Outreach

As well as academic research the Explaining Atheism Programme funded outreach projects, working collaboratively with filmmakers, photographers, content makers and educators to bring the ideas and finding of our work to broader audiences.

In August 2024 the Religion for Breakfast YouTube channel launched an Understanding Atheism explainer series. Co-created with researchers from Explaining Atheism and beyond, this 10-part series draws on a wide array of disciplines to ask big, compelling questions, such as: what does the term “atheism” mean? Are there atheistic religions? Why are some societies more atheistic than others? Are children born atheist?

Photographer Aubrey Wade worked with researchers Dena Abbott and Melanie Brewster to produce a new body of photographic and textual work that takes audiences on a visual journey to meet unbelievers from across the United Sates who also identify as belonging to a marginalised group. This work will soon be featured as a new resource on his website and he has plans for an art book.

Filmmaker and photographer Briony Campbell and Speakit Films drew on the work of researchers Anna Strhan, Lois Lee and Rachel Shillitoe   for the short film ‘Big questions with little people’ in which 7 and 8 year-olds ask each other about some of life’s big questions. Briony has also been working with the children and their families on a portrait series. You can learn more about Briony’s work on her website.

Educational charity RE Today is working with the Explaining Atheism researchers to bring findings from our core research into classrooms across the UK. They have also been working with Briony Campbell and Aubrey Wade to create learning resources from their projects. In October 2024 this work with trialed with groups of RE pupils at a pop-up exhibition and workshop series at Conway Hall in London. Visit the REToday website to learn more about their work and services

Learn more about our outreach projects

In this film the creators of our outreach projects talk about their work and the importance of making research about atheism and other forms of non-belief accessible to wider audiences.

With thanks to Stephen Mullan from Queen’s University Belfast for production, filming and editing.