Science communication, Islam and Muslim communities: A research brief

Jones, Stephen, Burney, Saleema and Timol, Riyaz ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9035-3576 2024. Science communication, Islam and Muslim communities: A research brief. [Project Report]. University of Birmingham. Available at: https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publications/...

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Abstract

A dearth of information means that it is very difficult to talk about Muslims, science and science communication in an informed way. Research into Muslims’ perspectives about science today is limited and often flawed. Despite Muslims being among the most marginalised and stigmatised groups in the UK and many other countries, Muslims are almost completely excluded from discussions of diversity and inclusion in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine). This is despite (or possibly because of) the fact the West has long nurtured myths about Islam, Muslims and science, with both historical and contemporary writers viewing the Islamic tradition as incompatible with scientific reasoning.This report aims to provide people who are active in science communication, or who have an interest in relations between science and society, with an understanding of what Muslims think about science. The report is based principally on research conducted by the authors from April 2021 to April 2023 and involved 40 interviews and 5 focus groups with British Muslim religious leaders, along with observational research at four Islamic educational institutions. We provide an overview of current perspectives on, and debates about, various aspects of scientific research within Islamic Britain. Our aim in conducting this research was to gather the views of as wide a range of Muslim leaders as possible, and the interviewees and other research participants included a variety of both conservative and more reformist/progressive traditions, as well as male and female religious scholars (‘ulama).

Item Type:	Report (Project Report)
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > History, Archaeology and Religion Research Institutes & Centres > Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK (CSIUK)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc Q Science > Q Science (General)
Publisher:	University of Birmingham
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	19 June 2026
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2026 07:44
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187652

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