ECLAS
PROJECT TEAM

David is a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University and has PhDs in astrophysics and systematic theology.

He is a regular contributor to Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ and has lectured and written widely on the relationship between science and religion.

His most recent book God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse: What Hawking Said and Why it Matters (SPCK, 2020) is widely available.

Tom McLeish is Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics at the University of York, England. He is also a member of York’s Centre for Medieval Studies and Humanities Research Centre. His research in ‘soft matter and biological physics’ draws on interdisciplinary collaborations to understand how material properties emerge from molecular structure and dynamics. He leads the UK ‘Physics of Life’ network, and holds a five-year research fellowship on protein physics and evolution. His OUP Very Short Introduction to Soft Matter appears in 2020. In 2021, Tom was appointed Canon Scientist at St Alban's Cathedral.

Tom is passionate about radical interdisciplinary thinking, contributing to several national reports on interdisciplinary research. He also works on the framing of science within theology, sociology, history, education and philosophy, leading to the recent books Faith and Wisdom in Science (OUP 2014) and The Poetry and Music of Science (OUP 2019). He co-leads the Ordered Universe project, a large interdisciplinary study of 13th century science. From 2008 to 2014 he served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Durham University and was from 2015-2020 Chair of the Royal Society’s Education Committee.

The Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham was Bishop of Kingston from 2002-22. He studied Physics and Philosophy at Oxford before teaching Physics for five years. He is Whitelands Professorial Fellow in Christian Theology and Contemporary Issues at the University of Roehampton and Honorary Research Fellow at King’s College, London.

Bishop Richard’s interest in truth claims and the major issues of the 21st century includes the relationship between religion and science, including developing holistic approaches to schools’ science teaching; living well together among different religious and secular world views; the environment; and climate change.

Kathryn has extensive professional experience in religious broadcasting and publishing, and a research interest in Church of England bioethics-related public discourse.

Based in the Church of England’s Faith and Public Life team at the Archbishops’ Council, she helps inform and resource engagement with science across the Church of England public policy team and parliamentary unit, the wider National Church Institutions, and Church of England bishops in the House of Lords. She leads research into Church public policy related discourse in AI Ethics and other current science-related policy matters. She also contributes to strategic communications across the ECLAS project.

The Revd Dr Malcolm Brown leads the team which engages at national level with Parliament, government and policy makers and with other faiths and beliefs, and which resources dioceses and parishes in mission and social engagement.

Malcolm has been a parish priest, industrial missioner, and Director of the William Temple Foundation. He has taught ethics and practical theology in several universities, and was Principal of the Eastern Region Ministry Course. His publications include Tensions in Christian Ethics [SPCK, 2010] and Anglican Social Theology (ed.)

Amanda Rees is a historian of science based at York University’s Department of Sociology. She specialises in the history of field sciences, especially ethology and ecology, in the history of human-animal relationships, and in the history of future. She has spent the past five years researching the way that different narratives of science have been used to create different versions of the human future, and on the crucial role that religion has played in both the history of science and science fiction.

Currently, she edits the British Journal for the History of Science, and is one of the co-editors of History of the Human Sciences. Her latest book is 'Human', co-written with Charlotte Sleigh and published by Reaktion Books in 2020.

Revd Professor Charlotte Sleigh is a scholar and practitioner in the science humanities, focusing on the connections that science makes with history, literature, art and theology. She has taught at the universities of Cambridge, UCLA, Kent and UCL, where she is presently a professor in the Department of Science and Technology Studies. She is a former president of the British Society for the History of Science, and is currently a self-supporting curate in the parish of St Martin and St Paul, Canterbury. She is the author of eight books including Human (Reaktion, 2020, with Amanda Rees) and God's Green Book (SPCK, 2010, with Bryony Webb).

Sam works with Dr Amanda Rees on the Narratives of Science and Theology project. He is a historian of Cold War science and technology with a particular focus on oceans history, as well as broader interests in the history of science diplomacy and past futures.

Following a MA degree in History from the University of Aberdeen, he completed a PhD in History of Science and Technology at the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at the University of Manchester. Along with Post-Doctoral Fellowships at the Universities of York (Sociology), Aberystwyth (History), Manchester (CHSTM), and Southampton (SMMI) he has held teaching lectureships at the University of Kent (History) and the University of Cambridge (History and Philosophy of Science).

Thoko will be carrying out research focusing on the attitudes of senior church leaders toward science and science-engaged theology. Thoko is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in the Sociology of Religion (MA), the History and Theory of Psychology (MSc) and Science and Technology Studies (Ph.D.). She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh in 2017 on the history of the Heuristics and Biases Programme and Behavioural Economics. Before coming to work for the ECLAS project she was a postdoc at the University of Edinburgh focusing on the implementation of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) at the level of funding organisations.

Hannah researches Church public policy-related discourse in AI Ethics and other current science-related policy matters. Hannah is an interdisciplinary researcher, with a background in Psychology (MA) and Practical Theology (Ph.D.). She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen where she researched the lived experience of stigma in Christians with a clinical diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Before coming to work for the ECLAS project she was a Science and Religion Researcher at Theos Think Tank focusing on disambiguating and understanding the relationship between science and religion in the UK.

Lucas specializes in fostering dialogue around science, religion, and reality. He has a PhD in evolutionary biology from Harvard and specializes in the various meanings of “life.” His past work includes research on astrobiology and historical life concepts. A priest in the Episcopal Church (USA), he has also worked as a college chaplain, a NASA contractor, and a martial arts teacher. His books include Thinking Fair: Rules for Reason in Science and Religion, Life Concepts from Aristotle to Darwin, and The End of Final Causes in Biology.

Despina is the Deputy Project Co-ordinator and is responsible for the Scientists in Congregations programme and organising conferences for senior church leaders and scientists. She recently graduated from Durham University with a Criminology degree, and has previously worked at Cranmer Hall, Durham University.

Olivia is responsible for media relations, social media and the ECLAS website while Helen Billam is on maternity leave. Olivia previously worked in international development and human rights, and across a range of communications projects. She has Master’s degrees in Public International Law and in Acting.

Judith provides administrative and communications support to the ECLAS team, with a focus on enabling policy work within the Church of England’s Faith and Public Life team. Judith previously worked in nursing and in the pharmaceutical industry, and has a Graduate Diploma in Theology from Queen’s University, Belfast.

Alex has a PhD in medieval history from Durham University, examining hagiography as a political 'tool' and historical source. She has also worked as a scientific translator and teacher of scientific English.

Helen is responsible for media relations, social media and the ECLAS website. Helen has a degree in Chinese Studies and a Master’s degree in the Politics of Population, Migration and Ecology. She has worked in communications for many years, including at two medical research charities.

Theo provides administrative support to the ECLAS team. She studied theology at Durham and Edinburgh Universities, initially specialising in ecclesiology and social science before going on to postdoctoral work on peacebuilding and the arts.

Alex completed his PhD in the Department of Theology & Religion at Durham University. His research explored the historical, sociological and psychological factors that shape the attitudes that male clergy hold towards women’s ordination within the Church of England. Findings from this study have been disseminated in journal articles and Alex is currently writing a book based on this research, which is under contract with Routledge. Since finishing the PhD Alex has held the William Leech Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at St. John’s College, Durham where he explored the well-being of those belonging to Christian communities in some of the country’s most deprived areas. Alex has also taught a module on artificial intelligence at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Alex is a Lecturer in the Sociology of Health and Illness at Bournemouth University. He was with the ECLAS team as a Post-doctoral Research Associate from 2020-22.

Fran is a researcher in Science Communication, the History of Science, and Literature, and an active science communicator with an interest in the socio-psychological history of what narratives make science communication effective. She holds degrees in Communication & Media Science, English, and Comparative Literature from the Universities of Leipzig and Sheffield, and completed her doctorate on Dreams and Visions in Victorian Psychology and Fantastic Literature at the University of Oxford.
Fran is a Leverhulme Fellow at the University of Leeds and was with with ECLAS team as a Post-doctoral Research Associate from 2020-22.