Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Watching the navy suits descend on Liverpool for the Labour Party conference is one of my favourite times of the year. Watching the politicos, eavesdropping on the gossip, seeing the various police escorts! I am here for the drama! [1/2] 110
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Cockell in the Kyiv Post today: "The scientific character of a nation is a manifestation of the underlying national personality, because that is the place from which it springs. Ukraine’s scientific persona is brilliant, innovative, ingenious, joyous, and original." www.kyivpost.com/opinion/82997 010
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Everyone is sending me this today, which I appreciate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/w... If you want to read my hot takes on emotions and Ebola, it comes up in these papers: www.frontiersin.org/journals/com... and: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... and: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....nytimes.comEpidemics and Rage 000
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 06/07/2026I saw 'Disclosure Day'. Spielberg is not doing okay. But what happened to Colin Firth? What is he doing in this? Does he have some gambling debt that we don't know about? 000
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 03/07/2026Do we think Nussbaum is doing okay? www.telegraph.co.uk/books/author...telegraph.co.ukThe world’s leading philosopher on how opera can save usIn her new book, Martha Nussbaum argues that the art form offers an antidote to division, grievance and modern self-obsession 071
Reposted by Katherine FurmanHUGERA @hugeraproject.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Dr. Phila M. Msimang continues our spring speaker series with the talk “Is diversity higher? Against the superficial inclusion of racial and ethnic groups in biomedical and clinical research” on April 5th. You can register to attend via zoom here: hugera.org/lecture-seri... 032
Reposted by Katherine FurmanInkeri Koskinen @inkerikoskinen.bsky.social · 14/03/2026If you work on values in science, and have noticed that the literature is a bit too focused on values in science in Anglophone democracies – and that it therefore stays silent on issues that we should be talking about – please consider submitting an abstract to our workshop! (24–25 August, Helsinki)blogs.helsinki.fiCFP – Pre-conference workshop: Values in science in the rest of the world24–25 August 2026, Helsinki – just before ENPOSS 2026 Keynote speakers: David Ludwig (Wageningen University) Karoliina Pulkkinen (University of Helsinki) The idea that social, political and ethical ... 13212
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 09/03/2026Because it isn't like the universities need foreign student fees. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/shorter... 000
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 01/02/2026This book is amazing! And it is on sale at News From Nowhere. Grab yourself a bargain, Liverpool friends. @benjamblack.bsky.social 000
Reposted by Katherine FurmanIvan Moscati @ivan-moscati.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Deadline approaching! 022
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 20/01/2026Saying the quiet part out loud UK drops target for international student recruitment - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FTgiftarticle.ft.comUK drops target for international student recruitmentGovernment to encourage education providers to open campuses overseas as it focuses on reducing migration 000
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 28/12/2025"From the 1970s to the 1990s, the African university system was characterised by great instability. There were many lost years, strikes by students and teachers, & confrontations which pitted students, faculties, administrators and ministries against one another..." (Cardoso, 2020) [1/3] 110
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 18/12/2025Southern African colleagues. Do you have any great undergraduate students who would benefit from a Masters degree? The Ruth First scholarship is open to Southern African students to study at Durham University. Applications close end of February: ruthfirsttrust.webspace.durham.ac.uk/how-to-apply...ruthfirsttrust.webspace.durham.ac.ukRFET: ApplicationsHow to apply for the Ruth First Scholarship The Ruth First Educational Trust in partnership with Durham University and St Chad’s College Durham offers a scholarship to support a student from southern ... 021
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 21/11/2025This whole pro-Russian bribes thing is a bit extra. 010
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 15/11/2025I am meant to be at an Overcoming MS conference today. But there was a big storm and the trains were cancelled. So, I am watching the hybrid version from my sofa with cat as co-pilot. 120
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 18/09/2025Getting spicy at INEM... Keynote by Wendy Carlin 030
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 09/09/2025I am in an online workshop on trust in science and I have just realised that I have been using the central text of AIDS denialism to prop up my laptop. 030
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 31/07/2025In a fantastic talk this morning on the history of race by @msimang.bsky.social 030
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Universities in England at risk of long-term decline, says British Academy - on.ft.com/3U2yymV via @FTon.ft.comUniversities in England at risk of long-term decline, says British AcademyOutgoing president Dame Julia Black calls on ministers to overhaul their ‘confused’ approach to higher education 011
Reposted by Katherine FurmanSabina Leonelli @sabinaleonelli.bsky.social · 15/07/2025Job Opening at the Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology at TUM! Research Fellow for 3 years (renewable). Preferably philosopher w interest in plant, crop & agricultural research (& their history and social studies) All details: www.sts.sot.tum.de/en/sts/arbei... #philsci #stssts.sot.tum.deJobs 05953
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 04/07/2025Ya know it is troubling times in academia when a student writes to say that they loved a module you taught and they "hope it will still happen again next year". Oof. 030
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 27/06/2025This week I was part of an excellent health communication event @britishacademy.bsky.social. In a previous life, I interviewed doctors in South Africa & developed strong medic envy. The feeling was "nobody needs a philosopher, everyone needs a doctor". The BA event has reignited the medic envy 120
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 25/06/2025"Life expectancy is dropping in poorer communities. This is virtually unheard of". 😯 At a health communication event at the British Academy. 010
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 23/06/2025Internet friends. I need recommendations for novels set in Dakar. Thanks! 023
Reposted by Katherine FurmanMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 19/06/2025The QS rankings are out, and it's not good news for UK universities (60% of which have dropped in the rankings). Part of this is of course simply due to Asia's investment in its universities. Then there's the bit that reflects the UK's HEI divestment. Link: www.topuniversities.com/world-univer...ft.comMajority of British universities slip down global rankingsChinese, Indian and south-east Asian institutions climb the annual list 11710
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 03/06/2025I am so glad to see that this has finally come out! "Towards a Theory of Objectivity for Activist Research" Nancy Cartwright, Samuel Foglesong, Katherine Furman, Byron Hyde, Gabriel Nyberg, Karina Ortiz Villa, Helena Slanickova upmonographs.up.ac.za/index.php/ES...upmonographs.up.ac.zaPDF view of the file 7_Chapter 4 RUTH_FIRST_E-BOOK_ESI_PRESS_2025-2.pdf 161
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 29/05/2025May he rest in power. His work has been such an enormous influence on me. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...theguardian.comNgũgĩ wa Thiong’o, giant of African literature, dies aged 87Kenyan writer’s death announced by his daughter, who wrote: ‘He lived a full life, fought a good fight’ 000
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 14/05/2025I guess I have to give up my Labour Party membership. I am one of the "strangers" they would prefer not to have around. 080
Reposted by Katherine FurmanClaire Pierson @clairepierson.bsky.social · 01/05/2025She lives! My book published by @manchesterup.bsky.social ‘Women’s Troubles: Gender and Feminist Politics in Northern Ireland.’ Cover image kindly provided by @frecklescorp.bsky.social of her work ‘The Slapper’ www.emmacampbell.co.uk/emma-campbell @livunipol.bsky.social @livunihss.bsky.social 127026
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 06/05/2025I have said it before. I will say it again. When is government going to step in? Where are the vice chancellors in this? www.ft.com/content/7514...ft.comThe English higher education market is brokenNew regulator powers should include the ability to claw back pay from vice-chancellors in the event of financial catastrophe 062
Reposted by Katherine FurmanInkeri Koskinen @inkerikoskinen.bsky.social · 31/03/2025We are organising a multidisciplinary workshop on pseudoscience in working life. If the topic interests you, please consider submitting an abstract! blogs.helsinki.fi/pseudoscienc...blogs.helsinki.fiCall for papers: Pseudoscience in Working Life – Pseudoscience in Working Life 0114
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 24/03/2025Me, this morning: "what do you think of my teaching outfit for today? I am going for Dolly Parton in the late 80s, early 90s." Partner: "Sure... That's a choice" 120
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 14/02/2025Proof that I am not the only one who can't get over Thabo Mbeki. Especially now. Thanks @stheobald.bsky.social for sharing this with me. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/o...nytimes.comOpinion | I Shudder to Imagine Kennedy Running Our Health Agencies. (Gift Article)We have to go toe-to-toe with this administration and resist its attacks on public health. 040
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 14/02/2025Just curious. If I wrote a little blog post about the history of Structural Adjustment Programs in Africa, the defunding of education, & its long-term consequences, would anyone read that? Obviously it would be just a little history piece 😉. Not at all relevant to any other time or place 😉 161
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 10/02/2025Southern African colleagues. Do you have a student who might be interested in doing a Master's degree in Durham, England? If so, applications have opened for the Ruth First Scholarship. Deadline for applications is 31 March ruthfirsttrust.webspace.durham.ac.uk/how-to-apply/ruthfirsttrust.webspace.durham.ac.ukRFET: ApplicationsHow to apply for the Ruth First Scholarship The Ruth First Educational Trust in partnership with Durham University and St Chad’s College Durham offers a scholarship to support a student from southern ... 021
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 09/02/2025Fascinating case of scientific misconduct, indigenous communities, and scarce specimens. This brings together philosophical considerations of scientific responsibilities to communities, and issues related to the special status of scarce specimens. www.science.org/content/arti...science.orgAfter damage by scientists, Inuit group closes off access to Earth’s oldest rocksMove by tribe in northern Canada could complicate efforts to study earliest moments on planet 050
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Tell us you want foreign student money but not foreign students without telling us you want foreign student money but not foreign students www.theguardian.com/education/20...theguardian.comUK universities look to open campuses in India amid financial woes at homeBranches aim to tap into huge domestic market in face of changing visa regimes and international competition 050
Reposted by Katherine FurmanThelonevirologist @thelonevirologist.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Ebola Sudan outbreak in Uganda grows to 7 cases www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-...cidrap.umn.eduEbola Sudan outbreak in Uganda grows to 7 casesUganda last reported an Ebola outbreak in 2022. 1148
Reposted by Katherine FurmanAnna Alexandrova @annaalexandrova.bsky.social · 05/02/2025A rare and wonderful sight of a great UK philosophy job. Please spread widely to colleagues worldwide. Area of Specialization: Ethics and/or Political Philosophy Would be an advantage to be able to teach Ethics of AI Tenure-track Application deadline: 10th March 2025 #philskycis7.bbk.ac.ukLecturer in Philosophy (2078) - Birkbeck, University of LondonBirkbeck 26449
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Thank you Cambridge. You really know how to show a girl a good time 😘 000
Reposted by Katherine FurmanNeil Turner @neilturner.me.uk · 28/01/2025It says a lot about the current funding crisis affecting UK universities when Wales' biggest university proposes to close its Nursing course to save money, at a time when the NHS is desperate for more nurses.bbc.comCardiff: University confirms plans to cut 400 jobsVice-chancellor Wendy Larner says "it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are". 47638
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 29/01/2025We are going to get a government statement about all of this soon? Right? www.bbc.com/news/article...bbc.comUniversity of Kent seeks more job cuts to save £19.5mThe university opens a voluntary redundancy scheme and will not fill vacant roles to cut costs. 010
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 28/01/2025How do we keep going while the sector is in free fall? www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...chroniclelive.co.ukDurham University plans to cut hundreds of jobs in bid to reduce costs by £20mDurham University needs to lose around 200 non-academic positions and is hoping to achieve that through a voluntary severance scheme 121
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 27/01/2025First day of new term. I was teaching my favourite class (Philosophy and Public Policy) and a student told me she is taking this course because a student from 2 yrs ago recommended it to her. I have died of joy. ❤️❤️❤️ Please send flowers to my cats who will be facing a difficult time in my absence. 040
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 27/01/2025This shooting happened just around the corner from my gran's house (where I spent much of my childhood) & was almost certainly the apartheid govt attacking its own people to solidify racism in the transition to democracy. More than 30 years later the inquest is today. www.enca.com/news-top-sto...enca.com 000
Reposted by Katherine FurmanJo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 22/01/2025The supreme irony of Germany offering sanctuary and opportunities to scientists unable to work in fascist USA is knocking on the door. 141067237
Reposted by Katherine FurmanNiels G. Mede @nielsmede.bsky.social · 20/01/2025Out now in Nature Human Behaviour: Our 68-country #survey on public attitudes to #science 📣 It shows: People still #trust scientists and support an active role of scientists in society and policy-making. #OpenAccess available here: www.nature.com/articles/s41... @natureportfolio.bsky.social (1/13) 7358163
Reposted by Katherine FurmanNaomi Oreskes @naomioreskes.bsky.social · 20/01/2025I promised @davidho.bsky.social that I would join BlueSky in the new year. So here I am with two aaccopuncemnts. 1) so proud of @colognaviktoria.bsky.social for her huge work on trust in science, out today: 813913
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 20/01/2025I am a longterm fan of Sizwe Mabizela. Universities and funding in SA have been deep issues for at least as long as I have been aware of Universities. Access to education can mean the difference between grinding poverty and a liveable life. www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...dailymaverick.co.zaFunding of public higher education institutions is in a crisisHigher education should be recognised as a public good. Funding it should not be viewed as an expense, but as a strategic investment in the country's future. 100
Katherine Furman @furmank.bsky.social · 19/01/2025This is encouraging reading as we move into a new term. Severance spending at top UK universities surges - on.ft.com/3CcC4FS via @FTon.ft.comSeverance spending at top UK universities surgesFT analysis shows drop-off in overseas enrolments pushed redundancy payouts up by more than a fifth in 2024 020