iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Julie Cupples

Oli @oliaworth96.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Good morning

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Becca Harrison @beccaeharrison.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

If I were running a university where staff spent weeks and weeks of time putting grant proposals together only for UKRI to feed them into LLMs without informed consent—effectively theft of the time and work—I’d be taking serious action to defend those staff. But I’m not running a university, so

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David Mimno @dmimno.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A university founded in the Middle Ages in a city that centers itself around a Medieval castle does not see a need to study Medieval History

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Felicity Callard @felicitycallard.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Trying to describe what it’s like working inside British universities at the moment is very hard. One small vignette: not a single week of my teaching this semester looks the same as any other. We have virtually no courses/modules that are taught by

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Ronald Hartz @ronaldhartz.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

If you want to get a glimpse of the current horror show that is UK Higher Ed, look no further.

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Karen Gregory @karengregory.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Protect African Studies @ Edinburgh docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

docs.google.com

Protect African Studies @ Edinburgh

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Shall we all go back to calling the United States of America the United States of the North?

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Alex Prichard @profalexp.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

A thread on the dispute at Exeter Uni. #ucu #defendexeteruni @ucu.org.uk On 15 June HR called Exeter UCU into a confidential meeting and informed us they would be putting over 500 colleagues at risk of redundancy and expected to loose around 200 staff. The number of c.150 you’ll have seen is FTE.

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

On BBC Radio 4's Moral Maze tonight: “Slavery - Right or Wrong?” Some people say it’s morally wrong. On the other hand, it makes a tonne of money. On the panel: Edward Colston, King Leopold II, Tommy Robinson and Matt Goodwin. Join us as we discuss one of the great moral dilemmas of the day.

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

This is what you get when you shop at a Sainsbury’s local. Horrific, dystopian

A sign saying that the store has facial recognition in operation

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

How on earth can BBC Broadcasting House invite Kathleen Stock to speak on Jason Arday? It is deeply irresponsible and the last thing we need right now.

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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 14/08/2026

This is the coverage of Arday **just in the Telegraph** in the UK. This is only the first four pages of results, just in one outlet.

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Jason Arday found dead
2 hours ago — Mr Arday was found •unresponsive• at an address in Battersea. south London. on Froy
afternoon. He was uter pronounced dead at the scene. A Read rnore
Jason Arday says he was an illiterate, mute child. His .
6 hours ago — Jason Arday says he was an i&erate. mute child. Cambridge's youngest-ever black
professor in 2023. Arday attended from the age of four to 11
r— mm-WI 3
A PhD is no longer a sign of brilliance — take it from Dr Arday
1 day aeo — Juon Arday resigns from the Unwersity of Cambrdge after The Telegraph reports he had
falseb• claimed to have pubåshed a book
We are all Jason Arday now
S days ago — Jason Arday resons from the University of Cambridge after The Telegraph reports he had
falsew cGimed to have published a book Aug 7.2028. Read more
Cambridge professor claimed he was on Seven Up..
2 Aug 2026 — He was not bom until 1985. Prof Arday is at the centre of a row about academk
plagiarism after The Tekgragh that he had been accused
The Jason Arday 'memoir' that now appears to be more .
7 days ago — Instead of tales of triumph over adversity. the now-fomer Cambridge professors
autob"qraphy is a case study in self-rnythobgising,
Arday failed to mention 'months-long coma' in autobiography
8 days ago — Jason Arday toz publishers he was k•ft a three-month coma fohwhg a car gash. but
never wrote about the ordeal his memoirs_
Jason Arday is living proof that you reap what you sow
6 Aug 2028 — The Cambridge professor feed plagiarism alegations and made fantastical clä'ns about
his life. so what did he expect woUz happen? Read rmre
ÄIO
Arday 'accused student of Miite privilege' after she
4 days ago — Forrner Cambrdge professor alleged* htplied that Roehamptm student was racist after
cornplaint about essay SOOre.
Jason Arday is rnerely a symptom of the Leffs corruption
Aug 2026 — Lab-curs on school standards is on the same toxic assumptions that created his
academic career.
Cambridge hired Arday after 'listening to black stu…

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

I hope every person who made the editorial decisions around this story has a long, hard look in the mirror, and then resigns.

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James Kneale @jameskneale.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I've just heard that the BA/BSc Geography programme is to close at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Geography and Environmental Science (CGES) in Cornwall. This programme was made up of excellent modules with original and content, taught brilliantly—often with real innovation—by extremely 1/9

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

It's a pity that the news debates about early prison release don't mention the many things we could and should do to avoid sending people to prison in the first place.

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Alison Stenning @alisonstenning.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Will be back nurdling at the weekend, but in the meantime sharing the newest Tyne nurdle spill press release from the North Tyneside community volunteers: docs.google.com/document/u/0... Please share - for media interest but also just so more people know what’s happening.

PRESS RELEASE
Spring tide looms as nurdle volunteers demand more action

North East England - 11 August 2026

• A new spring tide between 14-18 August is expected to bring a fresh wave of nurdles onto beaches. Organisers are urging clean-up volunteers to prioritise these days.
• Volunteers have logged more than 5,300 hours in total, including almost 4,900 hours of hands-on beach clean-up across 2,336 sessions, plus a further 400+ hours of admin and manufacturing work behind the scenes, recovering around half a tonne of nurdles from North East beaches on their own.
• Despite reports the official clean-up operation is making progress, the total weight of nurdles recovered from the river and sea by authorities remains unclear.
• Following the community's open letter, the Port of Tyne has agreed to allow trained volunteers onto the river on Tuesday 11 August - but campaigners say it is not enough.
• Millions of nurdles remain trapped in the river, marinas and harbours, continuing to wash onto beaches from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to Roker beach.
• Community representatives met Government minister Stephen Morgan when he visited South Shields on Monday to share their concerns.
• Campaigners are backing a UK parliamentary petition calling for mandatory "zero plastic pellet loss" rules, matching new EU law, and are urging supporters to sign before it closes on 13 September.
• The community demands the Environment Agency give the Civil Emergency category to nurdle spill.

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Geography is so often a casualty of destructive neoliberal restructuring. Forcing geography into a merger with geology is painful enough, but with chemistry really is a step too far and is rightly described as a reckless form of academic vandalism www.uculeicester.org.uk/an-end-of-di...

uculeicester.org.uk

An “End of Dispute” Message from Leicester UCU | University of Leicester UCU

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

The Rapture on BBC is really good. Set in Wales, it deals with climate change, extreme heat and the criminalization of protest.

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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Paul Gilroy - once again - nails it www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

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Dr Hannah Murray @hlmurray.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

A reminder that the institution cannot and will not love you back.

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Grumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 07/08/2026

Doing some work in one of our university cafes prior to a meeting. All I can hear is people around me talking about the shabby way they've been treated in the latest cost-cutting measures, misery about redundancies & departmental closures, & discussion of retirement. Things are grim.

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Not surprising. Transphobia, white supremacy and ableism are articulated, they are all part of the same colonial matrix of power.

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Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

"I was hounded out of the job I merrily resigned from to build a career as an all-purpose reactionary hack, and as you can see, my victimhood is extremely profitable!"

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The Jason Arday case is extremely sad and regrettable. But the way in which it is being weaponized by the far right is horrific. In this context, inviting Kathleen Stock to comment reveals a serious error of judgement on the part of BBC #r4today (unless of course they want to fuel colonial thinking)

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Alison Stenning @alisonstenning.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

He was only briefly here - giving two lectures to North Shields anti-slavery society in 1846 - but it’s good to see Frederick Douglass celebrated, adding to the complex record of Shields’ history. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

North Shields plaque for abolitionist Frederick Douglass unveiled

Frederick Douglass gave two lectures at North Shields in 1846, according to a local group.

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

They actually went ahead and closed Black Studies at BCU (and even made Kehinde Andrews redundant). Reminds me of the 2002 closure of the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at Birmingham University. Birmingham universities on form once again for not knowing the value of what they have.

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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

*Government: we need a sense of place and stronger regional policy to bring us together! *Also government: it's okay to shut this local uni campus in an area of high deprivation! *Thick-as-mince country. No joined-up thinking anywhere. 🇬🇧 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

University of Essex's Southend campus shuts and staff say goodbye

The university says the closure is due to financial pressures, leading to 400 staff redundancies.

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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Glad someone senior from the sector is pushing back. Labour MPs need to understand the serious real anger from graduates and the people who produce them. And the dangerous financial situation they have allowed to fester, or indeed worsened, in one of Britain’s leading sectors.

ft.com

Labour has harmed universities as much as Trump, London School of Economics head says

LSE vice-chancellor Larry Kramer points to domestic student fees freeze, international student limits and rise in employers’ national insurance

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Annette Yoshiko Reed @annetteyreed.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

August as an academic

Tabbycat in tie say he hopes he doesn’t have a lot of meetings… while in the background is a lots of meetings factory

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Becca Harrison @beccaeharrison.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Bridget Phillipson, reflecting on her years spent standing idly by while UK higher education crumbled into the abyss and tens of thousands of university workers implored her to do something, literally anything, to save their jobs: BUT WHAT ABOUT ME THO www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

‘It hurts to lose a job you love’: Starmer loyalist Bridget Phillipson fights on despite cabinet demotion

Exclusive: The former education secretary on her new role as Labour chair and continuing as the minister for women and equalities

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Sergio Ramírez No más elecciones Las democracias deben responder a la codictadura nicaragüense con algo más que notas de condena elpais.com/opinion/2026...

elpais.com

No más elecciones

Las democracias deben responder a la codictadura nicaragüense con algo más que notas de condena

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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Law firms are now limbering up to sue for Breach of Contract when universities close courses or there is 'teaching disruption'. Higher Education shouldn't think there is any way out in downsizing. doyleclayton.co.uk/services/leg...

doyleclayton.co.uk

University Course Closure and Teaching Disruption

University course closure or teaching disruption affecting your studies? Protect your academic future with expert guidance tailored to your circumstances.

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Why do people leading universities hate academics so much that they want nothing more than to do them grave harm?

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Julie Cupples @juliecupples79.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

In 2027, LLMs were abandoned because in 2026 millions of digital activists and social media users fed Bluesky information that could not be verified. The tech bros lost their fortunes and as a result the world became a much better place.

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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Hard to think of a more deeply damaging start to Burnham’s premiership than giving green light to new oil & gas in N. Sea, if true. It won’t lower bills or lead to greater energy security but will drive an even hotter planet. What a terrible signal to give to rest of the world #ClimateVandalism

x.com

BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) on X

Andy Burnham will announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea when he becomes prime minister on Monday, the BBC has been told. The announcement will form part of a flurry of policy m...

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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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