Latest news with #JohnTempleton
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Research and Teaching Initiative to Map the Religious and Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future
Made possible by a $3.9 million grant from the Templeton Religion Trust, this three-year, multi-faceted initiative aims to map the religious and spiritual infrastructure of the future. BRYN MAWR, Pa., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A $3.9 million grant from the Templeton Religion Trust to Bryn Mawr College will support a three-year, multi-faceted initiative to map the religious and spiritual infrastructure of the future. The project focuses on three interlocking arms in research, public engagement, and professional pipeline development. New research will focus on religious change related to congregational closures, spiritual innovation, and changes in religious leadership in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and a fourth city to be named soon. "Sir John Templeton was intensely interested in the dynamics of religious innovation and change," said Templeton Foundation Chief Grants Officer W. Christopher Stewart, Ph.D. "This project is the first major attempt to map these emerging spiritual infrastructures, expanding the possibilities for discovery, growth, and human flourishing." Alongside several research projects, the project team will facilitate media and public education on the topic. In partnership with the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the project will also provide fellowships for Ph.D. students in relevant fields across the country, building institutional partnerships that create a pipeline of new leaders knowledgeable about the rapidly changing American religious landscape. Designed by Wendy Cadge, President and Professor of Sociology at Bryn Mawr College, the project will be led by Cadge in collaboration with Jonathan Anjaria, Professor of Anthropology at Brandeis University, Kraig Beyerlein, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society, University of Notre Dame; Penny Edgell, Professor of Sociology, University of Minnesota; Amy Lawton, Researcher of Religion and Society, Bryn Mawr College; Diane Winston, Professor of Journalism and Communication and Knight Chair in Media and Religion, University of Southern California; and Robert Wuthnow, Professor of Sociology Emeritus and former director of the Princeton University Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. Edgell will also edit a new volume to serve as a complement to Wuthnow's The Restructuring of American Religion: Society and Faith Since World War II (1989, Princeton University Press). "I'm thrilled to partner with so many amazing colleagues and institutions to bring this project to life," said Cadge. "So much is changing in American religious and spiritual life so quickly that it is essential for scholars and the broader American public to keep up and to continue to educate the next generation to understand these important transitions." In partnership with the Religion News Service (RNS) the project will also raise public awareness about innovation and the "spiritual infrastructure" emerging in communities today, countering media focuses on religious decline and disaffiliation. "American news media tells two stories about religion: it's in decline and it's all about politics," said Diane Winston. "But our research will tell a different story: Americans are experiencing new ways to serve, celebrate, and come together--and religion is far from dead." "American news media tells two stories about religion: it's in decline and it's all about politics," said Diane Winston. "But our research will tell a different story: Americans are experiencing new ways to serve, celebrate, and come together--and religion is far from dead." The project will also focus on building a strong pipeline of leaders prepared to continue work in the changing religious and spiritual infrastructures inside and outside of the academy. In November 2025, ACLS will launch the first of two national fellowship competitions for Ph.D. students working in related fields across the country. Jonathan Anjaria, Professor of Anthropology and Faculty Director of Professional Development at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at Brandeis University, will work closely with ACLS in developing this fellowship. Up to 20 fellowships will be awarded in 2026 and 2027 based on a highly competitive, peer-reviewed process. Fellows will be placed with a partner organization and be part of a year-long cohort that includes in-person and virtual workshops and educational events featuring some of the researchers and journalists involved in the other arms of this project. These fellows will gain practical experience in how their research skills can be applied outside of academia. "While PhD students' scholarly activities have the potential to make an impact in the world, most doctoral programs do not offer students the opportunity for internships," said Anjaria. "This unique program will enable students to use their research and communication skills to address practical problems, while showing potential future careers related to the study of religion." "ACLS is excited to partner with the Templeton Religion Trust and ACLS members Brandeis University and Bryn Mawr College on this important project," said ACLS Senior Program Officer Desiree Barron-Callaci. "This work is a wonderful example of how doctoral studies can support important research about growth and change in communities, facilitate positive, socially impactful work based on this learning, and make this valuable research visible to the field as well as to our communities." For more information about Identifying and Advancing the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future visit About Templeton Religion Trust Templeton Religion Trust (TRT) is a global charitable trust chartered by Sir John Templeton in 1984 with headquarters in Nassau, The Bahamas. TRT has been active since 2012 and supports projects as well as storytelling related to projects seeking to enrich the conversation about religion. TRT is always seeking more spiritual information, more "benefits of religion," and more spiritual growth. About Bryn Mawr College Since its founding in 1885, Bryn Mawr College has been the preeminent college for women interested in the pursuit of wisdom necessary to challenge the world's expectations. The Bryn Mawr College community has repeatedly broken barriers to achieve greater equity through exceptional academics and a deep dedication to learning. Its more than 35 undergraduate majors span the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and arts. Two co-educational graduate schools offer selective master's and Ph.D. programs across the Arts, Sciences, and Social Work, and the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is one of the most successful in the nation for placing students into medical school. Bryn Mawr is dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, which serve as the engine for excellence and innovation, helping pave the way for gender equity and inspiring brilliant minds who find life-long community as part of the college. About the American Council of Learned Societies Formed a century ago, the [American Council of L earned Societies (ACLS) __title__ American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)] is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting its commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship. About Brandeis University Brandeis University is a top-tier private research university with a focus on undergraduate education. The university was founded in 1948 by the American Jewish community as a nonsectarian institution at a time when exclusionary practices prevented equal access to some of the nation's best universities. Named for Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, the university embraces the values of academic excellence, critical thinking, openness to all and a commitment to making the world a better place. Located just west of Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis is a member of the Association of American Universities, which represents the leading research universities in the United States and Canada. Brandeis' distinguished faculty are dedicated to the education and support of about 3,600 undergraduates and more than 2,000 graduate students. Media Contact Heather Mangrum, American Council of Learned Societies, 2126971505, hmangrum@ Matt Gray, Bryn Mawr College, 610.526.6528, mgray@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE American Council of Learned Societies Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
National Business Review
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- National Business Review
Engines that move markets
When I started this four-part series on the car industry, I assumed that my main resource would be Engines That Move Markets by Dr Sandy Nairn, former associate and fund manager of noted value investor Sir John Templeton. Although value investing has gone out of fashion, the history of the Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your best value subscription option Student Exclusive FREE offer for uni students studying at a New Zealand university (valued at $499). View terms and conditions. Individual Group membership NBR Marketplace Smartphone Only Subscription NZ$29.95 / monthly Monthly Premium Online Subscription NZ$49.95 / monthly Smartphone Only Annual Subscription NZ$299.00 / yearly Yearly Premium Online Subscription NZ$499.00 / yearly Premium Group Membership 10 Users NZ$385 +GST / monthly $38.5 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit Premium Group Membership 20 Users NZ$660 +GST / monthly $33 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit Premium Group Membership 50 Users NZ$1375 +GST / monthly $27.5 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit Premium Group Membership 100 Users NZ$2100 +GST / monthly $21 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit Yearly Premium Online Subscription + NBR Marketplace NZ$999.00 / yearly Already have an account? Login
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This fixation with mental health is making us miserable
According to a new study, Britain is worse for 'human flourishing' than Indonesia; ranked 20th, in fact, out of 22 countries surveyed on six continents, in this curious metric. Our young people in particular, we learn, suffer from a paucity of meaning in life and fulfilling relationships. As for the latter, no wonder: have you met a 20-something lately, and specifically a 20-something man advertising his wares on Tinder? On the surface, the results of the study do seem concerning, suggesting that Britain, in reality the end of the rainbow for all sorts of people the world over, is actually where happiness comes to die, where lives are lived in the hell of workaholism and packed commutes (or unemployment), broken infrastructure, fractured families, selfishness and dim prospects caused by wage suppression and cruelly high property prices. But is this really the right way to look at things? Sure, Britain does resemble a hellscape in parts, with the most depressing possible architectural styles that a welfare state could dream up; high street crime, feral youths running around in tracksuits wielding machetes, baby formula locked to supermarket shelves… But the reality is that all crap-ness is not created equal. Britain has its problems. It can be desperately shoddy and many people live lives that insult the notion of an advanced liberal democracy. But the implication that we should envy or even emulate Indonesia is ludicrous – it's an Islamic country with limited or no prospects and education for the vast majority. Friends were there recently on holiday and spoke to lots of local children, none of whom had even heard of Donald Trump (though they had heard of Manchester United). The study was partially bankrolled by the John Templeton Foundation, which was founded by the investor John Templeton, who was keen on funding greater spiritual and religious knowledge. No wonder there is an implicit ticking off for countries, like Britain, who are not pervasively religious anymore. It's an obvious point to make – that secular countries come with some drawbacks – but the gains are infinite in comparison. In secular Britain, we have freedom to carve out our own fate, to approach knowledge and religion freely, without fear of cruelty or of artificial strictures. If British humans don't always flourish – and this is not a guarantee that any state can or should make to all – then we all, at least technically, have the option to bring flourishing about for ourselves. There is help for those stuck in abusive families; good education guaranteed for all, available right to the top; schemes; indeed any number of mechanisms for enabling people to get to where they want to be. And if it's religion we want or need, or meaning, well, there's nothing stopping us. There is one area where I take the implications of this study seriously: and that is our obsession with mental health and feelings. Eradicating shame about mental problems, from learning difficulties to illness, is a huge step forward. Not being punished for having feelings is also good. But we have taken it to satirical extremes, inspired by the therapeutic excesses of the US. If we spent less time working on why we feel triggered or debilitated by anxiety, and allowing all and sundry to use 'neurodiversity' as a get-out clause, we might find we had more energy and interest in the wealth of wonders our much-maligned society provides – and feel more like flourishing as a result. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Could 2025 Represent a Near-Term Peak in AI Capex?
As John Templeton once said, believing that 'this time is different' can be one of the costliest ideas in investing. So why should we think the AI boom is any different? Futuriom research shows that five of the top hyperscalers (Alibaba, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft) are set to spend about $350 billion on capital spending to build out AI capabilities in 2025. This is, of course, an exciting development. But our research shows that this capex spending is well above a long-term mean as a percentage of revenue, a trend that could pull back very soon. Technology investment surges are exhilarating and fun. Just as the period of 1996-2000 gave us fun new things like web browsers, and over-enthusiastic investors got over their skis and the capital boom eventually slowed. Why should this time be different? I believe the AI investment boom is real and here to stay for at least the next decade, but just as the initial Internet boom was met with a roller coaster of pullbacks and surges, this first stage of AI capital spending may be at a dangerous point and due for a pullback. The Internet industry reset from 2000-2002, but then later gave birth to next-generation plays like Google and Facebook in its next surge (the Google IPO wasn't until 2004!). I think we are ready for the AI reset, as hyperscalers and technology investors reassess how much they are spending on AI infrastructure. The global trade crisis may be a catalyst. Enterprises are also in an early stage of evaluating their investments in AI and need time to digest the results. The chaotic and unpredictable macro environment, with see-sawing policies on tariffs and global trade, won't help the situation. In the year 2000, I was working at Light Reading, a dot-com news and analysis firm that follows the telecom industry. In other words, we were in a bubble following a bubble. At Light Reading, one of the first integrated digital B2B news and research firms, we launched a research service in 2000 to evaluate what the telecom boom would mean for our readers, clients, and us. What we found was interesting. By analyzing capital spending trends in the industry—specifically capex as percentage of revenue—we found that the capex investment far exceeded prior cycles and was due for a pullback. We announced these research much to the chagrin of the industry, which attacked us. But we were right. And our readers were thankful for that. And as Mark Twain said, history rhymes. My research firm Futuriom's analysis service, Cloud Tracker Pro, recently conducted a similar analysis of hyperscaler capex trends, using the capex/revenue ratio as an anchor, and found similar results to telecom in 2000: Capex ratios are well above historical means and likely to revert. The major hyperscalers we studied have boosted capital spending 50% from just two years ago and are set to target an astounding $350 billion to build AI and cloud datacenters and facilities in 2025. Historically, the top five hyperscalers spent an average of 12.5% of their revenue on capital spending in the years prior to 2025 (2021-2024). This represents the period of time spanning the COVID buildout (2021), as well as a capex slowdown in 2023. With hyperscaler capex approaching 22% on average—well above the historical mean of 12.5%—it's unlikely to stay that high. And if it pulls back toward the historical mean, it could drop by 20% or more. Futuriom shows that hyperscaler capex of 22% is well above the long-term mean of 12.5% What's concerning is that the surging ratio of capex-to-revenue is accompanied by slowing cloud revenue growth and a growing global trade war. The capex might be sustainable, for example, if revenue growth accelerated. But it's not accelerating. The rate of growth has slowed. The parallels with the telecom industry aren't exact. The telecom industry was in a worse place in 2000 than the hyperscalers are now. The telecom boom was financed primarily with debt, while most of the hyperscalers finance their capex with profits. And many telecom companies were marginally profitable before they loaded up their balance sheets with debt. The largest hyperscalers are cash-printing machines. But still, we believe the capex trend is not sustainable over the next couple of years, as additional factors weigh on budgets going forward: 1) Cloud revenue growth is slowing 2) Earnings are likely to be hit by accelerated depreciation of AI chips and 3) Tariffs, tariffs! Tariffs and the global trade war may just be a catalyst to more cautious thinking. As demonstrated by NVIDIA's recent announcement of potential export fees and the trade war's impact on costs, there are many risks growing in the global supply chain. The sentiment is shifting. This sentiment shift and uncertainty about global trade, along with capex spending ratios that are well above the historical norms, means that investors should be cautious and expect a capex pullback. So buckle up for some more to-and-fro in the cloud industry! As I said, I remain unduly optimistic about advances in AI in the long term, but it's still early. And this early surge in spending and investment may soon be tempered by a global slowdown. Like most industry research and analyst firms, Futuriom provides paid research and marketing services to technology companies. These services include subscription research, custom research, and report sponsorships. Of the companies mentioned in this article, Futuriom has had a paid relationship with NVIDIA in the past 12 months. Individuals from some of the companies mentioned may subscribe to our premium research service, Cloud Tracker Pro.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
25 years on from the dot.com stock market crash, is history repeating itself?
In March 2000, at the peak of the biggest stock market bubble in history, the Nasdaq Composite Index topped out at 5,000 points. By the end of 2002, the tech-heavy index had crashed 78%. In today's euphoric, momentum-driven market, could the same fate be unleashed on investors? John Templeton once famously said that 'bull-markets are born on pessimism, grow on scepticism, mature on optimism and die on euphoria'. By the late 1990s, people were giving up their jobs in droves to become day traders. Making money was as easy as taking candy from a baby. Back then companies were going public on little more than a PowerPoint presentation and slapping '.com' at the end of the company name. But it wasn't just non-profitable companies that reached crazy valuations; well established names did too. Back then Cisco Systems was valued at 37 times sales and had the biggest market cap. In the rush for routers and internet hardware, it was the clear leader. The parallels with Nvidia today are unnerving. Out of the ashes of the crash, established names did survive and ultimately thrive. Amazon, which had crashed 97%, came back – but it would take a decade to do so. But the stars of the internet revolution were new name, on the whole, with revolutionary business models. Meta and Alphabet pushed the internet's evolutionary path in a completely different direction. The old darlings of Cisco and Vodafone were cast aside. To this day, neither share price has recovered. Today, investors are betting on AI, or should I say one form of AI, large language models. The path for Nvidia, Microsoft, and the rest of the Magnificent 7 stocks is laid out right in front of them. A long tail representing trillions of dollars is there for the taking. Enter DeepSeek and maybe the future AI path is not so obvious after all. Any business school will teach you that first mover advantage provides a company with a clear competitive edge. I believe it does. But timing is important too. History is littered with examples of companies that were at the forefront of pioneering a new technology and yet did not go on to become the eventual winner. Xerox, through the invention of the photocopier, created the 'office of the future' but surrendered leadership to Canon. General Magic released an early version of a smart phone in 1994. It went bankrupt in 2002. Xerox failed because it believed bigger photocopiers was what customers wanted. General Magic failed because dial-up modems couldn't handle large amounts of data. As I said, the internet did turn out to be revolutionary. But most of the early leaders were nowhere to be seen once the race had run. I have absolutely no doubt that the promise of AI will be just as revolutionary as the internet was 25 years ago. But whether that means that Nvidia or any of the other tech giants will be at the centre of it, to me it's simply too early to say. If investors' bets turn out to be wrong, this bubble will undoubtedly burst. The post 25 years on from the stock market crash, is history repeating itself? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Andrew Mackie has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
