iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

@deathcabforcutie.bsky.social really enjoyed your gig at Troxy tonight - music was great and atmosphere so good

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Sadiah Qureshi 🦈 @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Doing this before the start of autumn teaching, if it’s possible for you, makes the world of difference.

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Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Literally *years* of research on AI in education - *reams* of it by now - just does not support such sweeping proposals for mass AI access for students or educator "AI trailblazers", and it's maddening to see such uninformed, industry-friendly, research-free ideas from key sector bodies

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Sam Rutherford (he/him) @echomikeromeo.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The window of my local queer bookshop was smashed last week. They're fundraising to install shutters so they can keep themselves and their community safe. Support this one-of-a-kind place, its one-of-a-kind proprietors, and the whole Glasgow queer & trans community: www.gofundme.com/f/categoryis...

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Category Is Books Get Shutters!, organized by Category Is Books

For the past eight years, Category Is Books has been able to comfortably oper… Category Is Books needs your support for Help Category Is Books Get Shutters!

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I had the pleasure of reading this book in manuscript and enjoyed it hugely. It's a really original and engaging take on the soundworld of Chartism - itself one of the great subjects of modern British history. Warmly recommended to anyone with an interest in Britain's greatest democratic movement.

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Friends of the Earth @friends-earth.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The UK urgently needs a clear plan for data centres. The current free-for-all isn't sustainable or sensible. They place huge demands on electricity and water, with major impacts on communities, nature and our climate if their growth isn't properly managed. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iimh...

youtube.com

The controversial place a data centre may be built | In Case You Missed It

YouTube video by BBC News

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Long Nineteenth-Century Network @ Manchester Met @l19cmanmet.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Manchester Met is currently inviting expressions of interest for Leverhulme Early Career fellowships. If you're an early career researcher interested in proposing a long C19 project, please get in touch. The deadline for completed EOIs is 9 October. www.mmu.ac.uk/research/fel...

mmu.ac.uk

Fellowship opportunities

We're committed to the development of early career researchers and support outstanding candidates to apply for externally funded research schemes.

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Lyme Regis cobb last week, health and safety has improved since Jane Austen was there.

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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

On a 30 per cent turn out the question is moot anyway, but to strike over pay when thousands of academics are losing their jobs and large numbers of departments are threatened with closure would seem… a choice.

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 14/08/2026

The UK is in its fifth heatwave. Wildfires. Drought. Record-breaking heat. Exeter University’s response? Close Geography in Cornwall and put vital climate expertise at risk. We need this expertise more than ever. #DefendExeterUni

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Martin Hewitt @vicmanch.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Still plugging the short survey on the future of the Curran Index. Interestingly, have had almost as many retweets of my original post as there have been actual completions of the survey. Closes on the 10th, so if your work touches at all on nineteenth century periodicals please have your say!

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Michael Love @elkmovie.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I’m on a small-ship Alaska cruise with my son; our boat rescued a stranded vessel last night and apparently we did that after the Coast Guard radioed Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht - which was closer - and they repeatedly refused to respond. (There was near unanimous booing when the captain announced this)

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

@rspb.bsky.social a flock of parakeets has arrived in Oxford - they’re already very dominant & I’m worried about impact on bird diversity - are there projects to study/manage/contain the parakeets?

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The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

📢PROJECT UPDATE📢 You may have seen the news that the University of Exeter, home of the wills project, has placed 500 academics at risk of redundancy. The project leader Prof. Jane Whittle & project co-investigator Dr Laura Sangha are both at risk, alongside almost all of the History department. 1/

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Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Please read this thread from another of my colleagues, whose intellectual distinction was just recognised in her election to the British Academy Fellowship, and who is also at risk of redundancy. 👇

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

And not just Exeter. At least 2 History Leicester FBAs have had to leave the University to stay in the profession due to risk of redundancy, and they won't be the only ones. The much broader issue affects thousands of excellent academics across a spectrum of disciplines (including STEM ones). 1/2

timeshighereducation.com

New British Academy fellows at risk in Exeter jobs cull

Being at the ‘top of your game’ no guarantee of job security, warns decorated historian now facing the chop

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petercracknell.bsky.social @petercracknell.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

If you're a #British citizen, or a #UK resident, consider signing & sharing this UK Parliament petition, created by Chris Packham, which calls for the UK Government to hold a UK-wide briefing on climate & nature risks. #climate & #nature petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

petition.parliament.uk

Petition: Hold a UK-wide briefing on climate and nature risks

The UK faces growing risks from climate and nature breakdown - from extreme weather to economic disruption and national security threats. Yet the public has never been given a clear national briefing ...

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Lee Savage @leesavage.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We're cutting an internationally important part of British scientific infrastructure for the sake of £2.8m a year. That's essentially loose change. We are not a serious country www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Today, Filippo de Vivo, Martin Conway, @faridahzaman.bsky.social and I, along with 30 other members of the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford have written to the leadership of the University of Exeter to express our deep concern about the proposed cuts to Humanities and Social Sciences

We write to express our profound concern at the proposed redundancies at the University of Exeter...History at Exeter has built a global reputation in recent years through its outstanding scholarship, major international research projects, and research-led teaching./We in Oxford have benefitted enormously from collaborations and exchanges with colleagues at Exeter, including on the Socialism Goes Global project, and on a developing programme of research focusing on Downward Social Mobility, and we frequently draw on the excellent work that your department members publish. The Exeter Centre for Global History in particular, has been world-leading in the field and stimulated our work in Oxford, as has the department’s long-established excellence in European, Imperial and Military history, Economic and Social History and the History of Science. We note too, the recent election to Fellowship of the British Academy of Professor Jane Whittle and Professor Mark Jackson, whose work has also inspired and guided ours. We have seen our undergraduates go on to prosper as graduate students in Exeter’s School of Archaeology and History, and recruit Exeter students to our own graduate programmes with enthusiasm, knowing they will have had excellent preparation for their studies. These strengths have taken decades to establish but could be undermined in a matter of months. Such losses would diminish the University’s academic standing, weaken its ability to attract outstanding staff and students, and jeopardise the reputation on which the University’s long-term institutional success depends./The case for cuts of this scale is difficult to reconcile with the University’s own recent financial position or with the continued strength of the disciplines most heavily affected. Rather than protecting Exeter’s future, these proposals, and the consequent restructuring and generalising of the curriculum, risk causing lasting reputational and financial harm while reducing the quality and bread…

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Dr Vanessa @hpsvanessa.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

your regular reminder that the UK"s second largest city has been without a domestic recycling service for 17 months, and no one cares. ps: Shabana Mahmood is one of our local MPs, as is everyone's favourite Jess Philips. Minds on higher things, I guess.

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Jane Winters @jfwinters.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Royal Historical Society open meeting (online) for historians working in universities, 4 Aug 2026 - ‘The crisis in UK higher education: the future for history’ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-crisis.... It’s a definite sign of the times that places are almost gone.

eventbrite.co.uk

The Crisis in UK HE: the Future for History

An open meeting for historians in UK higher education on what is needed to best support and protect the profession and discipline.

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Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

"And I’ve thought about this, and the answer is yes. I will still be a historian. Because being a historian is about how you engage with the world, it’s about being curious about the people and the environment around you, and asking questions about it'. 3/

A crowd of students in gowns and family members in summery outfits stand listening to a speech by a historian.

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Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

The Dutch equivalent of Cass, (except it’s a proper scientific review not pseudoscientific drivel like Cass) has wholeheartedly endorsed puberty-blockers and full gender affirming care for young trans people.

erininthemorning.com

Landmark Official Dutch Review Recommends Trans Youth Care, Call For Expanding Treatment

The review finds that wait times must be shortened, that few people detransition, and that trans youth care has enormous benefits.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

'Government investment in defence-related higher education recognises the need for engineering, computing, cyber, robotics and autonomous systems. But if universities educate the next generation of defence specialists while weakening subjects that teach conflict resolution' [continued] 1/3

hepi.ac.uk

What universities count – and what they cannot afford to ignore - HEPI

This blog was kindly authored by Anna Zimdars, Christopher Playford, Eve Worth, Luke Graham, Joanna Merrett and Joseph Crawford, members of the Centre for Social Mobility, University of Exeter. He tha...

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Please can someone help me find the next bit of @trungles.com ’s amazing P&P thread? I’ve got to the bit where Lydia is revealed as a typical American teenager after her marriage but can’t for life of me see how to get to next bit of thread and I NEEED the rest

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Kate Bevan @katebevan.com · 16/07/2026

This is a welcome good piece speaking to people who have actually engaged with the evidence and who push back against Haidt. Well worth a read.

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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Congratulations to the government on saving 2700 jobs by nationalising British Steel. Now, about the 18,000 university jobs lost in the last 18 months, with more coming…

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elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Jesus. 35 UK universities quietly- without debate - joined the Ministry of Defence’s “Battlefield Alliance” which seeks to “reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security” They’re destroying the social sciences and humanities while militarising the institutions

• Durham University
• Newcastle University
• Northumbria University
• Lancaster University
• University of Cumbria
• University of Lancashire
• University of Liverpool
• University of Manchester
• University of Huddersfield
• University of Sheffield
• University of York
• Loughborough University
• University of Lincoln
• University of Nottingham
• Aston University
• University of Birmingham
• University of Warwick
• King's College London
• Kingston University
• Queen Mary University of London
• University College London
• University of Oxford
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Surrey
• University of Bath
• University of Bristol
• University of Exeter
• University of Plymouth
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of Strathclyde
• Cardiff University
• Swansea University
• Queens University Belfast
• Cranfield University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 July 2026
UK Universities Betray Public Trust by Joining MoD's 'Battlefield Advantage' Alliance
Without Debate
A coalition of campaign groups has accused UK universities of quietly integrating themselves into Britain's defence infrastructure after 35 institutions signed up to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Universities Alliance (DUA).
The Ministry of Defence says the alliance aims to "reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security", strengthen links between universities and the defence sector, and translate research into "battlefield advantage".
Campaigners say the move represents a significant shift in the role of higher education and has taken place without meaningful public debate.
Among the founding members are the University of Oxford, University College London, King's College London, the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University and Queen's University Belfast.
"We are witnessing the formal incorporation of Britain's universities into the defence ecosystem," said Jinsella Kennaway, Founder and Executive Director of Demilitarise Education.
"The Ministry of Defence is explicit about its intentions. Universities exist to advance knowledge and foster critical inquiry, not to become pipelines for military research and defence recruitment.
Students and staff deserve to know who agreed to this and why."
Campaigners are calling on all 35 universities to publish the governance documents and board minutes relating to their decision to join the alliance, and to explain whether staff and students were consulted.
Many UK universities already maintain relationships with major defence companies, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, Thales, Lockheed Martin and QinetiQ. Critics argue that the DUA formalises and accelerates the integration of academia, industry and the state.
The coalition warns that, at a time of rising defence spending, universities risk becoming increasingly aligned with governme…

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

So a key question now is whether the new @andyburnham.bsky.social led administration will take the higher education funding crisis seriously as a threat to his aspirations around regional growth and skills…

"Universities will be central to achieving the regional growth aspirations of our new prime minister, but they are suffering a major financial emergency," Shah said.
"The result is greater inequalities, fewer opportunities for students and the gradual erosion of the world-leading research our economy, democracy and global standing rely on.
«The alarm bells are ringing, and policymakers should treat these findings as a wake-up call before more lasting damage is done."

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"This is a crisis for social mobility, young people’s careers, the skills our economy depends on and the opportunities available in communities across the UK" Our newest data covered by The Guardian this evening and dropping tomorrow morning to our SHAPE Observatory. shorturl.at/Qpa9Q

theguardian.com

Humanities among degrees being ‘extinguished’ by hard-up universities

Exclusive: Experts fear rise in education ‘cold spots’ and social immobility as 4,000 academic posts lost in one year

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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

🔴 For the past year @lucasamin.bsky.social and I have been investigating Palantir in the UK What we found was a company with unrivalled political access, selling a product many data experts in the NHS don’t use, and don’t rate Please read and share democracyforsale.substack.com/p/its-just-a...

democracyforsale.substack.com

"It's just a waste of time": inside Palantir's £330m NHS failure

Our new investigation reveals the problems with Palantir’s NHS tech - and the unrivalled political access that fuelled the firm’s march into the British state

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Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

OOOOO. Exeter's got Nous in as well... Of course... (@exeterucu.bsky.social, have you FOIed how much they're paid?) Can we PLEASE put an end to the involvement of these consultancies? They have done nothing but vandalism.

nousdatainsights.com

A best practice approach to academic restructure at Exeter

Explore Part 2 of Exeter Uni's major transformation case study. Learn how collaboration & strategic alignment drove restructure.

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I haven’t read this yet but I can’t wait. Always always learn sthg from TMC and this is 💯 within my special interests

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

@artsemergency.bsky.social @drdaveobrien.bsky.social www.positive.news/economics/im... - sure you’re already in top of this & history of 60s not my field but iirc 1 theory for why was great period for British arts scene students on full maintenance & artists of all types creating while on dole

positive.news

Ireland is now paying artists a basic income. Will the idea catch on?

Artists boost the economy and enrich society, yet many struggle to make ends meet. Ireland's income scheme aims to change that

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Daniel Benneworth-Gray @danielgray.com · 13/07/2026

Sam Neill on tackling depression and imposter syndrome when you’re between jobs.

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Cowleyforniadreaming @holybollards.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Never in the history of the planet have more roads fixed congestion. That’s a fact.

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Does the-onedrive-I-am-compelled-to-use-by-my-in-thrall-to Microsoft-employer just basically not work in safari anymore?

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Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Fuck. This. They've been using that rise in tuition fees to claim they've stabilised the sector. They've used it to say it's ok to raise national insurance contributions. They're now using it to cut one of the few stable things. Logic and maths aren't big in the Department of Education, are they?

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Prof Dave O'Brien @drdaveobrien.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

“The idea that DfE would be happy to put at risk something as uncomplicatedly valuable as nursing by publishing a late and unclear grant letter is not a comfortable one.”

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Christina de Bellaigue @cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

This is from a while back but feels worth drawing to the attention of VCs at unis cutting humanities: www.ft.com/content/c0ae...

ft.com

Humans still matter more than AI in finance

Recruiting digital natives with critical thinking skills is going to be crucial

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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

How it started / how it’s going

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Rebecca Wynter @rebeccawynter.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Roll up, roll up, sign this pretition for Humanities At Hertfordshire! Signing to support them is supporting the #Humanities - it might be them now, and whilst for many it's also us now, if it isn't already, it'll be you next. Sign!! #Skystorians 🗃

c.org

Sign the Petition

Save the Humanities at the University of Hertfordshire

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Lewis Wade 🗃️ @wadehistory.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

🚨 PLEASE SHARE WIDELY 🚨 If you are an Exeter alumnus, and wish to express your horror at the proposed cuts to the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, please sign the Google Doc petition below. Not an alumnus? You can still help by signing the Exeter UCU petition at c.org/msXfsb2g5b 🗃️

docs.google.com

Alumni petition against the cuts to the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Any Exeter alumni who wish for their names to be added to the petition below should please complete the form at this link: https://forms.gle/SpdYvmmsCaJbmZft6. If you are not an alumnus, but still wis...

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Dr Vanessa @hpsvanessa.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Maybe it's just a long period of bad leadership or whatever, but a bit of me suspects some part of this is racism. Why should the second largest city in the UK be so undeveloped, so carelessly organised and led? IDK, u hear how people sterotype the place & it feels like more than just a local issue.

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Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

The weekend! Why not write a quick email to your MP to encourage them to stop #UKHE spiraling? With the change in leadership and Burnham's focus on regional strengths, there's a window to change government's strategy. Template with suggested low-cost interventions: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

calvin & hobbes cartoon. Hobbes has squared up, fists balled, and frown firmly on his face and asks 'so we go on the offensive'. Calvin, with an evil glint in his eyes says 'right. here's a notepad and pencil'. A delighted hobbes looks straight at the viewer and says 'oh boy, blackmail!'

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