Event Archive

We are delighted to welcome Professor Milette Gaifman (Yale University) to Aberdeen, to deliver the Geddes-Harrower-Lectures 2023. Over four free, public lectures, taking place on the University’s Old Aberdeen campus, Professor Gaifman will speak about:   Classification and the History of Greek Art and Architecture How do classifications inform our understanding of artworks...

David Hockney and the Early 60s Rediscovery of Representation: Dr Sam Rose (St Andrews)

In person.   For more information, please contact Gerry Hough (g.hough@abdn.ac.uk)

From 23 February to 30 March, join CineClub in New Kings NK1, in a student-led film festival exploring film through a feminist lens. It has three themes focusing on overlooked aspects: Costume design by women in period dramas; francophone contemporary cinema by women; and experimental women's filmmaking. For more information,...

TBA   For more information, please contact Gerry Hough (g.hough@abdn.ac.uk)

A talk by Jon Reid (Creative Aberdeen)

In person.   For more information, please contact Gerry Hough (g.hough@abdn.ac.uk).

Teams: 4 PM start time   For more information, please contact Gerry Hough (g.hough@abdn.ac.uk).

'Identity and Myth of the Spanish Folklorica in Art and Visual Culture', Dr Barbara Barreiro Leon (Aberdeen)

Donald MacCrimmon MacKay (1922 - 1987) was an early pioneer in both Information Theory and Artificial Intelligence, who gradually moved into neuroscience. As a scientist he made significant contributions to each of these fields of specialisation, winning several fellowships and awards.   He was first and foremost a scientist. However, some of...

The Centre for Early Modern Studies is happy to delighted to announce a workshop on 28-29 October 2022, supported by the AHRC Research Networking Scheme brought to Aberdeen by Cassie Gorman (Anglia Ruskin University) and Stefano Gulizia (University of Milan and the Polish Institute of Advanced Studies, Warsaw), in cooperation...

Join us for our next research seminar: Jon Blackwood (Gray's) will speak on "Cultural Ecologies & Curatorial Practices: Art from the Western Balkans, 2012-22".

Please join us for this semester's reading group, where we discuss recent research from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives. All welcome!

The shattering of the unity of Latin Christendom in the sixteenth century called into question the natural law tradition that had been developed within the Catholic tradition, most notably by Thomas Aquinas. Religious division brought challenges at home and in international relations to which there were no easy answers. One...

Dr John Danaher (NUI Galway) will deliver the Royal Institute of Philosophy Annual Public Lecture, entitled 'Will the Rise of Artificial Intelligence Change Our Moral Culture?'

'How to Hold Onto A Hurricane' with Professor Hannah Ryan (St Olaf College)

Prof Lyndsey Stonebridge (Birmingham)   Date- 27 April 2022, 3-4.30pm

As part the University of Aberdeen’s ongoing work to recognise the legacies of historic slavery, please join us on the 30th of March for the online event Powis Gate: Slavery and Memory in Old Aberdeen. Powis Gate, located on Aberdeen’s King’s College campus, is the most tangible link between the University...

‘Reflections on Knowledge Resistance, Fact Polarization, and Motivated Reasoning’ Date- 30th March 2022, 3-4.30pm Talk about knowledge or fact resistance and polarization is everywhere in public debate. Such talk often remains loose and metaphorical, yet aims at capturing something important and potentially dangerous. In this talk, I shall reflect on how to...

Workshop discussing work in progress from the Arctic Period research group and guest speakers from the Arctic region.

Professor Robert Frost (History) is delivering the annual British Academy Raleigh Lecture on History at Queen's University Belfast. The lecture will be live streamed.

'Architectural drawings in context: the collection of Robert and James Adam' with Dr Frances Sands (Sir John Soane's Museum, London)

'Miss Tampon Liberty: Jay Critchley and the 'Enviromenstrual' Art Movement, 1970-2020' with Dr Camilla Mørk Røstvik (Art History, University of Aberdeen)

In the 1980s, when menstruaton was generally considered taboo, artist Jay Critchley made art out of discarded plastic tampon applicators washed up and collected on local beaches. With no idea what the items were used for, Critchley could not have known that his curiosity would lead to a decades-long quest...

The Practical Theology Research Seminar begins this week on Wednesday 19th January, 4.00-6.00pm (UK time). Meetings will take place on MS Teams on alternate Wednesdays thereafter. Please see the attached poster for full details and dates. Note that our first session will feature our very own Prof John Swinton! He...

Seminars will be held on Thursdays in term-time from 2.30pm to 4.00pm. There are two distinct elements to our Research Seminar this seminar: a regular online discussion of the work of Eberhard.  All students and all faculty are welcome. It is expected that PhD and MTh students in Systematic Theology will attend...

  Time and venue    2-4 PM, Mondays, Divinity Library, King’s College   Seminar text David L. Clough, On Animals: Vol. 1, Systematic Theology (London: T&T Clark, 2012) and David L. Clough, On Animals: Vol. 2, Theological Ethics (London: T&T Clark, 2019)     Schedule 24 Jan., On Animals Vol 1, Intro and ch 1 31 Jan., On Animals Vol 1, Chs...

Dr Natalie Ashton (Stirling) ‘Productive Online Environments: Why Twitter Is (Epistemically) Better Than Facebook’   Encountering viewpoints that we disagree with can be difficult, but it can also, in the right circumstances, be productive; this idea is neatly captured by Jose Medina's term epistemic friction. But what are 'the right circumstances'? Especially in...

Dr Marie Guillot (Essex) ‘Dishonesty and Bullshit’   Date- 16 February 2022, 3-4:30pm

This event was cancelled

Prof Lisa Eckenwiler (George Mason University) Date- 2 March 2022, 3-4.30pm

Prof Chris Fraser (Toronto) ‘Finding a Way Together: Interpersonal Ethics in the Zhuāngzǐ’   The various threads of discourse preserved in the Zhuāngzǐ (3rd century BC) present a radical challenge to prevailing ways of thinking about ethics, whether in the texts’ own day or our own. The dominant stance in the Zhuāngzǐ is...

The spring 2022 Biblical Studies Research Seminar series will meet on Wednesdays, 15:30–17:00. Please see the attached schedule for all details. This seminar brings together researchers in Old Testament / Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, and New Testament. Our schedule includes invited papers and a series of discussions around readings that...

Prof Samir Okasha (Bristol) ‘Scepticism, Evidential Holism and the Logic of Demonic Deception’ Abstract Sceptical arguments in epistemology typically employ sceptical hypotheses, which are rivals to our everyday beliefs so constructed that they fit exactly the evidence on which those beliefs are based. There are two ways of using a sceptical hypothesis to undermine...

Autism, Theology, and the Church Conference Identifying and Establishing Critical Frameworks for Interdisciplinary Research #AutismTheologyChurch21 December 13-15, 2021 11:00 am- 5:30 pm GMT Online lectures, panels, and workshops Join international practitioners and academics as we engage in the emerging conversation of autism, theology, and the church.  Register by the 6th of...

Explore the Masters in Theology degree with Dr Michael Laffin to hear how you can deepen your specialist knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith at one of the oldest centres in the world for biblical learning. Interested in exploring the Christian faith, scriptures, life and doctrine with world-leading experts in...

Interested in exploring the history and culture of the Viking and Medieval Scandinavian world? Join our virtual seminar with Dr Hannah Burrows to learn about our specialist postgraduate degree in Viking and Medieval Nordic Studies.   Register Now. https://gck.fm/ovarx

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Professor William Naphy will discuss the global and institutional history of Marischal College from its founding to the union of 1860. Open to students and offer holders. Online Event.

'Architecture, Senses and Emotion: Eadmer's Canterbury' with Dr Katherine Weikert (University of Winchester)

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Prof Tom Carson (Loyola) ‘How Misplaced Trust and Distrust Create Misinformation and Enable Lying and Deception in Politics and Public Policy’ Abstract "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or perhaps both"  (James Madison) “Everyone is entitled to his...

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

In this talk Dr Federico Luzzi will examine some of the moral issues arising from sex segregation in athletic competitions. Open to students and offer holders. Online Event.

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Online Event Convenors: Prof. Hindy Najman, Prof. Joachim Schaper, Dr. Hywel Clifford Programme of Events  

Prof Maria Rosa Antognazza (King’s College, London) ‘The Distinction in Kind Between Knowledge and Belief’ Abstract Drawing inspiration from a well-attested historical tradition, I propose an account of cognition according to which knowledge is not only prior to belief; it is also, and crucially, not a kind of belief. Believing, in turn, is...

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Dr Dominic Smith (Dundee) ‘Disastrous Communication: Walter Benjamin's “The Railway Disaster at the Firth of Forth”’ Abstract - February 1932, Berlin/ March 1932, Frankfurt: Walter Benjamin presents a live broadcast of a twenty-minute radio piece, ‘The Railway Disaster at the Firth of Tay’ (Die Eisenbahnkatastrophe vom Firth of Tay). - May 2018, Dundee: A...

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Sophia is a supportive space for women staff and students of all levels who are connected with theology/divinity/religious studies. We have amazing guest speakers from all over the world, we support your studies with workshops and learning events, and we run socials to connect you with other women in Aberdeen...

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Dr Sandra Leonie Field (Yale-NUS) ‘Marx, Spinoza and True Democracy’ Abstract It is common to assimilate Marx's and Spinoza's conceptions of democracy. Indeed, Marx appears to have drawn his ideas of the naturalness of democracy and of the people's concrete power fairly directly from his study of Spinoza. In this paper, to the...

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

The theme for the Practical Theology Research Seminar this year is embodiment, and our meetings will take place on alternate Wednesdays, 4.00-6.00pm (UK time), beginning on 29th September. Please see the attached poster for full details.  This term we will meet on MS Teams. For access to our virtual meeting space, please...

The autumn 2021 Biblical Studies Research Seminar series will meet on Wednesdays, 15:30–17:00. Please see the attached schedule for all details. This seminar brings together researchers in Old Testament / Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, and New Testament. Our schedule includes invited papers and a series of discussions around readings that...

Christian Ethics as Prophecy in Turbulent Times

Taking Nothing for Granted: Presuppositions and the Methodology of European Philosophy

Friendship House is pleased to announce a virtual event on 12 May from 15:30-16:30 featuring Professors John Swinton and Grant Macaskill alongside Fiona Kennedy OBE, each sharing stories and memories linked to music. The goal is to help students and community members alike combat the loneliness which has taken hold...

A conversation with Professor Viccy Coltman (Edinburgh) and Professor Daniel Szechi (Manchester)

Recursive Histories and American Physiognomies: Revisiting Walker Evans's American Photographs Stephanie Schwartz (UCL) This event will be hosted by Zoom; please email simon.constantine@abdn.ac.uk for joining instructions. 

Do we share a sense of humour with Vikings? Join Dr Hannah Burrows for mini lecture on Friday 26 March at 15:00 GMT to discover what might have made the Vikings laugh, and what was considered a serious matter in medieval Scandinavia. She will explore what puns, jokes, insults, and...

Karim Thebault (Bristol) ‘Universal Reasoning’ Abstract: The general form of inference whereby we justify a novel mode of inductive reasoning by appeal to coherence with one or more distinct modes of inductive reasoning might reasonably be described as inductive triangulation. Consider, for example, the following inference: the properties of observed spatially distant electrons resemble...

Mary Magdalene in the Museum (Lieke Wijnia, Museum Catharijneconvent, The Netherlands)

Heather Widdows (Birmingham) ‘My Body, My Self?' Abstract: That our bodies have become our very selves in a visual and virtual culture is one of the main arguments of Perfect Me. This is so widely believed that we often don’t recognise either that it is true (until it is pointed...

Street Photography Revisited: Garry Winogrand and the 'Look of Non Art': Simon Constantine (University of Aberdeen)

Åsa Wikforss, (Stockholm) 'Democracy in the Post Truth Era'  Abstract: We are said to live in an era of Post Truth, defined as a time when objective facts are less important in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. We also live in a time where democracy...

Wednesday Feb 10th, 3-4.30pm. Mahrad Almotahari (Edinburgh) and Aidan Gray (Illinois) ‘Coordination, De Se Thought, and Russellian Exceptionalism’  Abstract: Russellians, Relationists, and Fregeans disagree about the nature of propositional-attitude content and the role of coordination and de se thought in the explanation of rational behavior. We articulate a framework about the form such...

The seminar will run as a weekly discussion of selected texts among faculty and research students within the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy.   The theme for this session is ‘conscience’, as a locus for studying certain interrelations between biblical theology, natural religion, and the history of moral philosophy. Readings will...

Select Wednesdays, 3:30–4:45pm (UK Time), MS Teams 27 January Prof. John Collins (Yale University) “Reflections on Apocalyptic and Apocalypticism 40 Years on from Semeia 14” 10 February Rachel Danley (University of Aberdeen) “Reworking Spatial Metaphors of Temple in Second Temple Judaism” Larissa Rosendale (University of Aberdeen) “Characterisation, Cosmology and Crystals: Gemstones in the...

Wednesday Jan 27th, 3-4.30pm.  Sarah Broadie, St Andrews ‘Virtue and the non-moral goods: an ancient perspective’  Abstract to follow.  For information, contact Federico Luzzi: f.luzzi@abdn.ac.uk

The Theological Ethics Research Seminar for this term is "A Troubled Inheritance: Desire, Power and Theology Abused". The seminar will ask if—or how—we should read the works of a theologian tainted by moral failure, and will focus on the sexual scandals associated with Karl Barth, John Howard Yoder and Jean Vanier. This...

Our seminar text is The Dangers of Christian Practice: On Wayward Gifts, Characteristic Damage, and Sin by Lauren Winner (Yale University Press, 2018). The text is available through Primo here. Seminars will be held on alternate Wednesdays, from 4.00-6.00pm UK time. As with last term, all sessions will take place online on...

Interested in a PhD in Divinity at Aberdeen? Join several of our staff for an information session and Q&A on Tuesday, 19 January, 4:30–5:30p (UK Time). Register here.

Eleanore Neumann: Maria Graham, and her Landscapes Following the 1822 Chilean Earthquake

Virtual Veronese: Immersive Storytelling at the National Gallery

Centre for Global Security and Governance

In this somewhat unusual season, the seminar will run as a concise discussion of working papers circulated in advance by faculty and research students in the department. Papers will be made available roughly one week before each session. Sessions themselves will take place in the Divinity Library for those able...

Seminar text: Ghost Ship, A.D.A. France-Williams All welcome. All Practical Theology PhD students, (on-campus and distance) are expected to attend seminars regularly. Please see attached flyer for seminar dates and more information.  

All PG students are welcome. Please note that all New Testament PhD candidates (resident and distance) are expected to attend seminars regularly as able. Meetings and materials will be on MS Teams. For access and further information, please contact Dr J. Thomas Hewitt (jthomas.hewitt@abdn.ac.uk). Please see attached flyer for dates and...

Hosted by the Warburg Institute, London via Zoom, co-organised by Joanne Anderson (University of Aberdeen) and Carla Benzan (Open University).

This term our text will be Saving Face: Enfacement, Shame, Theology, by Stephen Pattison (2013). Faces our all around us and are a significant theme in the Bible, think about the ‘face of God.’ Facebook is sometimes rather Fakebook, and shame is seen as ‘losing one’s face.’ Many of us...

Online conference to celebrate the launch of the CfSS's new student-led journal, Apardjón Journal for Scandinavian Studies.

This event was cancelled

Cameron Stewart: “Not so Neutral Nordics: Scandinavia, Neutrality and the First World War”

This event was cancelled

Speaker: Tommaso Piazza (Pavia)

This event was cancelled

Due to travel restrictions in place to tackle the outbreak of Coronavirus and safety reasons, we have cancelled this event. We will be probably reschedule it for next year and will announce the new dates in due time. Public pedagogy investigates learning that happens beyond formal schooling and through disparate means, like public events,...

This term our text will be Saving Face: Enfacement, Shame, Theology, by Stephen Pattison (2013). Faces our all around us and are a significant theme in the Bible, think about the ‘face of God.’ Facebook is sometimes rather Fakebook, and shame is seen as ‘losing one’s face.’ Many of us...

This event was cancelled

Speaker: Joe Ulatowski (Waikato University)

This event was cancelled

Ashleigh Black: “Death Does Not Become Her: Portraiture as Social Control in relation to the Canonical Five”

This event was cancelled

In 2019/20 the Seminar starts the first of two years of exploration of recent philosophical interpretations of the Apostle Paul in relation to questions of truth, knowledge and politics. This year will consider works by Alain Badiou and Jacob Taubes. In 2020/20, we will continue reading of works by Stanislas...

This event was cancelled

Allan Macinnes (University of Strathclyde): ‘Globalisation happened on Loch Craignish in 1720’

This event was cancelled

The Bible and Christian Ethics University of Aberdeen, March 30th, 2020 Grant Macaskill - Keynote Speaker This year’s postgraduate conference will explore the role of the Bible in Christian Ethics. We hope to consider this theme from a number of different approaches including, but not limited to: The historical relation of the Bible to...

This term our text will be Saving Face: Enfacement, Shame, Theology, by Stephen Pattison (2013). Faces our all around us and are a significant theme in the Bible, think about the ‘face of God.’ Facebook is sometimes rather Fakebook, and shame is seen as ‘losing one’s face.’ Many of us...

This event was cancelled

Matt Lee: “The Transatlantic World of William Shand: The Epistolary Networks of Slavery”

This event was cancelled

During the spring term we will be reading a selection of texts from the undisputed letters of Paul. The schedule of readings is designed to give attendees exposure to several passages central to descriptions of the Apostle Paul’s thought (including his view of the sacraments) and to reconstructions of the...

This event was cancelled

Sarah Roddy (University of Manchester): ‘Pray for the donor: Money and the material in the Irish Catholic Church, 1850-1921'

This event was cancelled

Launch of Apardjón Journal for Scandinavian Studies, the CfSS's new open-access student-led journal.

This event was cancelled

‘Northern Peripheries’: Apardjón launch conference Programme to be circulated separately

This event was cancelled

Booking for the Philosophy Reading Party is now open! The Reading Party is a 3-day staff/student field trip in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, involving hillwalking during the day and informal Philosophy in the evening. The event is strongly subsidised by the Department. It is open to all Aberdeen undergraduate students on single-Honours...