Pooling world-leading and internationally excellent research expertise across disciplines to create multi- and inter-disciplinary projects, our research centres contribute to the University’s evolving culture of scholarly investigation and inquiry.

The research culture at Newman University continues to develop with the launch of  two research centres, one examining the Humanities and the other exploring  Science, Knowledge and Belief in Society. The research centres facilitate collaborative work across the University to produce important contemporary research relevant to pressing issues in society, the local environment, and the wider culture.

Professor Peter Childs Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Scholarship said ‘I am delighted that we are launching these two new Centres. The Newman Humanities Research Centre will bring together specialists in text-based disciplines with colleagues in the creative and performing arts to undertake impactful work in significant areas of cultural analysis from reception and interpretation to heritage and identity, exemplified in the inaugural seminar on “Artist and Empire: The Bible in ‘Colonial’ Art” led by Professor Martin O’Kane.

The Centre for Science, Knowledge and Belief in Society was launched with a special event to promote Newman’s externally funded ‘Science and Religion: Exploring the Spectrum’ project. The inaugural seminar on “Science and Secularisation”,  given by Professor John Hedley-Brooke, former Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at the University of Oxford, provided an excellent platform for a project that will have a major impact on our understanding of public perceptions around this important subject’.

As a university where the research undertaken by  staff also contributes to their university teaching, the benefits of the research centres will be felt across the university and contribute to the rigour of  debate at all levels. The research centres will also build on the successful Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission where research across submissions from Newman University was described as World Leading or Internationally Excellent.

Both research centres will provide a forum for exploring ideas and approaches to research, not only for staff but for the growing body of postgraduate research students in the University.

Read more on the Newman University website: https://www.newman.ac.uk/news/4460/world-leading-and-internationally-excellent-research