St Mary’s academic selected for prestigious BBC New Generation Thinkers programme

Dr Jakub Kowalewski, Senior Research Fellow at St Mary’s University, has been selected as one of the UK’s most promising early-career academics as part of the BBC and Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) New Generation Thinkers programme.

The scheme identifies outstanding researchers from universities across the UK and supports them in bringing their ideas to wider audiences through BBC Radio 4. Over the coming year, the 2026 cohort of New Generation Thinkers will work with programmes including Front Row, Free Thinking, The Verb and Woman’s Hour.

Dr Kowalewski was selected for his work exploring how religious ideas can help us address societal problems. Working with Radio 4’s Free Thinking, he will examine how Jewish and Christian understandings of rest can contribute to contemporary debates about work-life balance, shorter working hours, and wellbeing.

His latest book, A Philosophy of Climate Apocalypticism, explores the various ways in which the notion of apocalypse is used in discussions about the environmental crisis. Jakub is also working on an interdisciplinary project investigating paths to sustainable and ecologically sensitive change in the Catholic Church – Guardians of Creation Project.

Dr Kowalewski said: “I am delighted to have been selected as a New Generation Thinker. The programme provides a fantastic opportunity to bring academic research into public conversations and to explore how religious ideas can help us think differently about some of the social and environmental challenges of our time.”

Matthew Dodd, Commissioning Editor, Arts, BBC Radio 4, said: “Listeners tune into to Radio 4 because they want to be challenged by new ideas and learn more about the world around them, and I know that this year’s cohort of New Generation Thinkers are going to bring some fascinating ideas to the table. As the UK’s biggest speech radio station, we’re delighted to be able to bring their expertise to the widest possible audience.’

AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said: “Our New Generation Thinkers are a bold advertisement for the power of adventurous thinking, showcasing the way outstanding early career researchers can advance knowledge in varied and unexpected ways.

“Our enduring partnership with the BBC allows audiences across the UK to meaningfully engage with a diverse range of ideas and invites us all to reconsider matters of societal and cultural importance.”

Dr Kowalewski joins a cohort drawn from leading institutions across the UK, including, University of Oxford, King’s College London, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Manchester Metropolitan University.

The New Generation Thinkers scheme has been running since 2011 and has supported more than 100 academics in bringing research to public audiences through broadcasting, publishing, events and podcasts.

St Mary’s looks forward to seeing his research reach new audiences through this exciting collaboration between BBC and the AHRC.