World-famous sociologist marks 80 years

Congratulations to Professor Bryan Turner from ACU’s Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences who celebrates his 80th birthday this month.

Born in Birmingham, England, in 1945, Professor Turner is one of the world’s leading experts in sociology, specifically the sociology of religion.

In 2022, Research.com ranked Professor Turner in the Top Ten of Australian social science and humanities experts, and in 2015 he received the Max Planck Research Award in Social Science (worth 750,000 euros). A graduate of the University of Leeds, Professor Turner has held distinguished teaching positions at numerous institutions, including the University of Cambridge, the University of Aberdeen, City University New York, and the National University of Singapore. Professor Turner is also the founding editor of two journals: Citizenship Studies and the Journal of Classical Sociology.

Professor Turner’s first book, Weber and Islam, published in 1974, thrust the then young sociologist into the spotlight when the famous scholar Ernest Gellner called it “a laudable book”.

After an extended period exploring the influence of religion in modern society, he turned his attention to medical sociology, publishing a revolutionary book (The Body and Society) that continues to be referenced today.

However, the tragedy of the September 11 attacks saw Professor Turner return to religion. He is now regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on the relationship between Islam and the West, particularly the globalisation of religion, religious conflict and the modern state, and human rights and religion.

“I think that sociology can contribute in a positive way by taking note of the fact that religion is a serious issue, and one that is worthy of deep thought and consideration,” Professor Turner told ACU’s Impact.

Over the course of his career, Professor Turner has written, co-authored, or edited more than 80 books in the field of sociology and religion.

He is hoping to release a new book on lies, which will touch on lying under oath, lie detector machines, lying under torture, the impact on whistleblowers, whether AI can lie, political lies, and the sociology of lies.

Congratulations, Professor Turner, on all your professional and personal achievements throughout your 80 remarkable years of life.