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Professor David A Palmer is a distinguished academic jointly appointed by the Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Sociology at the University of Hong Kong, where he has been teaching since 2008. His interdisciplinary work bridges anthropology, sociology, religious studies, and Sinology, establishing him as a leading scholar in Chinese religious studies and transnational religious movements. Palmer's educational background includes a PhD in Anthropology of Religion from Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne, Paris), an MPhil in Clinical Psychology/Medical Anthropology from University of Paris-VIII, and a BA in Anthropology and East Asian Studies from McGill University. His scholarly contributions span multiple disciplines with particular emphasis on Chinese religious traditions and their global manifestations. His research interests focus on the anthropology and sociology of spirituality and religion, especially Daoism and Chinese religion; religion in modern and contemporary China; inter-Asian and transnational religious circulations; Baháʼí Faith; civil society, volunteering, philanthropy, community engagement; and cultural and religious interactions on the Belt and Road. His work examines how religious traditions navigate modernity, state power, and globalization, with particular attention to the Belt and Road Initiative's cultural dimensions. Palmer's publications reveal a consistent focus on understanding Chinese religious traditions within broader theoretical frameworks of social theory, civil society, and transnational religious networks. His articles demonstrate how Chinese religious practices and institutions both adapt to and shape contemporary social and political contexts, with particular attention to the intersections of spirituality, modernity, and state-society relations. Joseph Levenson Award of the Association for Asian Studies PROSE award of the American Publishers' Association Francis L.K. Hsu Award of the Society for East Asian Anthropology Edward Bruner Prize for the best book in Anthropology of Tourism HK Research Grants Council RGC Research Fellowship (2021-2025) HK Research Grants Council Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship (2019) Palmer currently leads multiple significant research projects including 'Global China, Local Cultures: Chinese Modernity and Soft Power on the Belt and Road' (RGC Research Fellowship, 2021-2025), 'Infrastructures of Faith: Religious Mobilities on the Belt and Road' (CRF, 2019-2023), 'Rituals and Manuscripts of the Lanten Yao (Laos)' (GRF, 2021-2024), and 'Religious Cosmopolitanism in China, 1895-1927' (GRF, 2021-2024). He leads the 'Asian Religious Connections' research cluster at HKIHSS, co-convenes the 'Culture, Community and Social Equity' research cluster in the HKU Faculty of Social Sciences, and serves as co-convenor of the HKU Anthropology Research Network. As President of the East Asian Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, he plays a key role in advancing scholarly understanding of religion in the region.

• Anthropology of Religion
• Sociology of Spirituality
• Daoism
• +7 more

Professor Max Deeg is a leading scholar in Buddhist Studies at Cardiff University , holding a personal chair since 2009. With a career spanning institutions in Germany, Austria, and the UK, his research focuses on transcultural Buddhist history from India to East Asia, Chinese Buddhist travelogues , and interreligious encounters in medieval China. He has held visiting positions at universities in Japan, Nepal, the US, and Germany, and currently directs the Centre for the History of Religion in Asia (CHRA) . PhD from University of Würzburg (1990) Dr. phil. habil. in Religious Studies (1998) Full Professor at University of Vienna (2002-2006) His research explores Buddhist narratives as tools for constructing religious identity, foundation myths in trans-Himalayan contexts, and terminology evolution in Chinese Buddhist translations. Recent publications analyze Indian Buddhist monasticism through Chinese sources and religious concepts like xin (trust) across Buddhist, Manichaean, and Christian traditions. Awarded the KHK Visiting Research Fellowship (2016) and a DAAD Scholarship (1986-87) , Prof Deeg contributes to editorial boards of major journals. He supervises PhD students and teaches Buddhist Studies , Life of the Buddha , and Chinese Buddhist Texts .

• Transcultural Buddhist History
• Spread of Buddhism in Asia
• Buddhist Narratives
• +7 more

Mark Halperin is a Professor of Chinese and Department Chair of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Davis. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (1997). His research focuses on Medieval Chinese literature, religion, and literati culture, with particular emphasis on Chinese conceptions of fatherhood and interreligious dynamics in pre-modern China. Education: Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1997). Research interests encompass: Medieval Chinese literature and its religious contexts Buddhist and Daoist traditions in literati culture Gender and religious practice in Song China Confucian and Daoist textual traditions His publications explore themes such as Buddhist hagiographies, Song Dynasty religious interactions, and Daoist movements. Recent work includes a translation of Lu Rong's Ming Confucian's World (2022) and articles on medieval Chinese religious narratives. No scientific awards listed. No advising/grant details provided. No labs or teams explicitly mentioned in the profile.

• Medieval Chinese literature
• Chinese religion
• Literati culture
• +3 more

Xun Liu is an Associate Professor of History at Rutgers University , specializing in the history of Daoism in Late Imperial and Modern China . Affiliated with the School of Arts and Sciences , Liu's research explores the interplay between Daoist temples, local society, and state modernization efforts in Nanyang, central China, from the 17th century to the present. Research Focus: Liu's work bridges Chinese history , religious studies , and urban sociology . Key themes include: Daoist temples as cultural and social institutions Neidan (inner alchemy) practices in urban settings State-religion dynamics during modernization Material culture and female piety in Daoism Recent Publications: His scholarship analyzes Daoism's adaptation to Republican-era Shanghai print culture, Qing military collaborations in Nanyang, and 20th-century spiritual travel narratives. Articles appear in Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies , T’oung Pao , and Late Imperial China . Awards: Recognized with grants from the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation , ACLS , and CNRS , Liu has held prestigious fellowships at Harvard University and UC Berkeley.

• Chinese History
• Daoism
• Religious History
• +4 more

Matthias Fritsch is a Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University. He specializes in contemporary European philosophy, environmental ethics, and intergenerational justice, with a focus on critical theory, deconstruction, and phenomenology. His work explores normative relations between past, present, and future generations, particularly in environmental and political contexts. Education : Ph.D. (Villanova University, 1994-1999), Doctoral Research (Freie Universität Berlin, 1997-1998), M.A. (New York University, 1993-1994), B.A. (Universität zu Köln, 1990-1993), and Humboldt Scholar (Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, 2010-2011, 2023). His research centers on justice in relation to history, time, and the environment, addressing questions about societal obligations to the dead and future generations. Current projects include a monograph on phenomenology and critical theory (SSHRC-funded, 2020-2026) and co-organizing the award-winning Nature-Time-Responsibility research network, which promotes intercultural approaches to environmental justice. Recent publications examine generativity, climate ethics, and temporal responsibility, reflecting his interdisciplinary engagement with Heidegger, Derrida, and indigenous perspectives. His work appears in journals such as Continental Philosophy Review , Constellations , and European Journal of Political Theory . Scientific Awards : Humboldt Scholar (2010-2011, 2023). Matthias supervises graduate students in Philosophy (MA) and Humanities (PhD) and has contributed to edited collections including Eco-Deconstruction (Fordham University Press, 2018) and Environmental Philosophy and East Asia (Routledge, 2022). He is also co-editor of the 2024 special issue of the Yearbook for Eastern and Western Philosophy on "Philosophies of Time and Nature."

• Contemporary European Philosophy
• Critical Theory
• Deconstruction
• +6 more

Rune Svarverud is a Professor at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Oslo. His research spans two major periods in Chinese history: early Chinese philosophy (pre-Qin to Han dynasties) and modern China (post-Opium War cultural encounters). Key research areas include conceptual history, environmental history, political philosophy, and cross-cultural translation studies. Permanent employee since 2004 Head of Department since 2021 Former PhD committee member and research leader (2007-2014) Active in international collaborations with Fudan, Nanjing, Kansai, and Zhejiang Universities His academic work focuses on: History of concepts and textual analysis in Chinese thought Environmental history and terminology evolution in modern China Qing dynasty legal and political philosophy Translation of Western knowledge into Chinese Interactions between Chinese and Western modernity Individualism in 20th-century Chinese society Recent publications examine environmental terminology, cross-cultural scientific translation, and conceptual frameworks in Qing reform. His interdisciplinary approach connects philosophy, law, and environmental studies through historical analysis. Co-edited works on standard languages and cultural communication Contributor to ACTA ORIENTALIA and PNAS Recipient of multiple research grants for Transsustain project

• Chinese Language
• Chinese History
• History of Ideas
• +5 more

Liansu Meng is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut, specializing in Chinese literary studies with a focus on modern and contemporary cultural production. Her academic profile integrates literary analysis with gender theory, transnational frameworks, and digital methodologies to examine Chinese cultural dynamics. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2010) Dr. Meng's research traverses interdisciplinary terrain, investigating how gender politics manifests in Chinese literary traditions while exploring feminist discourse evolution within cultural contexts. She examines Daoist philosophical principles through eco-poetic lenses, analyzes transnational circulation of Chinese literary works, and applies digital humanities tools to comparative poetic analysis. Her scholarship bridges classical Chinese thought with contemporary sociopolitical issues, particularly regarding feminist movements and ecological consciousness in literary expression. Information regarding scientific awards, student advising, grant funding, laboratory affiliations, or team leadership was not documented in the source material.

• Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature and Culture
• Chinese Poetry
• Gender Politics and Literature
• +5 more

Ronnie Littlejohn is Professor of Philosophy and Director of Asian Studies at Belmont University, within the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Baylor University with a specialization in Comparative Philosophy, Chinese thought, Ethics, and Early Modern Thought. His academic work bridges Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, with a particular focus on Daoism, Confucianism, and moral philosophy. Education: Ph.D., Baylor University Post-doctoral Studies: University of Chicago, University of Hawaii, University of Arizona, Harvard University, Notre Dame, Pennsylvania State University Dr. Littlejohn’s research interests include comparative philosophy, Chinese philosophy, ethics, and the philosophy of language. He has conducted extensive field research on Zhengyi Daoist lineages in China and has been deeply involved in promoting Asian studies in the U.S. through leadership roles in ASIANetwork and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia. His scholarship emphasizes the relevance of classical Chinese thought to contemporary ethical and philosophical debates. His recent publications span topics such as Daoist sacred sites, moral education, philosophical dialogue in Chinese thought, and the reinterpretation of classical texts like the Daodejing and Zhuangzi . The articles reflect a strong thematic engagement with Daoism, Confucian ethics, comparative hermeneutics, and the application of wu-wei to Western moral philosophy. His work consistently bridges historical analysis with contemporary philosophical inquiry. Scientific Awards and Honors: Tennessee Professor of the Year, 2015 Virginia M. Chaney Distinguished Professor Award, 2013 Distinguished Service Award, ASIANetwork, 2021 International Talent Cooperation Programme Award, Henan Province, China, 2016 Distinguished Service Award, International East-West Center Alumni Association, 2006 Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, 2003 Dr. Littlejohn has served as a grant director and co-director for multiple educational initiatives, including the Tennessee National Consortium for Teaching about Asia and the National Consortium for Teaching about East Asia. He has directed Belmont University’s student travel programs in China and Hawaii and has led numerous faculty development workshops. He is also an active contributor to academic journals and encyclopedias, including the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the International Encyclopedia of Ethics . He has directed several symposia on Asian studies at Belmont and has been a keynote speaker at international conferences in China and the U.S. His work in media includes television programs on Daoism and contributions to National Geographic ’s Sacred Journeys series.

• Comparative Philosophy
• Chinese Philosophy
• Daoism
• +13 more

Kevin Buckelew is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Northwestern University specializing in Chinese Buddhism, with particular expertise in Chan (Zen) traditions and Buddhist-Daoist interactions. He earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and his Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University. Affiliation: Northwestern University, Religious Studies Department Education: B.A. (Sarah Lawrence College), Ph.D. (Columbia University) His research explores Chan Buddhist claims to authority equivalent to the historical Buddha, focusing on embodiment, gender, and institutional practices during the Song dynasty. He also investigates Buddhist-Daoist intellectual exchanges, particularly regarding theories of liberation and bodily practices. Recent publications include Discerning Buddhas: Authority, Agency, and Masculinity in Chan Buddhism (2025) and co-edited volume Buddhist Masculinities (2023). His work appears in top journals like Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies and T’oung Pao , supported by Fulbright and Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai grants. Scientific Awards: Fulbright Program Grant Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai Grant Buckelew's scholarship combines textual analysis, historical methodology, and thematic explorations of moral responsibility and gender construction in premodern Chinese religious contexts.

• Chinese Buddhism
• Chan (Zen) Buddhism
• Buddhism and Daoism
• +7 more

Curie Virag is an Associate Professor in World Philosophies within the Department of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Her research centers on the history of ethics, epistemology, moral psychology, and philosophical anthropology in classical China and cross-cultural contexts, with particular emphasis on emotions and conceptualizations of the self. Virag's scholarship explores premodern Chinese philosophical frameworks for understanding human agency, selfhood, and knowledge formation. She actively bridges historical Chinese thought with contemporary philosophical discourse, organizing initiatives like the "Before Emotion" conference series and directing the ERC-funded PAIXUE Project on Chinese-Byzantine intellectual traditions. Her recent publications demonstrate sustained engagement with emotion theory across Chinese history, from early texts to medieval periods, and in comparative dialogue with Ancient Greece. Key works include monographs on early Chinese emotions and co-edited volumes examining cross-cultural affectivity. Virag serves on the Executive Committee of the Mind Association and as Associate Editor for Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, where she advances integration of non-Western philosophical traditions into contemporary ethics. She teaches Early Chinese Philosophy and World Philosophies at Warwick, building on prior appointments at Toronto, Edinburgh, and Central European University.

• History of Ethics
• Epistemology
• Moral Psychology
• +6 more

Benjamin Penny is a Senior Research Fellow in the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University (ANU), within the School of Culture, History & Language. He holds a BA from the University of Sydney, MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and PhD from ANU. His research focuses on religious movements in modern China, Daoist studies, expatriate communities in Treaty Ports, and new religious movements in Taiwan. He has held significant roles including Director of the Australian Centre on China in the World since 2015, and previously Deputy Director of the School of Culture, History & Language. Notable awards include the Harold White Research Fellowship (National Library of Australia) and the Charles Strong Memorial Trust Annual Lectureship. He has overseen major projects such as the construction of the Australian Centre on China in the World building and led research initiatives like the 'Fragments of the Gaodao zhuan' project (2021–2024). His recent research explores contemporary religious dynamics in China, including Falun Gong history, religious Daoism, and cultural control mechanisms. Key publications analyze moral discourse in Xi Jinping's leadership, cultural policies, and religious practices in colonial contexts. He has edited major journals like Humanities Research and East Asian History . Grants include leadership roles in projects examining Chinese labor dynamics and religious innovation in East Asia. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary socio-political trends in China and its global diaspora.

• Religious Studies
• History of Modern China
• Daoism
• +4 more

Associate Professor Daniel Fried holds the Chair position in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Arts. His research focuses on comparative approaches to classical Chinese literature, intellectual history, and Daoist semiotics, with particular attention to Northern Song Dynasty print culture and European literary theory intersections. Current projects include a literary non-fiction work linking Daoist philosophy to social activism. Key academic roles include Co-Editor of the Routledge Studies in Comparative Chinese Literature and Culture series (2020–present), Founding Chair of the MLA Forum on pre-14th century Chinese Literature (2018), and President of the Association of Chinese and Comparative Literature (2017–2019). Teaching responsibilities include advanced readings in modern Chinese literature and graduate research methods courses. Research interests span ancient Chinese textuality, medieval print culture transformations, and cross-cultural philosophical dialogues. Recent publications (2020–2023) emphasize Song Dynasty print modernity and Daoist semiotic frameworks. Earlier works address pre-Qin philosophical discourse and 20th century comparative literature methodologies. No scientific awards explicitly listed. Advising focuses exclusively on graduate students researching Chinese literature/philosophy from Warring States to Southern Song periods. Active in developing interdisciplinary research programs bridging Anglophone and Sinophone scholarship. Led development of East Asia Research Methods (EASIA 550), an online graduate course covering regional and disciplinary methodologies. Current research projects maintain focus on pre-modern Chinese cultural production and its global comparative dimensions.

• Chinese Philosophy
• Classical Chinese Literature
• Intellectual History
• +5 more

Ruth Kinna is a Professor of Political Theory at Loughborough University, specializing in anarchism, 19th-century socialist thought, and utopianism. She is co-editor of Anarchist Studies and leads the Anarchy Rules! research group. She holds a DPhil from Nuffield College, Oxford, funded by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). Her work emphasizes anarchist constitutionalism, mutual aid, and radical political alternatives. Education: BA (1st class) in History and Politics from Queen Mary, University of London; DPhil in Political Theory from Oxford. Research is supported by grants from ESRC, ISRF, and the British Academy. Notable publications include The Government of No One (2019) and Kropotkin: Reviewing the Classical Anarchist Tradition (2016). Awards include the ISRF Mid-Career Fellowship (2023-24) and ESRC Transformative Research Award (2016). She explores contemporary anarchism’s relevance to movements like Iceland’s crowd-sourced constitution and mutual aid networks during the pandemic. Active in public engagement through The Conversation, addressing anarchist contributions to democracy and social justice.

• Anarchism
• Political Theory
• Political Philosophy
• +3 more

Dr. Julia Ng is a Research Professor in Critical Theory and Co-Director of the Centre for Philosophy and Critical Thought at Goldsmiths, University of London. She specializes in the intersections of modern mathematics, political thought, and philosophy of history and language, particularly through the works of Walter Benjamin and Gershom Scholem. Her research also explores Daoism and capitalism, influenced by early German-Jewish critical theory. Education: PhD in Comparative Literary Studies (Northwestern University), BA/MA in Comparative Literature (UCLA) Research Interests: Walter Benjamin, Jewish political thought, Daoist philosophy, legal philosophy, and interdisciplinary critical theory Her notable publications include critical editions of Walter Benjamin’s 'Toward the Critique of Violence' (2021) and Werner Hamacher’s Hölderlin studies (2020). She has held fellowships at Harvard, Northwestern, and Berlin, and currently leads a British Academy-funded project on Daoism and capitalism. Recent articles engage with Kafka, Sappho, and reversibility theory, reflecting her focus on language, singularity, and historical critique. Her work bridges continental philosophy, literary theory, and East-West comparative studies. Awards: British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2023), Charles Bernheimer Prize (2013)

• Critical Theory
• Political Thought
• Philosophy of History
• +4 more

Dr. Li Lin is a Lecturer in Accounting at the Department of Accounting, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, where he has been serving since April 2017. He holds a PhD in Social and Environmental Accounting from the University of Leicester and teaches a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules, including Social and Environmental Accounting, Management Accounting, and Decision Making and Control. Education: PhD in Social and Environmental Accounting, University of Leicester, UK, 2017 Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Birmingham, UK, 2019 Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, UK, 2019 Master of Business (Accounting), The Australian National University, Australia, 2011 Bachelor of Management (Accounting), Sichuan University, P.R. China, 2010 CPA Australia, 2017 Dr. Lin’s research centers on Social and Environmental Accounting (SEA) with a strong focus on China. His work explores carbon and biodiversity accounting, sustainability assurance, the role of professional accounting firms in sustainability transformation, and the influence of traditional Chinese philosophies such as Confucianism and Daoism on contemporary accounting practices. He employs qualitative methodologies and is currently developing frameworks for biodiversity accounting in China by studying endangered species. His research also extends to SEA in higher education and the globalisation of multinational accounting firms in non-Western contexts. The two most recent publications reflect his research trajectory in environmental and sustainability accounting, particularly in emerging economies. These works analyze carbon risk management and institutional challenges in Chinese environmental accounting, highlighting systemic barriers and strategic implications. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, UK (2019) CPA Australia (2017) Dr. Lin actively supervises postgraduate research, currently co-supervising a PhD student on hospital accounting in China, and welcomes new PhD applicants with qualitative research interests in SEA. He has presented his work at major international conferences such as those organized by CSEAR and BAFA and was a member of the organizing committee for the 2022 Alternative Accounts Europe (AAE) Conference. He is involved in curriculum development and student supervision, including BSc Extended Essay and MSc Dissertation supervision in Accounting & Finance.

• Social and Environmental Accounting
• Sustainability Accounting
• Carbon Accounting
• +8 more