Most of my funded research develops frameworks that help societies navigate religious pluralism and foster inclusive democratic practices. My books on secularisation (2015) and deliberative democracy (2022) respond to rising religious strife with models to inspire more resilient policy outcomes. Two more monographs on book history (2017, 2022) trace how religions adapt to technological change. Most recently, I’ve led the Religions journal special issue on situating religious cognition, and published another book that fosters cognitive empathy in the study of religion (2025). Persistent throughout all my writing is the aim to approach these topics in a materialist manner that bridges methodological rigor with practical relevance.

My courses draw on this expertise to teach students philosophical skills they can apply to thrive in diverse societies. This includes courses on democracy and diversity, critical thinkers, philosophy of religion, world religions and ethics of emerging technologies. I also supervise research students on these and related topics. From 2024-26, I am the Deputy Head of School Teaching and Learning at the University of Newcastle’s School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, where I lead several committees to enhance graduate outcomes through data-driven deliberative decision-making practices.