Panellists in conversation—photograph by G Blackmer, 2026
On 18 March 2026, the Faculty of Divinity hosted One Earth, Many Verses, an interfaith panel dialogue organised by Research Forum members Riya Kartha (Faculty of Education) and Geneva Blackmer (Faculty of Divinity).
Chaired by CIP’s Academic Director, Professor Esra Özyürek, the panel brought together Professor Jason Goulah (DePaul University), postgraduate researcher Luke Wilkinson (Divinity), and Dr Nasim Mavaddat (Public Health and Primary Care) to explore peacebuilding through the lens of the "poetic spirit" — a concept drawn from the work of Japanese philosopher and peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda.
The event successfully fostered enriching, engaged dialogue both among panellists and between the panel and attendees, with participants moving through the Q&A session into facilitated small-group discussions centred on questions of meaningful action and interfaith responsibility.
Volunteers from the Cambridge Peace and Education Research Group assisted the smooth running of the occasion. Refreshments and other support was provided by CIP, courtesy of a Research Forum small grant.
A new start
The evening also marked a significant milestone: the official launch of the Interfaith Student Society by the organisers, creating an enduring student community committed to interfaith inquiry and peacebuilding at the University of Cambridge.