iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Proud academic dad moment! My daughter Lily has published a paper in the Columbia Journal of History, ‘Naturalising the Empire: Landscape, Taxonomy and the Plantocratic Picturesque in the Eighteenth-Century British West Indies’ static1.squarespace.com/static/6192f...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

If you are watching the Hackney Half tomorrow, please give me a cheer! Here’s my race number (you can track me on the app) and fundraiser: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Would you like to become a trustee of the Geographical Association? We're seeking nominations for 2 trustees to be elected by the membership. Keen to see nominations from wide range of backgrounds e.g. early career teachers, primary colleagues. Closing date is 4 May. geography.org.uk/ga-elected-t...

geography.org.uk

GA Elected Trustee nominations - Geographical Association

The Geographical Association (GA) is looking for two new Elected Trustees to join its Board of Trustees from September 2026.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

On 17 May I am running the 2026 Hackney Half in aid of Hackney Night Shelter (@hackneyns.bsky.social) where I volunteer. It which provides temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness and support to find more secure places to live. Can you support? justgiving.com/fundraising/...

justgiving.com

Alastair Owens is fundraising for Hackney Night Shelter

Help Alastair Owens raise money to support Hackney Night Shelter

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QMCBS @qmcbs.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Today is the publication date for Matthew Hilton's Charity After Empire: www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2...

qmul.ac.uk

How charity helped shape Britain after empire

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Very interesting and probably a sign of more to come elsewhere in the country... www.gre.ac.uk/articles/uni...

gre.ac.uk

Two universities announce ‘trailblazing’ collaboration | Articles | University of Greenwich

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

A real privilege to have been shortlisted for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year in the @timeshighered.bsky.social #THEAwards (as has my legendary biology colleague @larschittka.bsky.social). And wonderful to see @qmul.bsky.social shortlisted for University of the Year.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Record number of students took GCSE Geography this year over 302,000 (up from 180,000 15 years ago). Congratulations to Geography teachers and students celebrating!

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

This has been a great project to be a part of -- come explore the Bengali history of east London! www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2...

qmul.ac.uk

Queen Mary partners on Bengali heritage walk marking 25 years of the Swadhinata Trust

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Enjoyed World Economic History Congress in Lund, Sweden, though at certain moments couldn’t help reflecting that economic history seems to have lost its way. I heard some great papers and a brilliant final session I went ‘Decolonising affluent societies’ (sadly sparsely attended) gave some hope!

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Queen Mary Centre for Civic and Public Engagement @engageqm.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

We're taking part in Open House Festival 2025! 🏠 On Sunday 14th September we'll be running two social history tours of our Mile End campus, led by @alastairhackney.bsky.social and Nadia Valman. Booking will open on 20th August ⚡ programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/1432

programme.openhouse.org.uk

Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Campus

Explore the hidden corners of Queen Mary University's Mile End campus. Guided tour includes the former People’s Palace (1887), Mile End Hospital (1858), and the Sephardic Jewish cemetery (1733), the U...

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

British Academy postdoctoral fellowships scheme is now open. The deadline is 1 October. Time to get talking with potential host institutions and mentors about planning an application for this year or instead waiting for a future round. (The scheme is annual).

thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Postdoctoral Fellowships

The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships is a three year award made to an annual cohort of outstanding early career researchers in the humanities or social sciences.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Raunchy Handel’s Semele at Royal Opera House last night. Pretty Yende a fabulous diva Semele, Ben Bliss a virile Jupiter, and Alice Coote a persuasive Juno. Other roles just as good and nice taught choruses. Only cried twice. Go see - POWER30 gets 30% off

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

On the 17 June 1995 I moved to Hackney, probably the best thing I've ever done. Here's to the next 30 years!

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Catherine Owen @geogmum.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Great to be at UWE for the South West Geography Conference organised by wonderful Geography South West - how many free conferences are there nowadays? What an opportunity! Jon from The GA is kicking things off with a look at green skills. @stevebracegeog.bsky.social @alastairhackney.bsky.social

Simon introducing Jon’s talk on green skills.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Schubertiade! Come hear world-class musicians in Mile End at our 5th Ragged School Music Festival, 20-22 June 2025 Alina IBRAGIMOVA, violin Marie-Elisabeth HECKER, cello Elisabeth LEONSKAJA, piano Pavel KOLESNIKOV, piano Samson TSOY, piano Tickets: raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk/fifth-ragged...

raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk

Fifth Ragged School Music Festival: Schubertiade - Ragged School Museum

20–22 June 2025 This June, the Ragged Music Festival returns with a very different kind of edition.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Last call! New perspectives on nineteenth-century childhoods at the Ragged School Museum, London E3, 1pm-8pm, Wednesday 4 June. Free but please register by 4pm on Friday 30 May (so we can plan catering): buytickets.at/qmul19c/1704...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Queen Mary College’s (@qmul.ac.uk) new Crittall windows — a feature of its Engineering Building Stage 2 development (designed by Playne and Lacey Architects) advertised in East London Papers, July 1965

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The London Journal @thelondonjournal.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

REMINDER: We offer bursaries of up to £500 per head to support UK-based postgraduate and early career researchers to arrange panels on London-related topics for academic conferences. See here for further details on how to apply (please repost to help spread the word!)

thelondonjournal.org

Conference Panel Bursary | The London Journal

The London Journal is eager to support early career scholars present their work on London at conferences and publish articles based on this work. To that end, the Journal is pleased to annouce a conference panel bursary.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Hackney Half done (and a bit quicker this year at 1:48). Thank you to everyone who cheered me on and supported my fundraiser

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Race day! #HackneyHalf www.justgiving.com/page/alastai...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Join us for 'New perspectives on nineteenth-century childhoods', 1pm-8pm on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at the Ragged School Museum, London E3. Panel discussions followed by keynote lecture by Prof Josephine McDonagh (Chicago). Free, but booking essential: www.tickettailor.com/events/qmul1...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Fascinating @suttontrust.bsky.social report on geography of social mobility in England. Using constituencies, highest ranked areas are in London (East Ham, top). Demonstrates critical importance of education at all levels and wider measures to tackle child poverty www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

suttontrust.com

The Opportunity Index - The Sutton Trust

An unprecedented insight into the geography of opportunity and social mobility in England.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Our @geographicalassoc.bsky.social statement on the crisis impacting UK Higher Education Geography. We urge universities to maintain their current capacity for geography and to capitalise on its growth in schools and relevance to the workplace and wider economy. geography.org.uk/ga-higher-ed...

geography.org.uk

GA Higher Education geography statement - Geographical Association

As the subject association for geography the Geographical Association is concerned about the funding position of many UK universities...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

geography.org.uk

GA Higher Education geography statement - Geographical Association

As the subject association for geography the Geographical Association is concerned about the funding position of many UK universities...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Work Awayday at QE Olympic Park — feels like I am on A Level Geography field trip

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

When you live on the flight path for Buck Palace

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Five years on from the start of the pandemic, I am interviewing Eithne Nightingale and neighbours as part of the Hackney History Festival about her documentary photography project Life under Lockdown. Join us at Sutton House, E9 6JQ, 11-11.50am Sunday 11 May, £3 www.tickettailor.com/events/hackn...

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

⬇️⬇️🏃‍♂️🏃🏼🏃‍♂️🏃🏼⬇️⬇️

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Deadline is just under 3 weeks! Do share!

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Compelling paper from David Cowan (Manchester) — illustrated through example of mid-1970s efforts to introduce UK wealth tax — on need for cultural history of the very rich and value of ‘moral economy’ framework #QMCBS

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Calling @qmul.ac.uk nineteenth century colleagues and our friends!

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Fully funded Queen Mary University of London with the Museum of the Home (Soundscapes of Domesticity: Music and Lived Experience in Non-Elite English Homes, 1780-1870). Deadline 17:00pm BST, Friday 23 May 2025. Great topic, great team. Go for it!

qmul.ac.uk

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Studentship with Museum of the Home - School of GeographyFacebookTwitter XInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTikTok

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

I am running the 2025 Hackney Half Marathon on 18 May in aid of Hackney Night Shelter - a local charity I volunteer for which supports people out of homelessness. Check out my @justgiving.bsky.social page and please donate if you can. Thank you! justgiving.com/page/alastai...

justgiving.com

Running the Hackney Half 2025 for Hackney Night Shelter

Help Alastair Owens raise money to support Hackney Night Shelter

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Dr Cath Feely @cathfeely.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

University of Derby faces mass job cuts as management plans to make half of senior academics redundant. Please spread the word. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1398...

ucu.org.uk

University of Derby staff face mass job cuts as management plans to axe half of senior academics

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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

One of my favourite paintings by one of the East London Group: “Mile End Road” by Elwin Hawthorne, 1930

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

I have a fully-funded, 4 yr AHRC collaborative PhD studentship 'Soundscapes of domesticity: music and lived experiences in non-elite English homes, 1780–1870' supervised by myself and Matt Ingleby with colleagues at The Museum of the Home. Deadline 23 May See: www.qmul.ac.uk/geog/postgra...

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Julia Laite @julialaite.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Historians/geographers/archaeologists: I'm looking for books where the historian goes to the places they are writing about as an integral part of the work (think Gange, Frayed Atlantic Edge). Also looking for theory/method about going to places & imagining them in the past. Any suggestions?

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Kieran Connell @kieranconnell.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

A privilege to hold in my hands a hot-off-the-press copy of this beautiful and timely book by @lanre-bakare.bsky.social

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Yes this was great — thanks @samwetherell.bsky.social Really enjoying the book!

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Lecturer/Associate Professor in Art and Material Cultures of Britain, c.1650-1900: a permanent post in UCL's History of Art Department. Includes British art and material culture in its global and colonial contexts. Standard teaching & research contract. 22 April. www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

'Plate, porcelain, of octagonal shape, painted with blue floral motifs edging with gold rim, and central image of a figure in a red kimono sitting in a garden, Jingdezhen, China, decorated in Guangzhou (Canton), ca. 1750.' National Trust, Osterley NT 771529.

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Love it when you are reading and find this kind of thing in the middle of the text: 'Editor asks that this sentence be made clearer. (It doesn’t seem unclear to copy‐editor, but maybe it is a little expansion that is needed.) I won't embarrass anyone with where I found this!

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Alastair Owens @alastairhackney.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Look out for the book coming sometime soon!

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