Strathclyde. His research focuses on intersections of science, medicine, and religion in 19th-20th century China, with special attention to psychology, mental health in East Asia, and alternative medicine in South America. Education: B.A. in History (Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil), M.A. in Chinese History (Fudan University, China), PhD in History (UCL, UK). Awards include the 2024 Royal Asiatic Society Bayly Prize, British Association Best Thesis Award, and Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2025-2028). His upcoming monograph The Science of the Spirit challenges narratives of secularization by exploring how modern science reinvigorated spiritual practices among Chinese elites. Research interests include decolonizing methodologies, transnational knowledge exchange, and the role of laypeople in producing scientific knowledge. Key publications include edited volume Therapy, Spirituality and East Asian Imaginaries (2025) and articles on psychical research in Republican China, talismanic practices, and media dissemination of scientific ideas. Grants: £160k Leverhulme Fellowship, $60k D. Kim Foundation Affiliations: Royal Historical Society Associate Fellow, Royal Asiatic Society Fellow Future projects include a Leverhulme-funded study on transnational esotericism and a comparative analysis of alternative therapies in South America.

• History of Science
• History of Medicine
• History of East Asia
• +4 more

Timothy Stone is a Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen Business School, where he has worked since 2007. Previously affiliated with the University of Stirling and City College Norwich, his career bridges academic research with practical experience in retail and nonprofit sectors. PhD in Marketing (University of Stirling, 2006) BA (Hons) in Marketing (University of Stirling, 1999) His research focuses on Marketing Theory and Consumer Research , with specializations in: Self and Identity (including digital identities and metaverse consumption) Sacred Consumer Practices across Buddhism, religious markets, and spiritual experiences Consumer Introspection Theory applications Dwelling Perspectives in rural tourism and locale-based consumption Vulnerable Consumer Dynamics among elderly and fourth-age populations Cultural-Historical Frameworks like Guanxi relationships in tourism Recent publications reveal trends in hybrid religious practices , existential consumption , and identity fragmentation in digital markets. He frequently publishes in the Journal of Customer Behaviour and contributes to Routledge handbooks. Stone supervises PhD research in: Anthropology of Consumption Artificial Intelligence applications Consumer Neuroscience Branding strategies Religious/Spiritual values Self/Identity dynamics He leads collaborative research with organizations like: Centre for Tobacco Control European Union institutions Grounds for Learning World Wide Fund for Nature

• Marketing Theory
• Consumer Research
• Consumer Poetics
• +11 more