Dr Stephen Jones

Dr Stephen Jones

Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology
Lecturer

Contact details

Email
s.h.jones@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@StphnHwrdJns
View my research portal
Address
School of Social Policy
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Stephen’s research covers themes including equality and discrimination, governance and political participation, religion in public life and the public understanding of science. His core specialism is in the study of Muslims in the UK and their treatment by British society and the state, with his research in this area encompassing Islamic organisations and movements, governance and securitisation, and Islamophobia.

Feedback and office hours

During the Spring 2023 semester Stephen’s office hours will be Tuesdays 1-2.30pm (Muirhead 927) and Fridays 1.30-3pm (online).

Qualifications

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2020
  • PhD, Sociology, 2010 (University of London)
  • MRes, 2006 (University of London)
  • MGeog (Arts), 2000 (University of Leeds)

Biography

I completed my doctorate in Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and subsequently held positions at York St John University, the University of Bristol and Newman University and before joining the University of Birmingham as Lecturer in 2018.

Teaching

He teaches on LM Approaches to Islamic Studies; LM Political Islam; LI Science and Belief in Society; and LC Lived Religions.

Postgraduate supervision

Islam in the West, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate, the governance of Islamic institutions, sociology of religion, religion and public policy, religion and politics, liberalism and religion, science and belief, science and Islam, STEMM and religious diversity

Research

Sociology, Science and Belief

My research covers themes including equality and discrimination, governance and political participation, religion in public life and the public understanding of science. My core specialism is in the study of Muslims in the UK and their treatment by British society and the state, with my research in this area encompassing Islamic organisations and movements, governance and securitisation, and Islamophobia. 

I have a longstanding record of research management and leadership, and currently lead or co-lead four research projects at the University of Birmingham. I am Co-Principal Investigator on a major 6 country multi-disciplinary study, ‘Science and Religion: Exploring the Spectrum Global Perspectives’ (TRT, 2018–2023) and Co-Principal Investigator on a project developing the International Research Network for the Social Study of Science and Religion (TRT, 2019-2024). I am also Principal Investigator on the project 'Science and the Transmission of Islamic Knowledge in Britain’ (Rice University, 2020-2023) and on a British Academy-funded Small Grant project entitled ‘The Nature of Contemporary Islamophobia’ (2020-2022).

Other activities

  • General Secretary of the Muslims in Britain Research Network (2017–present)

Publications

Highlight publications

Jones, S 2020, Islam and the Liberal State: National Identity and the Future of Muslim Britain. I.B. Tauris, London. <https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/islam-and-the-liberal-state-9781838605858/>

Jones, S & Unsworth, A 2022, The Dinner Table Prejudice: Islamophobia in Contemporary Britain. University of Birmingham, Birmingham. <https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/college-artslaw/ptr/90172-univ73-islamophobia-in-the-uk-report-final.pdf>

Jones, S, Elsdon-Baker, F, Catto, R & Kaden, T 2020, 'What science means to me: understanding personal identification with (evolutionary) science using the sociology of (non)religion', Public Understanding of Science, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 579-596. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662520923110

Jones, S, Catto, R & Kaden, T (eds) 2019, Science, Belief and Society: International Perspectives on Religion, Non-Religion and the Public Understanding of Science. Policy Press, Bristol.

Jones, S, Catto, R, Kaden, T & Elsdon-Baker, F 2019, '‘That’s how Muslims are required to view the world’: race, culture and belief in non-Muslims’ descriptions of Islam and science', The Sociological Review, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 161-177. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026118778174

Recent publications

Book

Hamid, S & Jones, S (eds) 2023, Contemporary British Muslim Arts and Cultural Production: Identity, Belonging and Social Change. Islam in the World, 1st edn, Routledge, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003330714

Nielsen, J & Jones, S (eds) 2023, Islamic Studies in European Higher Education: Navigating Academic and Confessional Approaches. Edinburgh University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781399510875

Article

Catto, R, Shillitoe, R, Jones, S, Kaden, T & Elsdon-Baker, F 2023, 'The Social Imaginary of Science and Nonreligion: Narrating the Connection in the Anglophone West', Secularism and Nonreligion, vol. 12, 3. https://doi.org/10.5334/snr.163

Jones, S & Unsworth, A 2023, 'Two Islamophobias? Racism and Religion as Distinct but Mutually Supportive Dimensions of Anti-Muslim Prejudice', British Journal of Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.13049

Catto, R, Riley, J, Elsdon-Baker, F, Jones, SH & Leicht, C 2022, 'Science, religion, and nonreligion: engaging subdisciplines to move further beyond mythbusting', Acta Sociologica. https://doi.org/10.1177/00016993221116248

Catto, R, Jones, S, Kaden, T & Elsdon-Baker, F 2019, 'Diversification and internationalization in the sociological study of science and religion', Sociology Compass, vol. 13, no. 8, e12721, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12721

Kaden, T, Jones, S, Catto, R & Elsdon-Baker, F 2018, 'Knowledge as explanandum: disentangling lay and professional perspectives on science and religion', Studies in Religion-Sciences Religieuses, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 500–521. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008429817741448

O'Toole, T, Meer, N, Nilsson DeHanas, D, Jones, S & Modood, T 2016, 'Governing through prevent? Regulation and contested practice in state–Muslim engagement', Sociology, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 160-177. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038514564437

Jones, S, O'Toole, T, Nilsson DeHanas, D, Modood, T & Meer, N 2015, 'A ‘system of self-appointed leaders'? Examining modes of Muslim representation in governance in Britain', British Journal of Politics and International Relations, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 207-223. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-856X.12051

Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Jones, S & Kaden, T 2020, Science and religion as lived experience: Narratives of evolution among British and Canadian publics and life scientists. in F Elsdon-Baker & B Lightman (eds), Identity in a Secular Age: Science, Religion, and Public Perceptions. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh.

Elshayyal, K & Jones, S 2020, United Kingdom. in E Račius (ed.), Yearbook of Muslims in Europe: 2019. vol. 12, Brill.

Kaden, T, Jones, S, Catto, R & Elsdon-Baker, F 2020, Wissen als Explanandum: Die Perspektiven von Laien und Professionellen auf Wissenschaft und Religion. in B Schnettler, T Szydlik & H Pach (eds), Religiöse Kommunikation und weltanschauliches Wissen. Springer, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-21785-3_8

Jones, S & Elshayyal, K 2019, United Kingdom. in O Scharbrodt (ed.), Yearbook of Muslims in Europe: 2018. vol. 11, Brill.

Jones, S & Hamid, S 2018, United Kingdom. in O Scharbrodt (ed.), Yearbook of Muslims in Europe: 2017. vol. 10, Brill, Leiden, pp. 703.

Commissioned report

Jones, S, Burney, S & Timol, R 2023, Science Communication, Islam and Muslim Communities: A Research Brief. University of Birmingham.

View all publications in research portal