Dr Will Mason-Wilkes

Dr Will Mason-Wilkes

Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Fellow

Contact details

Email
w.mason-wilkes@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@WillMasonWilkes
View my research portal
Address
ERI Building
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

I am a Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholar interested in popular media representations of science and the relationship between science, media, belief and democracy.

Qualifications

  • PhD, Sociology, Cardiff University, 2018
  • MSc (Distinction), Social Science Research Methods, Cardiff University, 2013
  • MA (Merit), History and Philosophy of Science, University of Leeds, 2011
  • BA Joint Hons. (Upper Second Class), History and Philosophy of Science & Theology and Religious Studies, 2010

Biography

Dr Will Mason-Wilkes is a Science and Technologies Studies (STS) scholar with an interest in media representations of science. In his doctoral research, Will analysed non-fiction television representations of science, identifying a ‘religious’ representation of science, and discussing the implications of this representation for public understanding of science, and democracy, in the so-called ‘post-truth’ age. Will worked as a Research Associate on the ‘Science and Religion: Exploring the Spectrum’ project at Newman University before working as a Data and Research Analyst for the Welsh Government. Will is currently a Research Fellow in Popular Culture and Media on the ‘Science and Religion: Exploring the Spectrum of Global Perspectives’ project.

Teaching

  • Science, Belief and Society; Theology (Year 2)

Research

Will’s research interests include:

  • Popular Representations of Science
  • Public(s) Understandings of/attitudes towards Science
  • Science and Belief
  • Media Production
  • Media and Society

Publications

Peer Reviewed Articles

  • Mason-Wilkes, W. (2020) ‘Divine DNA? The portrayal of DNA in ‘Secular’ and ‘Religious’ Representations of Science in Non-Fiction Science Television Programmes’, Zygon: The Journal of Science and Religion 55(1): 6–26

Chapters in Edited Collections

  • Elsdon-Baker, F. and Mason-Wilkes, W. (2019) ‘The Sociological Study of Science and Religion in Context’ in S. Jones, R, Catto and T. Kaden (eds.) Science, Belief and Society: International Perspectives on Religion, Non-Religion and the Public Understanding of Science, Bristol: Policy Press. 

Book Reviews

  • Mason-Wilkes, W. (2020) ‘Book review: Secularity and Science: What Scientists Around the World Really Think About Religion’, Public Understanding of Science. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662520914192
  • Mason-Wilkes, W. (2019) ‘Book Review: Steve Fuller, Post-Truth: Knowledge as a Power Game’, Sociology 53(6): 1198–99. doi: 10.1177/0038038519841830.

View all publications in research portal