iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Isabel Davis

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Congratulations to Anna Burel for being selected as the Adult Factual Runner-Up at this year’s V&A Illustration Awards for her work on “Conceiving Histories” by @drbeldavis.bsky.social! 🏆

Anna Burel receives her V&A Illustration award from author Lauren Child

Isabel Davis and Anna Burel pose with a copy of "Conceiving Histories" in front of Anna's artwork from the book.

Anna Burel poses with her V&A Illustration Award in front of her artwork from "Conceiving Histories."

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Luisa Calè @luisacale.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

#BBKArtsWeek: this is the best time in the year, when we open our doors to share projects, ideas, dreams: Centre for Nineeteenth-Century Studies William #Morris & #Utopia Michael Robertson 5 May, 6pm, Birkbeck Clore, Torrington Square. Details & free booking here: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

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Luisa Calè @luisacale.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Looking forward to Morris and Utopia #BBKArtsWeek Join us on 5 May at 6pm Birkbeck, Clore Auditorium, 27 Torrington Sq., London Book your free place here: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event... @drvickymills.bsky.social

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Vicky Mills @drvickymills.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Tuesday 5 th May 6pm- ‘William Morris and Utopia’- Birkbeck Arts Week 2026. The Birkbeck Centre for Nineteenth- Century Studies presents Morris expert Prof. Michael Robertson who will discuss the utopian dimensions of Morris’ life and work. Book your place here: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

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Jack Ashby @jackdashby.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

How do natural history #museums help save the world? Next Thursday @drbeldavis.bsky.social & I will explore how collections help tackle biodiversity loss & climate change today, as well as historical legacies behind these museums. Part of Birkbeck's Climate Festival: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

Seven passenger pigeon specimens, with museum labels attached to their feet, from the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

🎉 "Conceiving Histories" has been shortlisted for the V&A Illustration Awards! Please join us in congratulating author @drbeldavis.bsky.social and illustrator Anna Burel on this honor: www.vam.ac.uk/info/va-illu... Learn more about their beautiful book here: mitpress.mit.edu/978026204948...

A copy of "Conceiving Histories: Trying for Pregnancy, Past and Present" by Isabel Davis and illustrated by Anna Burel on an orange table.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Thrilled that Anna Burel's illustrations in my @mitpress.bsky.social book 'Conceiving Histories' are shortlisted for the @vamuseum.bsky.social Illustration Awards 2026 in the Adult Factual category. Adults like pictures too!

Cover of my book 'Conceiving Histories', featuring one of Anna's illustrations of a naked lady riding a fish in front of a moon. Black and white with pink and white text.

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Richard Fallon @richardfallon.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Patrick Morgan on Contesting Earth's History in the Review of English Studies: 'beautifully detailed, intricately researched, and compelling'. What more could you wish for? The review, for those with access: academic.oup.com/res/advance-...

academic.oup.com

Richard Fallon. Contesting Earth’s History in Transatlantic Literary Culture, 1860–1935: Believers and Visionaries on the Borderlines of Geology and Palaeontology

What if humans could tell the story of Earth’s history without rocks, or at least without an over attachment to the rock record as interpreted by palaeosci

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

My review of @amandahess.bsky.social book 'Second Life' in the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social This is a thoughtful and important book about digital pregnancy and motherhood. Have you read it? What did you think?

Screenshot of my review on the LA Review of Books' website, showing a picture of the cover of Amanda Hess's book, 'Second Life'.

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Dr. Donna J. Drucker @histofsex.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

#caturday afternoon read in bed of “Conceiving Histories” with Annie. Congratulations to @drbeldavis.bsky.social and Anna Burel on their inventive and intriguing collaboration! @mitpress.bsky.social #booksky #histmed #blackcat

Copy of the book “Conceiving Histories” held in my left hand while a black cat rubs her face on the right edge of it. A colorful blanket backgrounds them. A cat tree is visible beyond the edge of the bed.

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

For one strange year in the 18th century, flaunting a false pregnancy was all the rage. (An excerpt from @drbeldavis.bsky.social's book "Conceiving Histories")

thereader.mitpress.mit.edu

The Year When Pregnancy Was a Fashion Statement

For one strange year in the 18th century, flaunting a false pregnancy was all the rage.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Everybody medievally inclined in cent. London - Friday is a great day. Check out the Birkbeck Medieval Seminar. Followed by: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event... Followed by the Matthews Lecture on the Medieval & Modern Fertility industry Free, but book. See you there! #medievalresearchseminars

bbk.ac.uk

Birkbeck Medieval Seminar 2025: "Medieval Economic Imaginaries"

Join us for the 2025 Birkbeck Medieval Seminar for a discussion of Medieval Economic Imaginaries.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Look what came in the post for me 2 beautiful books by @jackashby.bsky.social and @taoleighgoffe.bsky.social Looking forward to reading both.

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Richard Fallon @richardfallon.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

At @nhm-london.bsky.social Collections and Culture we've become a bit obsessed with finding historical 'named animals'. Here's Maurice Wilson's 1955 painting of Rota the lion, who lived at @zslofficial.bsky.social's London Zoo 1940–1955. © the copyright holder. Credit: Zoological Society of London.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

I enjoyed collaborating with the Big Fat Negative newsletter, writing a guest post on the consolations of history. The image is one of Anna Burel's collages for our book Conceiving Histories @mitpress.bsky.social #consolationsofhistory open.substack.com/pub/bigfatne...

Photo collage of a woman wearing a red fallopian hat, tied with a red bow under her chin, the fallopian tubes make it rather like a jester's hat. The ovaries are like bells. She holds her finger to her lips because this image illustrates a section of my book about women's secrets. The photo is black and white. The background a pistachio ice-cream green colour.

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Stephanie Holt @stephholtnh.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Day 2 of #NatSCA2025 @natsca.bsky.social is up and running! I’m speaking later on behalf of @curioustravellers.bsky.social and the @nhm-london.bsky.social Thomas Pennant Collections #HistoryOfNaturalHistory #NaturalHistoryMuseums

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

I think this is the coolest thing I've ever discovered... www.isabeldavis.co.uk/resources/ar... #TudorPortraits

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I enjoyed making this resource, which shows the relationship between the famous Armada portrait of Elizabeth I and a sea chart or portolan map. www.isabeldavis.co.uk/resources/ar... #TudorHistory

isabeldavis.co.uk

Rethinking the Armada Portrait — Isabel Davis

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Looking forward to giving the William Matthews Lecture on 30th May 6-7.30pm at Birkbeck, University of London, Torrington Square WC1E 7JL. I'm talking to the title: In Vitro: The Fertility Industry Medieval and Modern. Come! Tickets are free but you need to book: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

I really enjoyed talking to Kyle Kellems at KUAF radio when I visited Fayetteville AR. Radio is such a cool medium. I grew up with it and still really like it. You can catch my interview with him here: www.kuaf.com

kuaf.com

KUAF Public Radio

KUAF | 91.3 Public Radio

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Nora Howley @norahowley.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

And a shout out to @drbeldavis.bsky.social whose book Conceiving Histories was the topic of the review and which sounds amazing.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Thank you Nora! Glad it inadvertently captures your family story.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Yes! And I emailed your mother because I really enjoyed reading Edward Elkan's memoir in the @wellcomecollection.bsky.social and writing about it in my book 'Conceiving Histories' (the subject of the @lrb.co.uk review). We waved at each other from each side of the 'pond'.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

My letter to the @lrb.co.uk following a full and positive review of my book 'Conceiving Histories' in the last issue. I don't think people were calmer about uncertainty in the past, rather they were better able to acknowledge it. #HistMed

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Richard Fallon @richardfallon.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Turns out my article on 'Imaginary Megalosaurs in Nineteenth-Century Literature', part of a starry special issue on the bicentenary of the naming of this 'first' dinosaur, came out last week in Earth Sciences History: doi.org/10.17704/194...

doi.org

IMAGINARY MEGALOSAURS IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY LITERATURE

ABSTRACT. This paper tracks both famous and previously overlooked appearances of the premiere predatory dinosaur—Megalosaurus—in nineteenth-century imaginative literature, especially fiction. In so do...

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

Richard Fallon @richardfallon.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Daily reminder.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Thanks Karl! My book is good and freq funny too. & - bonus - I discuss men's history as well as women's.

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

"The dreamy, associative nature of the book sinks the reader into the uncertain and indeterminate state of trying to conceive, of early pregnancy, of miscarriage." @lrb.co.uk reviews "Conceiving Histories" by @drbeldavis.bsky.social:

lrb.co.uk

Erin Maglaque · Frog-Free: Conception Stories

I can take a home pregnancy test only eight days after ovulation and discover that I have conceived, the wondering...

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Looking forward to taking part in this year's Generation Hope programme at the Natural History Museum. My event on 3rd May is on reproductive health histories. We'll be talking about empire and it's legacies. Sign up: www.nhm.ac.uk/events/from-... #histmed

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

"For every fairy tale that deals with the child’s question about where babies come from, another teaches us that the quest for knowledge entails loss." @lrb.co.uk reviews "Conceiving Histories," @drbeldavis.bsky.social's elegant history of fertility and infertility:

lrb.co.uk

Erin Maglaque · Frog-Free: Conception Stories

I can take a home pregnancy test only eight days after ovulation and discover that I have conceived, the wondering...

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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 13/04/2025

‘A woman “should turn her eyes towards heaven”, Lodovico Domenichi wrote in 1549, not towards the earth “as beasts do”. If her orgasm was required for conception, she ought to be looking at God when she came.’ @erinmaglaque.bsky.social on the history of conception: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

lrb.co.uk

Erin Maglaque · Frog-Free: Conception Stories

I can take a home pregnancy test only eight days after ovulation and discover that I have conceived, the wondering...

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 17/04/2025

On the podcast: @erinmaglaque.bsky.social joins @moonjets.bsky.social to discuss how the understanding of conception has changed since the early modern period, what knowledge has been gained but also what may have been lost. Listen wherever you get podcasts, or here: www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...

lrb.co.uk

Podcast: Erin Maglaque and Thomas Jones · Conceiving Pregnancy

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Reposted by Isabel Davis

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

@drbeldavis.bsky.social, the author of "Conceiving Histories," joined BBC Woman's Hour to share fascinating stories about the history of conception. She talks using frogs for pregnancy tests, phantom pregnancies, & the brief fashion for looking pregnant even if you weren’t. Segment begins at 46:45:

bbc.com

BBC Audio | Woman's Hour | Friendships, Nursery safety, Sudan

Can friendships between three people work?

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Very pleased to receive this warm review of 'Conceiving Histories' in the @lrb.co.uk from @erinmaglaque.bsky.social I tried to do something different (free time-travel in both text and image). It was hard to know how it might land. To my relief the book's first readers are making sense of it.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Thank you for this thoughtful review of 'Conceiving Histories', its frogs and bubbles and disregard for plot.

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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 09/04/2025

‘There aren’t any frogs involved in making a baby now. But there isn’t much mystery either, or much room to express doubt, and it’s not clear that this certainty has been an unequivocal gift.’ @erinmaglaque.bsky.social on the history of pregnancy and conception: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

lrb.co.uk

Erin Maglaque · Frog-Free: Conception Stories

There was the prosaic business of making a baby – everyone knew about that – and then there was the essential...

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

I went to talk to BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour yesterday morning to talk about my @mitpress.bsky.social book 'Conceiving Histories: Trying for Pregnancy, Past and Present'. Catch it on iPlayer. #nonfictionreads

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John Jackson @johnjacksonnathist.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Conceiving Histories - our NHM colleague @drbeldavis.bsky.social discusses the ambiguities of pregancy over time on Woman's Hour BBCRadio4 from 44:46 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Woman's Hour - Friendships, Nursery safety, Sudan - BBC Sounds

Can friendships between three people work?

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John Jackson @johnjacksonnathist.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

One of the histories in @drbeldavis.bsky.social book is the use of the African Clawed Toad in the mid-20th Century as a way of detecting human pregnancy, featured in the new @nhm-london.bsky.social exhibition Fixing Our Broken Planet Listen to the gallery guide soundcloud.com/nhmlondon/st...

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Feel very proud to be featured in NHM's new gallery beneath this frog specimen. In my @mitpress.bsky.social book Conceiving Histories, I write about the logistics of the toad trade from South Africa across the early apartheid period, many amongst other things. #HistMed.

Image of a museum display in the Natural History Museum's newest permanent gallery: Fixing Our Broken Planet. A Xenopus leavis frog is in a crystal clear specimen jar beautifully lit in a black cabinet. Beneath, there is a picture of me (a middle-aged, ok menopausal white woman with dark hair) looking into another specimen jar. Text around the picture gives info about the frog pregnancy test. Sorry not to be able to type it all out here. Message me if you want to know more.

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Richard Fallon @richardfallon.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

The official publication date, according to @oxfordunipress.bsky.social, who (after all) should know, has been updated. It's ... today!

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

We're not just 🐋 and 🦕 at the Natural History Museum. Looking forward to this Generation Hope event @ NHM on reproductive health & colonial history with an environmental lens. 3rd May. Speakers: me, Akosua Paries-Osei, Annabel Sowemimo, & Mitzi Jonelle Tan. www.nhm.ac.uk/events/from-... #HistMed

Screenshot of event listing mentioned in the post. It reads: 'From Cotton to Frogs: Reproductive Rights through Collections and Colonialism. Uncover hidden histories of reproductive health in this thought-provoking event exploring collections, culture and colonialism through storytelling and discussion.'

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

A great review of 'Conceiving Histories' from author a psychotherapist, Julia Bueno. Particularly pleased with: 'She writes with an extraordinary depth of scholarship that sits lightly on the page'. #HistMed www.juliabueno.co.uk/blog/

juliabueno.co.uk

Blog – Julia Bueno – Psychotherapist and Counsellor

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Was so pleased with this review of a recent exhibition from my AHRC-funded project (Mis)Conceptions in BioNews from the Progress Education Trust. www.progress.org.uk/exhibition-r...

progress.org.uk

Exhibition Review: Fertility Fortunes – The (Mis)conceptions exhibition | PET

An exhibition, based on tarot cards, exploring the themes of fertility and infertility.

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Isabel Davis @drbeldavis.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

If anybody tells you that this person enjoying my new book, 'Conceiving Histories' out in the wild is my PhD student who I've bribed with chocolate brownies to pretend to enjoy it ... well it isn't true. #histmed

Young-ish woman with long brown hair in a red shirt, with an open copy to the amazing new book, 'Conceiving Histories', laughing.

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Paul Evans Artist @paulkevans.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Lots of news about Mammoth de-extinction recently. Here’s a way of drawing the ‘presence’ of these extraordinary animals into the present, without animal welfare issues or questionable science. ‘Resurrection’ for Festival of the Mind 2024. With @toriherridge.bsky.social @sheffielduni.bsky.social

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