Delighted to hear I’ve been nominated for a second time by one of my Hebrew students for this year’s Edinburgh University Students'​ Association Teaching Awards. It is always fun teaching introductory Biblical Hebrew and really affirming to know that those on the course enjoyed it as much as me!

Last month I was privileged to stay for a week at @gladlib.bsky.social after receiving The Richard L. Hills Scholarship for research into Theology & Science. A remarkable place to write a portion of my manuscript on rewilding in the book of Isaiah, forthcoming with @routledgebooks.bsky.social.

❗ VICTORY FOR GREYHOUNDS❗ At this moment, @markruskell.bsky.social's Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill has PASSED with a majority vote: Yes - 70 No - 27 🙌THANK YOU to all who have supported the #UnboundTheGreyhound campaign. Tonight, we can celebrate this monumental moment for greyhounds.

If you're troubled by divine violence in the Bible and also concerned with animals then take a look at my latest article which has just been published in Biblical Theology Bulletin. For a limited time you should be able to freely access it here: journals.sagepub.com/share/27GA6T...

My first collaboratively written article ("Blinding Birds, Bartered Bodies, and Bestial Betrothals: Exploring Interspecies Intersectionality in the Damascus Document and Book of Tobit") has just been published. A joy to work with wonderful colleagues on this. brill.com/view/journal...

Dead Sea Discoveries Vol. 33, No. 1 (2026) brill.com/view/journal... Intersectional Investigations into the Complexity of Social Life in Early Judaism Elisa Uusimäki & @hannatervanotko.bsky.social eds. @dgb-relbibtheo.bsky.social @jwmartens.bsky.social @peterjatkins.bsky.social

today! looking forward to talking with colleagues about place and religion. i'll be sharing my current research on ethnic minority Christians in Scotland and ideas around belonging and place. @peterjatkins.bsky.social @uoedivinity.bsky.social

Rev Prof Gordon Graham is kicking off a series of talks at Canonmills Church in September - looks to be an interesting evening! www.eventbrite.com/e/the-canonm...

In England “wood with beaver facets [were found] in multiple human constructions, along with extensive networks of ancient beaver dams and channels that had been integrated into prehistoric settlements.” A fascinating piece by Sarah Newman on how animals inspired culture 🦫 aeon.co/essays/did-a...

Today's university losing staff is Edinburgh, which has got itself into a frightful muddle and panic about cashflow - but which is becoming emblematic of just how vulnerable the Welsh and Scottish Higher Ed systems really are. www.scotsman.com/education/un...

This Thursday and Friday is the Humanimal 2.0 virtual conference on The Bible and "Animal" Others. Free to register and participate, and there is a stellar line-up of speakers. Check it out: www.humanimalconference.org/program #humanimal2025

Job opening: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Studies at the University of Bergen - open for applicants with PhD in religious studies, archaeology or history

If you care about Theological and Religious Studies in the UK then consider signing this petition to save the Cardiff degree programme change.org/p/save-our-r...

The Race & Class in UK Religious Studies and Theology project is recruiting a part-time postdoctoral researcher (3.5 hrs pw) to work on the project's qualitative research. Further details are available here: www.abdn.ac.uk/racrest Please circulate it to anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

I know it's a Guardian editorial and I know everyone following me already knows this, but this is very well put indeed. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A great opportunity to campaign for and shape change in the Church of England’s approach to land management

For anyone wondering, some possible dog names have survived from cuneiform sources. On tiny dog figurines found buried under a palace in Nineveh, Iraq are inscriptions that seem to be names. dan rigiššu “loud is his bark” munaššiku gārîšu “biter of his foe” mušēṣi lemnūti “expeller of evil”

It was great fun to appear on the Biblical Time Machine podcast talking about Nebuchadnezzar and his affliction in Daniel 4. The episode has just gone up! www.biblicaltimemachine.com/listen-to-ep...

If you are thinking about nonhuman animals in biblical texts then there is still time to submit an abstract to the Humanimal 2.0 Virtual Conference: The Bible & "Animal" Others. The Call for Papers closes on the 15th January. #Humanimal2025 www.humanimalconference.org/call-for-pap...

Any biblical scholars out there give me advice on the standard adjectival form for Ezekiel? Ezekielic? Ezekielian? Or something else?

Did you see our message on the AGADE server or just delete it? Our open issue 4.2 has been open - and is still open call - but we are looking to feature a special section on (non-human) animals and animality in the ANE. Interested? avarjournal.com/avar/submiss...

Fantastic book panel on the book God and the Little Grey Cells by @danclantonjr.bsky.social #sblaar2024

Day 1 highlights of #SBLAAR2024: Sea Lions, Pelicans, Hummingbirds, and Egrets

First session on Animal Studies and the Bible unit at #SBLAAR24 is a panel on the book Ask the Animals by SBL Press

It was a surprise to stumble across this apparent reception of Matthew 7:15 in Pokémon Sword/Shield. I wonder what other possible biblical references there are in the series...

For my European #Biblicalstudies colleagues and those who are sad not to visit SBL: The call for papers for the EABS/SBL International conference in Uppsala/Sweden is open until 15th of January. www.eabs.net/EABS/EABS/Co...

Please spread the word... Hyatt on Sunday of SBL, 9:00-11:00pm.

Humanimal 2.0 - Bible and Animal Others conference Call for Papers is live!

Haven’t seen this one yet… Give it a share if you would. Help me find out who else is on here. Reply if in OT/HB studies and I’ll add you. go.bsky.app/FFeqvaV

I’ve had @profrosenblum.bsky.social’s book “Forbidden” on my desk for the last week and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s insightful, engaging, and very difficult to put down. Not sure I’ve enjoyed reading academic prose as much as this for a long time.

On hold with an insurance company, which felt like an ideal time to make a starter pack for ancient religion folks (sorry if I forgot someone!): go.bsky.app/9y592Bk

OK, I guess someone had to do it and I guess today that someone is me. Academic Study of Religion starter pack! I am sure I have left people out, so please let me know if I need to add you! go.bsky.app/9CdZTiN