To mark the 10th anniversary of the lecture series, the Ebor Lectures are offering two prizes for the best academic essays on the notion of ‘religion in the public sphere’. The prizes are being offered by the ecumenical sponsors of the Ebor Lectures in Theology and Public Life. The essay competition marks the tenth anniversary of the Ebor Lectures which take place six times a year in York Minster and York St John University.
The applicant’s essay can be on any aspect of ‘religion in the public sphere’; that is how religion may contribute to society or how it engages with public concerns such as politics, economics, contemporary culture, society and globalisation. Or it may consider the notion of public theology itself. Examples of topics approached from the perspective of religion in the public sphere can be found by looking at the list of past lectures on the Ebor Lectures website at: www.yorksj.ac.uk/eborlectures.
- The competition is open to all in two categories: 18 years-old and younger (£300); and those aged 19 to 25 (£500).
- The prizes will be awarded by a judging panel appointed by the steering group of the Ebor Lectures. The judging panel reserves the right not to award the prize. In judging, the panel will be looking for essays that engage with the topic of ‘religion in the public sphere’ in a lively and original way.
- Essays should follow the usual conventions of academic style (referencing, avoidance of plagiarism, etc.), and (not including the bibliography) should not exceed 2,000 words for those 18 and under, and 4,000 words for those 19-25. Essays should be submitted in Word-compatible format by email to Suzanne Parkes, Ebor Lectures Coordinator: s.parkes@yorksj.ac.uk by 1st July 2016. The result will be announced in August 2016, with the prizes awarded at the 10th Anniversary Ebor Lecture in autumn 2016.
- Applicants should also submit a covering letter including a brief biography (2-3 lines), date of birth, and contact details. In the interests of fairness essays will, however, be assessed anonymously.
- The winning essays will be published on the website of the Ebor Lectures, and possibly, subject to suitability and peer-review, in a future printed collection of Ebor Lectures or other publication.
- For any inquiry, please contact Suzanne Parkes, Ebor Lectures Coordinator: s.parkes@yorksj.ac.uk