Gareth Breen

Dr. Gareth Breen is a Lecturer in Anthropology at the London School of Economics (LSE), specializing in transnational religious networks in China and Taiwan, medical anthropology, and the intersections of AI with religious practices. He convenes courses on Anthropology of Religion, Medical Anthropology, and China in Comparative Perspective at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

He holds a PhD in Anthropology from LSE (2020) and has published widely on topics including Sino-Taiwanese Protestantism, Confucian grassroots academies, and the anthropology of therapy. His award-winning monograph Sublime Sociality examines the global spread of a major Chinese Christian movement. Current research explores AI-driven deification projects and the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the UK.

Key achievements include winning LSE Press’ First Book Competition and contributing to interdisciplinary platforms like Allegra Lab and UCL Medical Anthropology blog. He is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin, enhancing his fieldwork capabilities in multilingual contexts.

Teaching responsibilities span foundational courses such as Anthropology of Sovereignty and Medical Anthropology, blending theoretical rigor with applied ethnographic methods. His work bridges religious studies, technology ethics, and healthcare practices, reflecting a holistic anthropological perspective.