The culture shock experienced by non-religious state-educated undergraduates at elite universities sometimes sends them running into the arms of Christian Unions. In seeking supportive friends, they may find Jesus, too. Ed Dutton reports
The Reith Lectures have long been a premier platform for public intellectuals, but, Matthew Reisz asks, are scholarly communicators endangered in an era of dumbing down, media fragmentation and heightened pressures on academics?
Like the communities they serve, Northern Ireland's two universities have put inclusiveness and cohesion at the top of the agenda. But some elements of the past linger, Hannah Fearn finds
The introduction of a managerialist culture has coincided with a rise in accusations of bullying. But is there really more mistreatment, or are academics accustomed to autonomy overreacting to firm management? Melanie Newman reports
Good and powerful ideas have a tendency to spread wildly and destructively. Alec Ryrie ponders the many ways Darwinism has been used and abused and feels just a bit queasy
The individual aspects of motor racing can be intellectually appreciated, but the sum of the total adds up to a pure, gut-stirring experience that's all about feeling, enthuses Sir Drummond Bone
As the blueprint for the RAE's replacement is fine-tuned, evolution rather than revolution looks set to be the hallmark of the research excellence framework. Zoe Corbyn reports on a work in progress
A gruelling inquisition or a friendly chat - PhD candidates' experiences of vivas can vary widely. Preparation is essential, writes Peter Geoghegan, but universities could do more to help, too
Quentin Skinner, a historian renowned for examining past ideas in pursuit of disconcerting truths about the present, has swapped Cambridge quads for the bustle of the Mile End Road. Fred Inglis considers an extraordinary career
Britain's university libraries are home to a historically rich and frequently surprising treasure trove of artefacts from every corner of the globe. Matthew Reisz conducts curiosity-driven research
The intimate pedagogical relationship between students and academics sets UK universities apart from the rest of the world. But in an age of mass education and security concerns, the British way of teaching is under threat. Rebecca Attwood reports
What is research worth? The time lag before it bears economic fruit and the difficulty of gauging its social effects mean it cannot be easily accounted for in terms of profit and loss. But, as Zoe Corbyn reports, that has not stopped the authorities looking for answers
Academics aren't perfect. They may be reluctant to scrutinise their teaching practices, but despite their marginalised status across much of the world, they are dedicated and committed. Tara Brabazon suggests that courses in education can do much to raise individual technique, while overleaf Philip G. Altbach argues that institutions should repay their staff by elevating their status
As many US universities stop hiring or cut posts in the downturn, others see a chance to snap up the best and the brightest - particularly those with their own grants. Jon Marcus reports
Are you obsessed with a 'baggy monster' or has a photocopied pamphlet sparked your passion for a whole new area of research? To kick off our new weekly series, leading scholars explain which books they believe are definitive in their field
A revival of interest in theology is evident in academic and political debate, and John Milbank and the radical orthodoxy movement are spreading the news, writes Melanie Newman
The unexpected exits of two vice-chancellors have raised questions about governors and their authority, and about whether new forms of governance are appropriate for universities. Melanie Newman reports
Amid talk of an iron curtain or apartheid separating them, administrators and academics struggle to find common cause. Hopes of detente lie with the 'blended' professional. John Gill reports
David Abulafia maps out the pleasures and pains of travelling, from odysseys off the beaten track to bumpy journeys and egg sandwiches that recall aviation's pioneering days
In restoring oratory and rhetoric to a central role in public life, Barack Obama has shown how words and bearing can touch lives and change minds. Tom Palaima traces his lineage from Cato to Martin Luther King
Ministers regularly state their commitment to 'evidence-based' policy, but then seem to ignore academics. Rebecca Attwood asks if it is merely confusion over what constitutes evidence
As UK universities with a Christian heritage seek to collaborate more closely, some academics are calling for more explicitly theologically inspired institutions. Hannah Fearn reports
Dwindling joie de vivre, receding hairlines and the sneaking suspicion that our PVIs are MIA: Paul Cornish makes an in-depth analysis of the midlife crisis and urges a robust action plan - on two wheels, in leathers, going vrooooooom
It's been a good year. In 2007-08, academic pay rose more rapidly than the national average. Vice-chancellors took home the big money, but thanks to the credit crunch, this year may be the high-water mark. Hannah Fearn reports
A bitter economic wind blew through the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference last month. David Gewanter saw it snap a few authors out of their usual self-obsession
The academy has long been a haven for obsessives, but now its emphasis on teamwork would ill suit socially inept geniuses such as Paul Dirac, writes Matthew Reisz
Evolutionary psychology applies the tenets of Darwinism to human thought and action, with major implications for public policy. But critics say it presents untestable, headline-grabbing myths as fact, writes Melanie Newman
The goat has symbolised lusty desires and Christ-like sacrifice for millennia, but for Helen Wilcox a stray mountain beast in her garden had a rich meaning of its own
Musing on the often acrimonious debate between atheists and believers, Simon Blackburn takes as his inspiration David Hume, who approached the issue not with hatred but with humour
Overworked, underpaid and insecure: adjunct and part-time US faculty are fighting to convince their institutions - and tenured colleagues - that they deserve better. Jon Marcus reports
Although its candidates often lead their fields, the professional doctorate still attracts disdain, and a lack of standardisation does not help. John Gill writes
Amid the marketing puffery and opaque jargon, many prospectuses fail to explain what a course is really about, students complain. Matthew Reisz looks over the good, the bad and the flannel
An HEA survey shows that teaching is still valued less than research, not least because of a lack of accord on how to assess it, writes Rebecca Attwood
After a decade as professor of physics, John Polkinghorne retrained for the priesthood. He talks to Matthew Reisz about his faith and run-ins with atheism's champion, Richard Dawkins
The inaugural ߣߣÊÓƵ Leadership and Management Awards, run in association with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, will recognise and reward business and management. The deadline for entries is 20 February, with the ceremony to take place at the London Hilton Hotel on 9 June. Here some of the judges outline what they will be looking for
Cary Cooper reflects on the ups and downs, the friendships and rivalries, the knife-edge thrills and raw passion of years spent loving a tribal and beautiful game
A new breed of scholars is expanding the academy by turning music festivals, Lego and puppets into objects and tools of study. Hannah Fearn reports from 'out there'
Victorian values and the censoring presence of his prudish daughter blinded Charles Darwin to female promiscuity and delayed the study of sperm competition for 100 years, says Tim Birkhead
As the academy looks beyond the traditional roles played in assessment by essays and timed exams, new techniques are helping to turn students into active partners in their own learning. Rebecca Attwood reports
Academic computing has come a long way from the first lumbering leviathans. Now, says John Gilbey, we need to work on making everything accessible everywhere, every time
