About us

We were founded in 2019 and became a recognised research centre of the University of Edinburgh in 2025. For information about our Steering Committee and other membership see the Members page.

Who we are

The Edinburgh Centre for Buddhist Studies brings together researchers from across the University of Edinburgh and the north of the UK, for academic and outreach events relating to the broad field of Buddhist Studies.

There are two distinctive unifying features to the ECBS:

  1. a truly multi-disciplinary range of expertise and interests; and
  2. a focus on Buddhism in a range of contexts and encounters with other aspects of culture and society.

Both are reflected in the events and projects that we undertake.

These include academic symposia, lectures, workshops, and publication, as well as media and public engagement.

 

Relief Sculpture of Buddha

 

Our mission

  • Foster interdisciplinary scholarship across the broad field of Buddhist studies;
  • Nurture, and shape the trajectory of, the future of Buddhist studies as an international field;
  • Promote improved public understanding of Buddhism;
  • Enhance the reputation of the University of Edinburgh as a key international hub for research, teaching, and outreach relating to Buddhist Studies.

 

Our history

Edinburgh Buddhist Studies emerged out of an earlier Asian Religions Network, founded by Gregory Adam Scott and Naomi Appleton in 2014.

In 2019 we formed the Edinburgh Buddhist Studies network, under the co-directorship of Naomi Appleton and Halle O'Neal. 

In 2025 we were recognised as an official research centre of the University and became the Edinburgh Centre for Buddhist Studies. 

Throughout our journey we have been generously supported by the Khyentse Foundation

Khyentse Foundation Website

 

Our commitment to sustainability

We are committed to the sustainability of Buddhist Studies, both in terms of its future health as an area of scholarship, and in terms of minimising our impact on the planet. We always encourage visitors to use eco-friendly modes of transport, only serve vegetarian food at our events, and enable hybrid attendance wherever possible. In 2021 we contributed a patch to the banners that hung from New College, University of Edinburgh, to mark the meeting of COP26 in Scotland.

EBS banner for COP26
The patchwork square we contributed to the COP banner.

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