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Aileen Fyfe

@aileenfyfe.bsky.social
2.6K followers 107 following 169 posts

Historian of academic publishing, science and academia, Uni of St Andrews. Muses on technology, peer review, gender, finances, communities. she/her orcid.org/0000-0002-6794…

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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Calling potential Leverhulme early-career fellows: the University of St Andrews still supports applications under this scheme, and the School of History would love to hear from you. Our internal deadline this year is 2 November. See www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/rese...
st-andrews.ac.uk
Independent postdoctoral fellowships - School of History - University of St Andrews
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
For humanities and social sciences journals more generally, see Ben Merriman's 2021 article on sociology doi.org/10.1007/s121... and (on the adoption of double-anonymised refereeing) Pontille and Torny's 2015 hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01143310
doi.org
Client Challenge
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
@irmsby.bsky.social I would like to know the answer to this, too! I did spend some time looking at the 'instructions to authors' for history journals, in the hope of finding some clues as to when refereeing (double-anonymised or not) became common in the humanities. But it wasn't easy.
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Elsewhere on the thread, someone's already recommended Philip Roth's 2026 article on pre-web preprints doi.org/10.1007/s110... There's also Matthew Cobb's 2017 piece on biology preprints in the 1960s doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org
Client Challenge
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Help! Parton Community Council has 60 days to raise £70k to buy Parton Kirk (resting place of James Clerk Maxwell). They plan to turn it into a visitor centre celebrating our great hero! The other buyers could turn it into long-term storage 😬 Even £5 would help 🙏🧪⚛️ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...
justgiving.com
Help raise £70000 to Save Parton Kirk – JustGiving Crowdfunding
Iʼm raising money to Save Parton Kirk. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
@standrewshist.bsky.social
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
In January 1883, three explosions rocked Glasgow. What caused them? Who caused them? Will the police find out? Such fun discussing history with modern forensic experts last night at the RSE! For more, listen to the podcast 'The dynamite detectives'. www.dundee.ac.uk/projects/ins...
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A cheery message from the new minister responsible for research funding for the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (and the subjects that the majority of UK taught undergraduate and Masters students study).
thetimes.com
Science and maths degrees offer most value to the nation, says minister
Chris McDonald told a room full of vice-chancellors that science, engineering and mathematics ‘offer the greatest personal, social and economic value’
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St Andrews School of History @standrewshist.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
‘Esperanto Wor(l)ds: Dundee, Scotland, and the Creation of an International Language’, an exhibition curated by Bernhard Struck and Claire Taylor, opened today at Dundee Central Library. Do go and have a look!
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St Andrews School of History @standrewshist.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Do you know who this student might be? We are trying to trace the identity of this part-Māori student, who attended the University of St Andrews in the 1860s. You can read more about this here: www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-ao-m... Courtesy of University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID ALB-1-65
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
In the article, we explain how we built the visualisation of historical student records - and what we discovered about colonial connections (to the Atlantic world, and especially to British India) when we did so: doi.org/10.1080/0046...
doi.org
Visualising Historical University Records to Explore the Colonial Connections of the Students and Alumni of the University of St Andrews, 1700–1897
This paper uses the historical student records of the University of St Andrews to demonstrate how an exploration of the student community can contribute to our understanding of the ways UK universi...
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
What happens when a historian meets a data visualisation expert? They create an interactive visualisation charting and exploring the colonial connections of over 900 students from the University of St Andrews, 1700-1897. news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/new-...
news.st-andrews.ac.uk
New research maps the breadth of St Andrews relationship with colonialism | University of St Andrews news
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Dr Heather Ellis @heatherlwellis.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
2. John Taylor: Early lobbying (1886–95) shaped principles behind state funding of English universities #histed doi.org/10.1080/0046...
doi.org
A Tale of Five Deputations: Establishing Principles for Funding English Higher Education
Questions about the funding of English higher education have been actively debated for over 150 years. However, the early years of these debates, certainly before the First World War, are relativel...
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Dr Heather Ellis @heatherlwellis.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Two great new articles on university history in History of Education 1. Tomas Vancisin & @aileenfyfe.bsky.social: St Andrews records reveal how universities were embedded in British imperial networks. doi.org/10.1080/0046...
doi.org
Visualising Historical University Records to Explore the Colonial Connections of the Students and Alumni of the University of St Andrews, 1700–1897
This paper uses the historical student records of the University of St Andrews to demonstrate how an exploration of the student community can contribute to our understanding of the ways UK universi...
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Much as the TRAC requests frustrate me, there is a part of me that finds it interesting to try to work out how much of my time is spent on various things. Refereeing and prep for society committees will be under-represented in my return, 'cos I tend to put only the deadline (or mtg) in my calendar.
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
I spent a fun morning at a local primary school as an exchange teacher from 1897: how have education, child labour and transport changed since Victorian times?! Does anyone here remember the earlier outings of this costume? @bshsnews.bsky.social @irmorus.bsky.social @standrewshist.bsky.social
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
I'll be speaking in a panel with @eve.gd and @alittleroad.bsky.social on #OA books at the London Open Science & Scholarship festival in April. The event is online and can be booked now, see blogs.ucl.ac.uk/open-access/...
blogs.ucl.ac.uk
London Open Science & Scholarship Festival 2026 – open for booking! | UCL Open@UCL Blog
UCL Homepage
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
I know what you mean, but I also think that articles + briefing papers + comment pieces gives me more opportunities to reach more audiences for my research. Not simply more people, but more sorts of people. Much more difficult to do that with a book.
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
@drcamillam.bsky.social
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Does thinking about research in book-sized chunks constrain the ways we do historical research? It's something I have been wondering about... @standrewshist.bsky.social See: online.ucpress.edu/hsns/article...
online.ucpress.edu
Book or Project?
In my corner of the academic world, it’s standard practice for colleagues to describe their research work in terms of books already written, books in progress, and plans for books that may or may not ...
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
It's my favourite of my book covers!
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St Andrews School of History @standrewshist.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Tune into Digging for Britain on BBC Two tomorrow at 8pm to find out more about our dig at Lindores Abbey! You can also catch it right now on BBC iPlayer: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Two - Digging for Britain, Series 13, England’s Last Anglo-Saxon King and Scotland's First Whisky
King Harold’s lost estate, a Bronze Age burial and whisky-making monks.
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SHNH @sochistnathist.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
🚨We have a SUPER exciting announcement!🚨 Our next Summer Meeting will be at @zslofficial.bsky.social on the theme of The Zoological Society of London at 200: Science, Society, and the Natural World 🥳 📅1-3 July 2026 🗺️Zoological Society of London Find out how to submit 👇🏻 shnh.org.uk/all-events/c...
Dark green background with white text overlaid reading "call for papers", surrounded by various natural history illustrations of animals wearing party hats.
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
If they use the same software we do, it might be "true", since charity-funders probably don't pay FEC (and even UKRI only pay 80% FEC). Fortunately, we're not (yet) prevented from applying - though we are getting nudges about ALSO applying for grants that generate more surplus
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Iwan Rhys Morus @irmorus.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
New and important: academic.oup.com/book/61786?l...
academic.oup.com
Science, Religion, and the Human Future: Conflict, Collusion, and Consequences
Abstract. Science, Religion, and the Human Future: Conflict, Collusion and Consequences demonstrates that the myth of an inevitable conflict between scienc
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Remind them that the funder (e.g. Leverhulme) doesn't allow you to do teaching as a condition of the fellowship?
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
I continued to do so (though ours are all co-supervised, so for those who weren't about to write-up, I could take a back seat. If you've got >1 about to submit, think carefully about who's going to support that...)
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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 10/12/2025
We are pleased to launch today a new programme for early career researchers with @ihr.bsky.social & @chalkefestival.bsky.social 'Pitch my Project' is an opportunity for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in 2026 bit.ly/44kfUMM Applications now invited.
bit.ly
Pitch my Project: an opportunity for early career historians to present their work at the Chalke History Festival 2026 - RHS
Have you ever wanted to share your research with a wide audience? Would you like to gain experience in public speaking, and be supported to develop imaginative ways to communicate your research to the...
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St Andrews School of History @standrewshist.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Good luck to all of our students who are taking exams over the next two weeks! Here is a Modern History exam from 1911, courtesy of our friends at the University Library. How do you think you would have got on? #revision #examseason #exams
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Rebekah Higgitt @rhiggitt.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Oh! Lots of goodies here, starting with Bill Jenkins on David Brewster #histSTM edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-david-b...
edinburghuniversitypress.com
David Brewster and the Culture of Science in Scotland, 1793–1843
David Brewster and the Culture of Science in Scotland, 1793–1843
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
For #StAndrewsDay we are sharing @martinspychal.bsky.social's recent post on Scottish county politics between 1832 and 1868, drawing on @histparl.bsky.social's research on Scotland’s constituencies: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/08/27/s...
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
Scottish county politics between the 1832 and 1868 Scottish Reform Acts
Last month Durham University, supported by the History of Parliament, hosted the Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945 conference. At the conference, Dr Martin Spychal, a …
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UCL Press @uclpress.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Congratulations to Katie Donington, Abdul Mohamud, Robin Whitburn, Nicholas Draper and their contributors! Their #OpenAccess book Teaching Slavery published today. Read and download free at: bit.ly/48vnDdJ #Education #Colonialism #Slavery #Racism
bit.ly
Teaching Slavery
Teaching Slavery offers ground-breaking research and practical guidance for teaching Britain’s role in transatlantic slavery. Combining historical analysis with classroom strategies, it equips educato...
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Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Looking forward to Helen Wilson speaking on Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850, to a joint session of @long18thsem.bsky.social and the Parliaments, Politics and People seminar @ihrlibrary.bsky.social All welcome, but please register at www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
history.ac.uk
Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850
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Daryl Green @ilikeoldbooks.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
the call is now open for our next round of @iashedinburgh.bsky.social Heritage Collections Research Fellows! - find out more here: www.iash.ed.ac.uk/heritage-col...
iash.ed.ac.uk
Heritage Collections Research Fellowships | IASH
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LSE Impact @lseimpactblog.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
👀ICYMI: "if the drain has a particular history and geography, it means that it is not inevitable. It can be resisted." #AcademicSky #HigherEd #ScholComm
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Money, Time, Trust, Control – How commercial publishers drain science - Impact of Social Sciences
Have the interests of commercial publishers now become antithetical to the pursuit of knowledge?
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BSHS @bshsnews.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Nominations are open for the BSHS Pickstone Prize 2026, recognising the best scholarly English-language book in the history of science. 📆 Deadline: 31 Jan 2026. Anyone may nominate (self-nominations welcome). Submit via our online form on the BSHS website www.bshs.org.uk/the-bshs-pic...
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Lucie Matthews-Jones @luciejones83.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
It’s lovely to see our BAVS CFP out. If you research/teach any aspect of the Victorian period (broadly defined) do consider joining us! You can submit a paper, roundtable, creative workshops/ pedagogical paper. We really are open to a wide range of talks! victorianist.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/c...
victorianist.wordpress.com
CFP: BAVS 2026 Conference Liverpool
BAVS Liverpool 202627 – 29 July 2026 Keynote Speakers: Dr Alison Chapman (University of Victoria, BC), others to be confirmed. The Centre for Modern and Contemporary History (CMCH) at Liverpool Joh…
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
With this years Ashes beginning in the early hours of this morning, we thought we'd point you in the direction of @TheVictCommons where they explore the link between cricket and the Victorian House of Commons historyofparliament.com/2025/11/20/c...
historyofparliament.com
Cricket in the Commons: a Victorian First Eleven - The History of Parliament
With the 2025 Ashes between England and Australia getting underway this week, we have a cricketing themed post from our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project.
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Rebekah Higgitt @rhiggitt.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Fabulous PhD opportunity at Queen's University Belfast and Armagh Observatory: Observing the Heavens from the 'Periphery': Astronomy in Ireland 1640-1830 www.qub.ac.uk/courses/post... Deadline 13 Jan #histSTM #histastro
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
@standrewshist.bsky.social
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LSE Impact @lseimpactblog.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
💥New: Money, Time, Trust, Control – How commercial publishers drain science ✍️ @danbrockington.bsky.social @aileenfyfe.bsky.social @stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca #AcademicSky #ScholComm #AcademicPublishing
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Money, Time, Trust, Control – How commercial publishers drain science - Impact of Social Sciences
Have the interests of commercial publishers now become antithetical to the pursuit of knowledge?
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St Andrews School of History @standrewshist.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
A new installation on ‘Medical alumni in history’ has been unveiled at the School of Medicine. It was designed and installed by our recent PhD graduate – and historian of medicine – @manoncwilliams.bsky.social, and features notable alumni from 19th and 20th century St Andrews. (1/3)
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
It's brilliant to have helped put some history on the walls in Medicine, with these panels showcasing a selection of 19thC and 20thC alumni - including the first women, and the first students of Indian and African heritage. Congratulations to @manoncwilliams.bsky.social @standrewshist.bsky.social
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
With thanks to the wonderful team @hansonmark.bsky.social @lariviev.bsky.social @paolocrosetto.bsky.social @gemmaderrick.bsky.social @stefhaustein.scholcommlab.ca @pagomba.bsky.social @stephenpinfield.bsky.social @jameswilsdon.bsky.social and @danbrockington.bsky.social [7/7]
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
For more on the drain, see our preprint at arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820 and this infographic: zenodo.org/records/1759...
doi.org
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
They show us all that there are other ways of doing things (in academia, and in publishing). Especially when researchers, academic institutions and funders work together. [5/n]
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Research institutions and research publishing practices have developed differently in other geographical/linguistic regions. In some places, alternative publishing models have survived or (with new tech) been created. Think: SciELO, Redalyc, and Érudit. [4/n]
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
For me, as a historian, I was struck by the extent to which the dominant discourse around 'academic publishing and its problems' is really about 'academic publishing in the global north and/or the anglo-sphere' - and is a consequence of the specific history of those regions.
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
This is not simply about the dominance of a few large for-profit publishers, but about the entire system of hyper-competitive, publication-metric-obsessed academia that has emerged in the last 50 years or so. [2/n]
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Aileen Fyfe @aileenfyfe.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Think about the way that the current scientific publishing system is draining resources out of the research ecosystem... That drain is most obvious in terms of money (and this is so despite #openaccess), but there's also an erosion of time, trust and control [1/n]
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