On Friday 20th November, our Upper College and Sixth Form Scholars heard from Hannah Rich, senior researcher at Theos Think Tank, where she leads on faith groups, social action and economic insecurity.
Hannah discussed what a think tank is and her own journey to working in one through a Languages degree at Durham University, to a Masters in Inequalities and Social Science from London School of Economics. Hannah has researched the intersection between religion and a wide range of relevant and current topics (like the cost of living) and she regularly contributes to radio broadcasts and publications with her research findings. Students learned a lot and had their attention drawn to a wide variety of issues as well as a career path that they may not have considered before!
A particularly interesting message that Hannah touched on, sparking many discussions and debates between friends after the session, was the importance of helping people to take religion seriously; a topic that can be profoundly ignored in both society and the media.
Overall, Hannah’s discussions were extremely engaging and provided food for thought which was evidenced both in and outside of the classroom. She inspired those in the room to dig deeper into the importance of think tanks, offering new and interesting perspectives with evident passion. The students were encouraged to consider different viewpoints on certain topics before forming their opinion, creating a stimulating discussion during the question and answer section; embodying the goals of Forum42.
Bella, SFC1
Dr Woolstenhulme, Teacher of Religious Studies and Philosophy and Teacher in Charge of Academic Scholarship: Enrichment
