Alumni Profiles
Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, Ph.D. |
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Aimie HopeDegree studied at The University of Sheffield: I was in the Biblical Studies Department from 2005-2008 and read BA Biblical Studies, graduating with a 2:1. Current Job: I am is now a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, working with the Departments of Psychology and Human Geography to research environmental literacy and pro-environmental behaviours. What have you done since finishing your degree in Biblical Studies? After graduating in 2008, I took an administrative position at Aviva. While there I volunteered for the additional duty of office “Environmental Champion”, raising awareness of company recycling and energy saving policies. In 2009 I began studying for an MSc in Environmental Management at Sheffield Hallam. During this time I undertook a range of work experience including a placement with an environmental consultancy. My dissertation research involved investigating the pro-environmental practices undertaken by voluntary sector organizations, looking at the obstacles faced by these groups in reporting their achievements and in gaining environmental accreditation. In September 2011 I was awarded EPSRC funding to join the E-Futures Doctoral Training Centre for Interdisciplinary Energy Research at the University of Sheffield. Since starting I have conducted research at a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Pilot Plant, producing a report on the company’s public engagement materials and I have attended a CCS summer school in Shanghai, China. How did your time in the Department of Biblical Studies/at The University of Sheffield help prepare you for your career/for life? Biblical studies gave me an appreciation of and continuing interest in religion and culture. Since starting E-Futures I have conducted research into the influence of religious belief in Christianity and Islam on attitudes to the environment, beliefs in climate change and the acceptability of proposed technological solutions. I have also conducted research into the motivations of church communities in adopting renewable technologies. Biblical Studies equipped me with a range of transferable skills including effective analysis and persuasive writing, which I use to tutor undergraduates in essay writing skills. What was the 'best bit' about being part of the Department of Biblical Studies? For me, the best things about being in the Biblical Studies Department were the opportunities to learn ancient languages and visit Israel. |
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Samuel Stringer |
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Judith Sawers, neé BarberDegree Studied at The University of Sheffield: BA Biblical Studies and Linguistics, 1985-1988 Current job: Communications officer for SIL’s Central Africa Group [SIL is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that serves language communities worldwide. For more information visit the official SIL website]. I pass on information and needs for people to pray about mainly about the Central African Republic, but also Congo (Brazzaville) and western DRC especially in relation to Bible translation teams working in minority languages there. I find out stories about that area and appeals are published online on our organisation’s various websites, trying to connect up people in some very neglected (by the rest of the world) countries with other people elsewhere in the world. What have you done since graduating from the Department of Biblical Studies? 1988-1990 Library Assistant, University of Reading How did your time in the Department of Biblical Studies/at The University of Sheffield help prepare you for your career/for life? It provided time to grow up a bit (though there was still a lot more of that to do…) and some of the best and longest-lasting friends (including my husband). It made a career in Bible translation look like a good thing to go into [...] my trip to Israel with Prof. Rogerson in 1987 equipped me to share information with African mother-tongue translators in out-of-the-way places that I could never have communicated without first having experienced the land itself for myself. That was unique. What was the ‘best bit’ about being part of the Department of Biblical Studies? There was a great sense of ‘belonging’ that I don’t imagine many departments had at that time. Oh, and some world-class scholars heading it up! |
