Dr Simon Theobald
Dr Simon Theobald
ASSOCIATE
Dr Simon Theobald is an anthropologist specialising in the intersection between religion and politics. His fieldwork and thesis examined the persistence of post-Revolutionary utopianism in contemporary Iran. After completing his PhD at the Australian National University, he spent two years in Germany as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the Goethe University of Frankfurt and the University of Hamburg.
Simon’s research expertise lies in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Given his area specialisation, he is particularly able to comment on research about the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, but has extensive interests in East Asia as well.
In addition to his research expertise, Simon has extensive experience in translating academic research for non-academic audiences. He was a founding member of the social media outreach project The Familiar Strange, which has become one of the most successful anthropology blog and podcast formats for a popular audience in the world, and has been used as a teaching and research aid across the globe. He is also a skilled editor, and has worked with academic colleagues to improve the clarity of their prose.