
Overview
Background
Research Interests
Associate Professor Aechtner's research analyses religion and science scepticism and science-religion discourse, with a focus on vaccine hesitancy, antievolutionism, scientism, mass persuasion, and public perceptions of science. He also has secondary research interests associated with religion in the African diaspora, Pentecostalism, and Global Christianity.
Current Research Project
Tom has been a Westpac Research Fellow and a UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award recipient on the project “Improving Vaccination Rates in Australia: Analysing Media, Religion and Policy.” This has involved researching Australian-specific sources of vaccine hesitancy, including media persuasion and religious concerns, while considering how to positively deliver vaccination information.
Availability
- Associate Professor Tom Aechtner is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Alberta
- Masters (Research), University of Calgary
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford
Research interests
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Religion and Science
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Science scepticism
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Antievolution
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Creationism and Intelligent Design
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Vaccine Hesitancy
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Antivaccination
Research impacts
Associate Professor Aechtner created AVAXX101, the first massive open online course dedicated to responding to antivaccination claims and vaccine hesitancy. He has also served as a technical advisor to Queensland Health’s Strategic Communications Branch, and he designed UQ’s VaccinationChoice website. Tom’s book, Media and Science-Religion Conflict: Mass Persuasion in the Evolution Wars (2020), won the International Society for Science & Religion’s 2021 prize for best academic book. His most recent book is Antivaccination and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Professional Guide to Foster Trust and Tackle Misinformation. He holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, an MA from the University of Calgary, and a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Alberta.
Works
Search Professor Tom Aechtner’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Journal Article
Challenging the Darwin skeptics: examining proevolutionist media persuasion
Aechtner, Thomas (2016). Challenging the Darwin skeptics: examining proevolutionist media persuasion. Journal of Media and Religion, 15 (2), 78-99. doi: 10.1080/15348423.2016.1177346
2015
Journal Article
Galileo still goes to jail: conflict model persistence within introductory anthropology materials
Aechtner, Thomas (2015). Galileo still goes to jail: conflict model persistence within introductory anthropology materials. Zygon, 50 (1), 209-226. doi: 10.1111/zygo.12149
2015
Book
Health, wealth, and power in an African diaspora church in Canada
Aechtner, Tom (2015). Health, wealth, and power in an African diaspora church in Canada. New York, NY, United States: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1057/9781137485496
2014
Book Chapter
Christianity and Science: A Messy Relationship Worth Studying
Aechtner, Tom (2014). Christianity and Science: A Messy Relationship Worth Studying. Christianity for the Curious: Why Study Christianity?. (pp. xx-xx) edited by Vaidya, Kishor. online: Curious Academic Publishing.
2014
Journal Article
Darwin-skeptic mass media: examining persuasion in the evolution wars
Aechtner, Thomas (2014). Darwin-skeptic mass media: examining persuasion in the evolution wars. Journal of Media and Religion, 13 (4), 187-207. doi: 10.1080/15348423.2014.971559
2012
Book Chapter
Standing at the crux: pentecostalism and identity formation in an African diaspora Christian community
Aechtner, Thomas H. (2012). Standing at the crux: pentecostalism and identity formation in an African diaspora Christian community. Global Pentecostal movements: migration, mission, and public religion. (pp. 171-194) edited by Michael Wilkinson. Boston, United States: Brill.
2011
Journal Article
Review of 'Science and the spirit: a Pentecostal engagement with the sciences' edited by James K. A. Smith and Amos Young
Aechtner, Thomas H (2011). Review of 'Science and the spirit: a Pentecostal engagement with the sciences' edited by James K. A. Smith and Amos Young. Canadian Journal of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, 2 (1), 166-170..
2010
Journal Article
Online in the evolution wars: an analysis of young earth creationist cyber-propaganda
Aechtner, Thomas H. (2010). Online in the evolution wars: an analysis of young earth creationist cyber-propaganda. Australian Religion Studies Review, 23 (3), 277-300. doi: 10.1558/arsr.v23i3.277
2010
Journal Article
Review - God: the failed hypothesis: how science shows that God does not exist, by Victor J. Stenger
Aechtner, Thomas H (2010). Review - God: the failed hypothesis: how science shows that God does not exist, by Victor J. Stenger. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, 4 (3), 231-232. doi: 10.1558/jsrnc.v4i3.231
2009
Journal Article
Review of 'Saving Creation: Nature and Faith in the Life of Holmes Rolston III', by Christopher J. Preston
Aechtner, Thomas H (2009). Review of 'Saving Creation: Nature and Faith in the Life of Holmes Rolston III', by Christopher J. Preston. Theological Book Review, 21 (2), 62-63.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Tom Aechtner is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
An Investigation into the socio-cultural and/or religious influences on Young Earth Creationism in Queensland in the 1970s and early 1980s
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison, Dr Ryan Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
Technologies of Presence: Practices of Mediation among Pentecostals in Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gerhard Hoffstaedter, Dr Ryan Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
Islam and Queensland: assessing generational patterns
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ryan Williams
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Doctor Philosophy
An investigation of the barriers and opportunities experienced by Initial Teacher Education students in developing competency in culturally and contextually responsive teaching pedagogies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Danielle Armour, Associate Professor Jodie Miller
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Darkness & Light: A Myth Analysis of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada's Early Discourse on Science
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam Bowles
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
A Mimetic Reading of Capital Punishment in the Pentateuch
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring miracles in young-earth creationism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison
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2018
Master Philosophy
Finding Peace in the Evolution Wars: An Examination of Australian Baptist Lecturers' Views on Evolution, Creation, and Creationism
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Origins of the "Conflict Thesis": Draper, White, and the Protestant Tradition
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Peter Harrison, Associate Professor Ian Hesketh
Media
Enquiries
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