Erik Ketzan is a Lecturer in Digital Humanities and Cultural Computation at King's College London. He holds a PhD in English/Digital Humanities from Birkbeck, University of London, and has held postdoctoral roles at the University of Cologne and Trinity College Dublin, where he coordinated the MA in Digital Humanities and Culture. His research focuses on computational literary studies, legal/ethical issues in digital research, and corpus stylistics. He has published widely on topics such as Thomas Pynchon’s computational stylistics, legal frameworks for digital humanities research, and gender bias in historical texts. His work includes developing tools like Coleto for textual variant analysis and co-authoring the book *Thomas Pynchon and the Digital Humanities* (2022). Ketzan actively engages in policy advocacy, advising on copyright and data protection in DH, and has contributed to projects like CLARIN and the Leibniz Institute for the German Language. Education: PhD in English/Digital Humanities, Birkbeck, University of London Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Cologne (EncycNet Project) Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow, Trinity College Dublin Research Interests: Computational approaches to literary analysis, legal challenges in data-driven research, corpus stylistics, and gender studies in historical corpora. Teaching: Courses include Python for the humanities, computational literary studies, and legal issues in digital humanities.
Sabrina Furtado is a Lecturer in Sport Management and Dean’s Associate Fellow at Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. She holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD. Previously, she taught at the Federal University of Paraná and State University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, focusing on sport management, sports law, and entrepreneurship in the sports sector. Her research focuses on sports governance, strategic planning, and policy development in public and private sports entities. Key areas include Olympic and Paralympic federations, sports financing, and the impact of media representation on disability inclusion. She contributes to the Sport, Business and Society and Lifestyle for Health and Wellbeing research groups, as well as the Inteligência Esportiva Research Institute . Recent work analyzes governance structures in Santa Catarina municipalities, business intelligence applications in sports management, and modernization processes in Brazilian Olympic federations. Her publications span topics like Paralympic organizational roles, media stigma in disability sports reporting, and funding mechanisms for sports initiatives. No scientific awards are mentioned. Sabrina advises master’s students on sport management and policy but no grant details are provided. Her current projects aim to strengthen sports policies and enhance stakeholders’ engagement in the sport system.
Professor Helen Abbott is a Professor of Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham, serving as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Arts and Law. Her research focuses on the intersection of French poetry, music, and digital methods, particularly the work of Baudelaire. She has led major grants, including the AHRC-funded Baudelaire Song Project (2015-2019), exploring musical adaptations of Baudelaire's poetry. Abbott holds a BA from Cambridge, MA and PhD from King’s College London. She has supervised numerous PhD students and authored books such as Baudelaire in Song: 1880-1930 (2017). Awards include AHRC Standard Grant (£594,000) and an Early Career Fellowship. Her work bridges academia and practice, collaborating with musicians and digital researchers. She advises on doctoral programs and cultural initiatives, emphasizing interdisciplinary and public engagement.
Dr. Doyle D. Calhoun serves as University Assistant Professor of Francophone Postcolonial Studies within the Department of French at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge, where he is also a Fellow of Peterhouse College. His scholarly profile spans African and Caribbean literary studies, cinema analysis, and historical sociolinguistics with a focus on resistance narratives. His educational trajectory includes a Ph.D. in French from Yale University (2022), an M.A. in Linguistics from KU Leuven, and undergraduate studies in Linguistics and French Literature at Boston College. Additional academic development occurred through residencies at Fondation Camargo (Cassis) and Bibliothèque Marmottan (Paris). Calhoun’s research centers on Francophone postcolonial resistance, particularly suicidal acts against French colonialism as documented in The Suicide Archive (2024). His work excavates silenced histories of Atlantic slavery, abolition movements, and Négritude philosophy through literary and cinematic archives, emphasizing Senegalese and Caribbean contexts. He explores how contemporary writers reconstruct erased narratives of enslaved resistance through transmedia practices. His recent publications reveal a methodological convergence between literary analysis, historical recovery, and decolonial theory. Articles frequently address archival silences in colonial documentation while examining how contemporary artists reimagine resistance through linguistic innovation, cinematic storytelling, and embodied protest. Key thematic clusters include the weaponization of silence, subversive uses of missionary linguistics, and the politics of memory in postcolonial contexts. 2024 Malcolm Bowie Prize (Society for French Studies) 2024 William R. Parker Prize (Modern Language Association) 2021 Ralph Cohen Prize (New Literary History) 2016 Vivien Law Prize (Henry Sweet Society) Calhoun actively mentors graduate students in African/Caribbean literatures and cinema studies, with current projects including Africa after 1848 and Florence . His grant history features academic residencies at Fondation Camargo and Bibliothèque Marmottan, alongside a 2021 scholarship from the latter institution. Public engagement includes the 2025 La Noire de... film symposium and contributions to Los Angeles Review of Books and Salon . He contributes to the Cambridge Language Collective and Polyglossia Magazine while organizing events through Peterhouse. His 2025 podcast appearances on Stegi Radio and New Books Network demonstrate active knowledge dissemination beyond traditional academic channels.
Dr. Charilaos Nikolaidis is a Senior Lecturer at Essex Law School, University of Essex, specializing in international human rights law and the intersection of law and literature. He received his LLB from City, University of London, LLM in International Business Law from University College London, and PhD in Law from King's College London. His research focuses on international human rights law, particularly the theory and implementation of the right to equality, and the relationship between law and literature. Nikolaidis has published extensively on equality jurisprudence, comparative human rights law, and democratic challenges in European contexts. Nikolaidis's publications demonstrate consistent focus on human rights jurisprudence, particularly equality and non-discrimination within European legal frameworks. His work spans theoretical explorations of legal equality, comparative analyses of European and US privacy rights, and practical examinations of democratic challenges in Greece and beyond.
Professor Katharine Cockin is a leading scholar in Victorian theatre, women's suffrage history, and interdisciplinary literary studies at the University of Essex. She holds the Chair of English Literature in the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies (LiFTS). Her research focuses on Ellen Terry and Edith Craig, pioneering figures in theatre and suffrage activism, with major publications including Edith Craig and the Theatres of Art (2017) and the Collected Letters of Ellen Terry (8 vols., 2010–). She leads the AHRC-funded Searching for Theatrical Ancestors and Ellen Terry and Edith Craig Database projects, recognized nationally for their impact on cultural heritage. Education: BA, MA, and PhD in English Literature from the University of Leicester. Her doctoral thesis examined the Pioneer Players theatre society (1911–25). She previously held professorial roles at the University of Hull, where she established interdisciplinary programs in literature and law. Research interests include archival studies, women's suffrage literature, modern literature, and the 'Literary North'. She advises on topics like science fiction and autobiography. Awards include a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and AHRC Peer Review College membership. Administrative roles at Essex include Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Literary Studies and former Director of Research for LiFTS. Publications span over 50 articles and edited volumes, emphasizing feminist historiography and cultural preservation. Her work bridges academia and public engagement through digital archives and collaborative projects.
John H. Arnold is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of King's College. Educated at the University of York (BA History, D.Phil Medieval Studies), his academic career includes positions at University of East Anglia and Birkbeck, University of London before joining Cambridge in 2016. He holds editorial roles at Cultural and Social History, Past & Present, and directs publication series at both York Medieval Press and Cambridge University Press. Arnold's research centers on medieval religious culture, particularly lay belief, heresy, inquisition, and the history of gender. His monograph 'The Making of Lay Religion in Southern France' (2024) exemplifies this focus. Current projects investigate the social history of confession and the repression of usury. Analysis of Arnold's 15 most recent publications reveals consistent engagement with medieval religious dissent and belief systems. Key themes include: reinterpretations of heresy trials (2019), sensory dimensions of faith (2018), historiographic debates about Catharism (2016), and methodological examinations of archival sources (2022). His work frequently employs theoretical frameworks from sociology and philosophy to reinterpret medieval religious conflict. Arnold maintains active research networks through editorial leadership and supervision. His Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought series promotes innovative scholarship in medieval history.
Dr. Joseph Habib is a Research Fellow in Hebrew Linguistics and Philology at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. His research focuses on early medieval Jewish exegesis, Judaeo-Arabic literature, and the intersection of Masoretic traditions with biblical interpretation. Key areas of expertise include the works of Saadya Gaon, Karaite scholars, and textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible. His recent publications analyze exegetical principles of Ya’qūb al-Qirqisānī, Saadya’s use of Masoretic accents, and Karaite interpretations of Leviticus. Habib’s work bridges linguistic analysis with historical and theological contexts of medieval Jewish scholarship. Affiliations: Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge Research Interests: Hebrew linguistics, biblical exegesis, Judaeo-Arabic translations, Masoretic textual traditions
Professor Owen Davies is a faculty member at the University of Hertfordshire , affiliated with the History Department at the School of Creative Arts . His research spans witchcraft , magic , supernatural beliefs , and folklore , with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches integrating archaeology, anthropology, and biomedical studies. Key research areas : Witchcraft, Domestic Magic, Medical History, Electrification, Public History. Recent projects : AHRC-funded 'StoryMachine', Leverhulme 'Inner Lives', Wellcome Trust 'Harnessing the Power of the Criminal Corpse', and a new AHRC 3-year study on witch bottles. Selected publications : America Bewitched (2013), The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic (2017), Troubled by Faith (2023). Awards : Funded by AHRC, Wellcome Trust, and Leverhulme Trust. Collaborates with institutions like Museum of London Archaeology and University of Essex. Leads community engagement via the Heritage Hub and 'Electric Generations' exhibition.
Dr David Pratt is a Fellow in History at Downing College, University of Cambridge , where he also serves as Archivist and Keeper of Art and Artefacts. His academic career focuses on early medieval political thought and court culture, particularly in Anglo-Saxon England and the Carolingian world. Academic Rank: Research Fellow Honors: FRHistS (Fellow of the Royal Historical Society) Research Interests center on the political ideology of King Alfred the Great, the origins of English coronation rituals, and broader themes of kingship, law, and social order in the later Anglo-Saxon period. His comparative approach highlights interactions between Anglo-Saxon and European medieval traditions. Recent Publications include English Coronation Ordines in the Ninth and Early Tenth Centuries (2023) and studies on Alfredian texts, taxation systems, and monastic reform. These works emphasize textual analysis, royal authority, and cross-cultural influences. Scientific Awards: FRHistS
Afifi al-Akiti serves as University Research Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Theology and Worcester College, holding additionally the KFAS Fellowship in Islamic Studies at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. His academic profile centers on medieval Islamic intellectual traditions with institutional ties spanning Oxford's theological faculty, constituent college, and specialized research centers. His research investigates Islamic theology (kalam), philosophy (falsafa), and science through analysis of al-Ghazali's engagement with Greek philosophy—particularly Avicenna—and explores science-religion dynamics in Islamic civilization. Specialized interests include medieval Arabic manuscripts, Moroccan religious lithographs (Hajariyyat), Islamic astronomy (ilm al-falak), and Shafi'i jurisprudence. Current editorial projects focus on al-Ghazali's Madnun corpus and a 9th-century astronomical manuscript by Nastulus concerning Byzantine lunar-solar gearing mechanisms. Publication trends reveal consistent scholarly engagement with medieval Islamic philosophy's contemporary relevance, particularly through al-Ghazali's works addressing modernity, ethics of war, and prophethood concepts. His output bridges historical textual analysis with current debates in Islamic thought, demonstrating methodological rigor in manuscript studies while maintaining applied relevance to modern theological discourse. Key recognition includes: KFAS Fellowship in Islamic Studies Al-Akiti actively shapes academic discourse through convening the 'Islam and Science' seminar series (2009) and the Islamic Studies panel for the International Society for Religion, Literature and Culture conference (2010). His public engagement includes BBC documentaries on 'Science and Islam' and 'The Muslim Tommies' (2009), preparation of the 'Sciences and Arts in Early Islam' exhibition at Oxford's Museum of the History of Science (2010-11), and participation in the Oxford Scriptural Reasoning Group—demonstrating commitment to interdisciplinary knowledge translation beyond traditional academic boundaries.
Prof William Tooman is the Head of the School of Divinity and Principal of St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews. He holds the rank of Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism. His research focuses on the literary conventions and hermeneutics of ancient Jewish writers, particularly examining how poetics and textual evolution influenced interpretation. A co-PI of the Texture project, he explores historical poetics of ancient Jewish literature with Prof Andrew Teeter. Tooman earned his PhD in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2006) and has held roles including Lecturer at St Andrews (2009) and co-director of the Institute of Bible, Theology, and Hermeneutics (2018). Teaching spans undergraduate modules like DI1003 Old Testament 1 and postgraduate courses such as Textual Criticism. His research areas include textual criticism, inner-biblical interpretation, and scribal practices, with notable publications on Ezekiel, Targum Jonathan, and Qumran texts. Awards include an Honorary Research Fellowship at Manchester and grants from Harvard and Swiss-European programs. His advising includes five PhD students focusing on ancient Jewish literature. Key grants include the Texture project (2022–2027), exploring how ancient Jewish writers used literary techniques to transmit and reinterpret scripture. Labs/teams include the Institute of Bible, Theology, and Hermeneutics, emphasizing interdisciplinary biblical studies.
The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of LondonUnited Kingdom
Sarah Wilson is Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. She has been a faculty member since 1982 and has held leadership roles including Head of the Modern and Contemporary Section (2005-2008) and Head of Diploma programmes (2014-2015). She is internationally recognized as the English-language expert on Post-War European art and has held visiting positions at Paris-IV Sorbonne and the University of Versailles-Saint Quentin. Wilson was educated at the University of Oxford (BA English Literature) and at the Courtauld Institute of Art (MA and PhD). She was awarded the title Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1997 for services to French art and culture, and received the International Association of Art Critics' Award for Distinguished Contribution to Art Criticism in 2015. She has held visiting professorships at Paris-IV Sorbonne (2002-2004), École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (2006-2007), and University of Versailles-Saint Quentin (2012-2013). Sarah Wilson's research spans post-war and Cold War European art, contemporary global art practices, and the intersections between conceptual art, political theory, and visual culture. Her work extends from European avant-gardes to contemporary art across the former Soviet Union and Asia. She is particularly known for her expertise in French Stalinism, neo-Marxism and the arts, and conceptual art practices beyond the 'first world.' Wilson has initiated important academic programs such as the 'Global Conceptualism' MA course with Boris Groys, which connects Anglo-American conceptual art with practices from Moscow and beyond. She has also expanded her research to include modern and contemporary Asian art since 2013. Her extensive publication record shows a consistent focus on European art history with increasing engagement with global perspectives, particularly Asian contemporary art since 2013. Wilson's scholarship bridges art historical analysis with philosophical inquiry, especially regarding French theory and its visual manifestations. Her major publications include 'Paris, Capital of the Arts, 1900-1968' (2002) and 'The Visual World of French Theory: Figurations' (2010), with a second volume 'The Visual World of French Theory II: Interventions' in preparation. Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (1997) International Association of Art Critics' Award for Distinguished Contribution to Art Criticism (2015) Marie Curie Actions – RBUCE-UP, Chaire d'excellence, Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin (2012-2013) Professor Wilson has supervised 36 PhD students to completion and over 230 MA dissertations, creating what she describes as 'a unique English-language archive in the field of post-1945 European and global art history.' Her former students now hold prominent positions in major institutions worldwide including Tate, the British Museum, Design Museum, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, British Council, Centre Georges Pompidou, Kunsthalle Bremen, and universities across Europe and North America. She has received significant research funding including a Marie Curie Actions grant for her project 'Globalisation before globalisation: avant-gardes, academies, revolutions.' Wilson is actively involved with the Courtauld alumni's former East Wing Collection (now VS1, Vernon Square) and has contributed to the Research Forum's programmes. She has curated numerous exhibitions including the 'Global Conceptualism'-related projects and served on the curatorial team of the 1st Asian Biennale (China-Guangzhou) in 2014. Her commitment to women artists has led to early exhibitions of artists like Zofia Kulik and Alina Szapocznikow before their international prominence. She is involved with CCRAC (Cambridge-Courtauld Russian Art Centre), Calvert 22, and Pushkin House in London, reaching out to Russia and Eastern Europe.
Professor Muhammad A S Abdel Haleem, OBE, is the King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies at SOAS University of London, within the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. He holds a BA from Cairo University and a PhD from the University of Cambridge (Cantab), with additional qualifications including FCIL (London). His research focuses on Quranic language, style, and translations, alongside Islamic family law and Arab society. Key interests include Qur’anic exegesis, comparative religious studies, and the intersection of scripture with contemporary issues like disability ethics and interfaith relations. Professor Haleem has supervised numerous PhD candidates exploring topics such as divine states in Sufism, gender relations in the Quran, and charitable work in multicultural societies. He has authored over 60 works, including translations of the Quran and influential studies on Quranic structure and theology. Awards: Order of the British Empire (OBE) Publications: Over 60 books and articles, including Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Style and translations of the Quran. His work bridges academic theology with practical ethics, emphasizing contextual interpretation and intercultural dialogue. Current research continues to explore Quranic coherence, legal hermeneutics, and the Quran’s role in modern society.
Dr Rachel Foxley is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Reading, serving as Director of Postgraduate Studies in History. Her research focuses on early modern British political thought, particularly the English Revolution, Leveller movement, and classical influences on modern politics. She has authored books like The Levellers: Radical Political Thought in the English Revolution (2016) and co-edited Brill's Companion to the Legacy of Greek Political Thought (2024). Her work explores themes such as republicanism, citizenship, and the intersection of classical antiquity with early modern political developments. Her research has addressed figures like John Milton, James Harrington, and John Lilburne, analyzing their contributions to democratic and republican ideals. Notable projects include the Astor100 initiative, celebrating Nancy Astor’s legacy in women’s politics. She frequently publishes in journals such as Classical Receptions Journal and History of Political Thought , contributing to debates on sovereignty, rhetoric in revolutionary pamphlets, and the historical context of Magna Carta. Dr. Foxley’s scholarship bridges intellectual history with political theory, emphasizing how classical models (e.g., Sparta, Rome) shaped English republican thought. Her work highlights the innovative yet rooted nature of 17th-century political ideas, challenging traditional narratives of revolutionary thought.
