Reposted by James Fisherbecimay @becimay.bsky.social · 19/09/2026My TLS piece on the Exeter cuts ✨ 314152
Reposted by James FisherJames Dyke @jamesgdyke.info · 13/08/2026It's just been announced that the University of Exeter is scrapping BA/BSc Geography, including BA History & Geography, and BA Politics & Geography programmes and their variants in Penryn campus in Cornwall. There will be no new students starting in September 2026. 1/5 44533
Reposted by James FisherExeter City of Literature @exetercityoflit.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Designed by local artist Rosetta Westbrook, the artwork features iconic locations that inspired literary greats like Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker alongside celebrated Devon authors such as Agatha Christie and internationally acclaimed crime author Sarah Pearse 📚 121
Reposted by James FisherExeter City of Literature @exetercityoflit.bsky.social · 10/08/2026We are so excited to share an incredible collaboration between Exeter City of Literature and Exeter Airport! ✈️ We've unveiled a monumental mural at Exeter Airport that celebrates Exeter's status as one of only 63 UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world 🌎 185
Reposted by James FisherThe 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/ 1115090
Reposted by James FisherJohn Heathershaw @jheathershaw.bsky.social · 01/08/2026I never thought that I would have to write this piece about my university. But after weeks of demonstrating privately to senior managers that their case is based on a false prospectus, that their data are inaccurate and their claims misleading, there was little choice. substack.com/@lucasamin/n...substack.comInside Britain's university crisisAs teaching staff face job loss, their bosses have netted pay rises and bought advice from a “vampiric” management consultancy, writes Prof. John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter 48551
Reposted by James FisherGlen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 02/08/2026So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2) 11557268
Reposted by James FisherAndrew McRae @mcraeandrew.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Letter from the executive director of the Modern Language Association to the Uni of Exeter VC: ‘We are aware of no university on the financial footing of Exeter that has seen the need to make dramatic cuts to the humanities such as you propose.’ #DefendExeterUni 05129
Reposted by James FisherOwen Davies @odavies9.bsky.social · 01/08/2026So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper. 13384147
Reposted by James FisherQuinn Slobodian @quinnslobodian.com · 30/07/2026The UK is torching one of the few sectors in which they still have a global edge, horrifying to watch. 714941
Reposted by James FisherAndrew McRae @mcraeandrew.bsky.social · 30/07/2026#DefendExeterUni www.timeshighereducation.com/news/new-bri...timeshighereducation.comNew British Academy fellows at risk in Exeter jobs cullBeing at the ‘top of your game’ no guarantee of job security, warns decorated historian now facing the chop 012
Reposted by James FisherCaroline Ball @heroicendeavour.eurosky.social · 29/07/2026Reading articles on the amounts HE has spent in APCs over the last 5-10 years, and slowly watching my blood pressure rise. Millions upon millions, on something WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO OURSELVES FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST - what universities couldn't do with that kind of money now... 😠 And breathe... 45422
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 29/07/2026All the swirling feelings experienced by a university lecturer under threat are eloquently described here by a colleague at Exeter, Lizzie Williamson. #DefendExeterUni substack.com/@lizzywillia...substack.comOn RedundancyFour weeks ago, the university that I have been working at for 9 years announced massive, unjustified, reckless job cuts, predominantly targeting the humanities, arts and social sciences. 011
Reposted by James FisherDr Dave Hitchcock @davehitchcock.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Every major player in UK HE quoted in this piece is saying the same thing. It is very, very bad and without action from government it will get much worse. Thousands of students will lose out. The uniform response would be encouraging, except it only happens under serious collective stress. 34121
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Odd feeling when your own livelihood is a national news story. www.newstatesman.com/politics/edu...newstatesman.comHow to kill a university's reputationAfter Exeter’s announcement that it will cut 150 academic jobs, is there any hope for higher education? 040
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Thanks for your support, it's very much appreciated 000
Reposted by James FisherAdam Rutherford @adamrutherford.bsky.social · 13/07/2026I've signed and sent a letter - from authors, broadcasters, journalists, artists, scholars and performers - to express our deep concern at @exeter.ac.uk’s troubling plans to make mass redundancies within the Humanities Dept @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social. I would love it if you read and shared widely. 9224126
Reposted by James FisherGeorge Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Something deeply troubling & shocking is happening at Exeter University*, where a mass cull of staff is planned, even though it's in surplus. No good justifications given. @jamesgdyke.info provides the details: www.technosphere.earth/the-bonfire-... *Disclosure: I have a Visiting Fellowship here. +🧵technosphere.earthThe bonfire of the humanities150 academic posts at the University of Exeter are to be cut, most in the humanities but also in social sciences, engineering and environmental sciences 381042507
Reposted by James FisherDr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 09/07/2026🗃️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-crisis...eventbrite.co.ukThe Crisis in UK HE: the Future for HistoryAn open meeting for historians in UK higher education on what is needed to best support and protect the profession and discipline. 01313
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 10/07/2026www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/hous...timeshighereducation.comThe House of Lords fiddled while Exeter burnsAt last week’s HE debate, a host of Oxford-associated grandees made the usual points while the sector continued to melt down, says Andrew McRae 010
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 01/07/2026www.theguardian.com/education/20...theguardian.comFury over Exeter University plan to scrap dozens of humanities postsRowan Williams and Mark Kermode join campaign against proposed cuts for arts and social sciences 011
Reposted by James FisherJames Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 29/06/2026We are ‘at risk’. Not just me, not just my wonderful colleagues in History, and not just the world-class community of teachers and researchers across the University of Exeter, but all of us who value the humanities. You can support us here: c.org/2cSZVFyhNF #defendexeterunic.orgSign the PetitionStop Redundancies at the University of Exeter 198
Reposted by James FisherKalathmika Natarajan @kalathmika.bsky.social · 30/06/2026In January, lovely colleagues at Exeter organised a book launch for my monograph - a beautiful event that represented the best kind of collegiality and support. 6 months later, we have been served risk of redundancy notices along with 500 staff mostly in Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences. 1/n 101
Reposted by James FisherAndrew McRae @mcraeandrew.bsky.social · 28/06/2026Good piece by @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social and colleagues (Times), that highlights what’s distinctively destructive about the proposed Exeter cuts. #DefendExeterUni 075
Reposted by James FisherCambridge University History Faculty @camhistory.bsky.social · 29/06/2026We are very sad to announce the death of Professor John Hatcher, Emeritus Professor of Economic and Social History and Life Fellow of @corpuscambridge.bsky.social (7 January 1942 - 13 June 2026). Colleagues and former students pay tribute to a brilliant scholar: www.hist.cam.ac.uk/news/profess... 1229
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 29/06/2026www.technosphere.earth/the-bonfire-...technosphere.earthThe bonfire of the humanities150 academic posts at the University of Exeter are to be cut, most in the humanities but also in social sciences, engineering and environmental sciences 000
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 29/06/2026substack.com/home/post/p-...substack.comThe Crisis in Britain’s UniversitiesThe cuts that have been proposed at the University of Exeter demonstrate the crisis of purpose in Britain’s universities. Should not universities also be places to prepare for "eternal dwellings"? 100
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 29/06/2026We are ‘at risk’. Not just me, not just my wonderful colleagues in History, and not just the world-class community of teachers and researchers across the University of Exeter, but all of us who value the humanities. You can support us here: c.org/2cSZVFyhNF #defendexeterunic.orgSign the PetitionStop Redundancies at the University of Exeter 198
Reposted by James FisherExeter UCU @exeterucu.bsky.social · 29/06/2026We're on Bluesky now! 🦋 Follow us here for updates, we're just getting started. @ucu.org.uk @exetergreens.bsky.social @exeterlabour.bsky.social Here are our six key messages: 25132
Reposted by James FisherMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 24/06/2026'About 150 academic roles are set to go at the south-west institution, which said it was targeting areas that are “no longer sustainable” or have seen changes in student demand.' History and English are name-checked. 1/3timeshighereducation.comUniversity of Exeter cuts an ‘existential threat to humanities’Russell Group institution cites changing student demand as it puts 500 staff at risk of redundancy, with 150 jobs set to go 7135118
Reposted by James FisherMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23/06/2026'The University of Exeter is proposing to cut about 150 staff roles. A spokesperson for the university said it was "consulting with colleagues over limited and specific potential changes across some areas of our academic faculties".' 1/4bbc.co.ukUniversity of Exeter in talks to cut about 150 members of staffThe university says it is consulting with colleagues over "limited and specific potential changes". 84141
Reposted by James FisherBen Phillips @benphillips1989.bsky.social · 23/06/2026A statement from Exeter UCU branch @ucu.org.uk - please share far and wide. 16231273
Reposted by James FisherMel Andrews @bayesianboy.bsky.social · 17/06/2026When utilized in literature review, LLMs consistently 1. fail to mention female authors in female-led literatures, 2. insist that men are more influential or more heavily cited when this is contradicted by objective citation counts, and 3. attribute women’s work to hallucinated male scholars. 8153392302
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 28/05/2026This matches my experience and helpfully frames current student perspectives. Although we need more thinking about pro-active measures to stimulate intellectual curiosity, highlight discipline-specific values, etc. 000
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 26/05/2026"Ten years of dropping this commodity to see where the pieces land is not an education policy worthy of the name. It is neglect bordering on vandalism." royalhistsoc.org/history-and-...royalhistsoc.orgHistory and the humanities at the University of Hertfordshire – a statement from the Royal Historical Society - RHSEven for those familiar with bleak times, this has been a particularly bad few weeks in UK higher education. Confirmed job losses at the University of Essex were followed by further bad news from Hert... 020
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Currently marking and its difficult to escape a sense of deep despair. The impact of AI has been catastrophic for higher education. We are in crisis and any solution feels years away. 000
Reposted by James FisherHenry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 11/05/2026knightcolumbia.org/content/ai-a... Now up at @knightcolumbia.org - Cosma Shalizi and myself on "AI as Social Technology." It says that AI models are really a technology of social mediation that allow humans to connect with thoughts of other humans. Short-ish thread with major points follows.knightcolumbia.orgAI as Social Technology 719475
Reposted by James FisherMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 03/05/2026'“Wearable” artificial intelligence (AI) is dissolving the last line of defence between traditional assessment and emerging technology, marking a “second wave” of the disruptive force that has confounded educators since the 2022 launch of ChatGPT.' 1/2timeshighereducation.com‘No defence’ against wearable AI in exams, researchers warnAI glasses and other smart apparel may be impossible to keep out of exams, adding to universities’ woes about the future of assessments 1106
Reposted by James FisherMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 27/04/2026On the other hand, old enough to have been inducted into 1st permanent post by enthusiastic computer science professor who told us all that by the time we came up for tenure the Humanities monograph would have been supplanted by--pregnant pause as he pulled one from his pocket--the floppy disc. 2/2 1291
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 21/04/2026The highly satisfying mark of Ann Cross, Somerset 1748 @markhailwood.bsky.social 121
Reposted by James FisherKatrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · 16/04/2026I'm pleased to announce I'm a founding co-editor of the new @manchesterup.bsky.social book series, Radical Histories. Do let me know if you have a proposal for a book that fits our inclusive remit on radical histories. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/series/radic...manchesteruniversitypress.co.ukRadical Histories - Manchester University PressThe Radical Histories series encourages innovative and field-defining research in the history of individuals, groups, movements and ideas which challenged the political, social and cultural status quo... 6247128
Reposted by James FisherJames Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026After a quick experimentation of using Google NotebookLM to test how well LLMs can transcribe handwritten documents (C18th), I've learned two things... 101
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026For example, the problem of gender bias eventually reared its head: it transcribed the name 'Prudence' as 'Thomas' (not a close approximation), presumably due to its probabilistic operation rather than any difficulty in "reading" the handwritten characters themselves 000
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026All of which raises both serious ethical and methodological questions for historians. It's simply not credible to dismiss the power of LLMs as a potential research tool, yet whether we should be using them at all, and then how we do so robustly, poses many headaches. 020
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026Obviously there are more sophisticated approaches to handling such errors (e.g. see 'Unlocking the archives...' by Humphries et al, 2025). But for me its a reminder of the dangerously seductive power of LLMs and the radically uneven quality of their output. 110
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026Second, however, is that it will often ignore instructions and begin fabricating text. This is more insidious than the familiar OCR errors, which are relatively predictable and consistent. Here the transcription might be perfect right up until it inserts an entirely false phrase. 300
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026First, with a fairly basic prompt, the general level of transcription is astonishingly good (for a straightforward document). It quickly produces some near-perfect transcriptions and can apply standard palaeographical conventions, preserve formatting, etc. 100
James Fisher @jamdanfish.bsky.social · 16/04/2026After a quick experimentation of using Google NotebookLM to test how well LLMs can transcribe handwritten documents (C18th), I've learned two things... 101
Reposted by James FisherPolly Lowe @polly-lowe.bsky.social · 26/02/2026Have a read of my new article! It's part of a Forum: Human Commodification, so make sure to check out the other contributions too! 071
Reposted by James FisherBrodie Waddell @brodiewaddell.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Thanks to @jwhittle.bsky.social, @markhailwood.bsky.social, @aucointaylor.bsky.social, @hkrobb.bsky.social (via @tomlukejohnson.bsky.social), for reminding me that my kids are slackers. 🗃️ Lovely discussion of *The Experience of Work in Early Modern England* in the LRB: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4... 14519