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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice

@matildaf.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.6K following 4.1K posts

Bi. Lecturer int. climate politics, futures, childless geographies. UCU NEC LGBTQ+ rep (HE), 26/27 Equality Chair UCU Commons. I mainly post about Girls Aloud. She/her orcid.org/0009-0005-5220-0914

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Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice
University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 29/09/2026
“Hope and vibes are not enough.” UCU general secretary Jo Grady on why hope must be backed by serious investment. Our members are losing jobs, losing colleagues and seeing courses close. Post-16 education needs more than promises. It needs investment.
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Members can also feed into this! Anyone interested in authoring a Brief for this series should contact: policy [at] ucu [dot] org [dot] uk
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
These look amazing!
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Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“We want what we pay for - a good education at a prestigious university.” Be careful what you wish for. Do you want the education the Scottish government pays for? Or for international students to receive 3 times the tuition home students do? Like societies, universities just don't work that way.
scotsman.com
'We want what we pay for': Student fears as Edinburgh Uni strikes begin
Students say strikes will have a long term impact on their studies as the union calls for the university to meet its demands
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Velour Shirt @object.works · 29/09/2026
This is a metaphor for so many things these days that I couldn't choose
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Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.eurosky.social · 28/09/2026
This is quite cool. My university is the first organisation in the world to force Microsoft to allow us to turn off copilot summaries in Word 365, after a backlash against it from staff (including, very vocally, me). That cannot have been easy for our heroic IT people so hats very much off to them!
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Not had so much fun on here in weeks
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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 28/09/2026
We have something very cute to share with you today 🦉 This summer, a pair of barn owls successfully reared four owlets at Kedleston Hall, marking Kedleston's first known breeding success in over two decades.
Four young barn owls jostle onto the small wooden ledge of their nest box, fixed to a huge oak tree behind themA young barn owl in flight, its wings stretched up above it against a blurry green background, its white heart-shaped face facing the cameraA young barn own in flight, a blurry oak tree behind it, its huge white and brown wings beating downwards as it looks at the cameraA barn owl swooping down with its wings fanned wide across a field of long purplish grass
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gav @gavinmit.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
'i once got the president of the united states to congratulate us on the arrest of some doggers we found in a lane in gloucestershire'
bob mortimer reading a prompt card on would i lie to you?
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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This University has just shut down all undergraduate Humanities degrees, including History, where we had some amazing modules on Black and African History for first years. 🤡
Email subject: Development at Herts: Support through change | Career growth | Black History Month
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Tom Hunter @onelifestand87.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“I’m hoping for 72 virgins” “You’ve not been dogging round here before have you”
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Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
My department - @ucdpolitics.bsky.social - is hiring two PERMANENT posts in any area of politics, international relations, theory, or development studies. Please apply if you are on the academic job market, and if you're not, please do us a solid & spread the word! Deadline NOV 9.
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Aidan O’Brien @aidanobrien.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Yuge day for American Bluesky, as many are getting their first experience of the quaint and traditional British rural pursuits, "dogging" and "flytipping"
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
the first UCU Brief on the failing HE funding model, authored by UCU VP @markpendleton.bsky.social, is out! This is exactly the sort of evidence and analysis we need to get in front of MPs and policymakers #UCU #UKHE educationitsours.org.uk/ucu-briefs/
educationitsours.org.uk
Evidence and analysis - Education. It's ours
UCU Briefs: the key evidence, analysis and policy proposals to make education truly ours.
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lorem ipsum 🇧🇷🇺🇸 @whiskeynachos.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Shitpost stolen from TikTok: Gulls on film.
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Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice
Duncan Hothersall @dhothersall.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
For all that it's been barely reported in the UK press, it's still hard to understate the importance of the stance @labourunionsuk.bsky.social has taken on trans and non-binary rights this week. Every single trade union affiliated to the party of government has stood up and said we will not comply.
Joint statement from National TULO

Solidarity with the trans and non-binary community

Labour's 11 affiliated trade unions stand in total solidarity with the trans and non-binary community.

Trans rights are human rights, and trans rights are workers' rights.

We in the trade union movement will do all we can to stand up for our trans members and all our trans siblings, to protect them from persecution, harassment and attack.

The government must act now to protect all trans people, to make sure their rights are protected, expanded and upheld in our workplaces and communities.

Labour Unions
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Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice
hannah @hannahkateboast.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'm on strike for the next five weeks with @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social because management continues to threaten mass compulsory redundancies. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Edinburgh University lecturers begin five-week strike over cuts
Members of the University and Colleges Union are walking out in part of a long-running dispute over job and course cuts.
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Robin Moira White @robinmoirawhite.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The Labour Party’s women’s conference on 26/9/26 was an embarrassing farce, with only 200 delegates of the 1,000 normal attendance (no major unions) in protest of the Labour Party’s shameful abandonment of trans people following the legally absurd ruling of the Supreme Court in FWS in April 2025.
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
definitely in my Rennies era
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Does anyone have a (successful) British Academy Early Career Seed Fund application they'd be prepared to share with me? #academicsky
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Yikes
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Bombshell
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Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice
Concordia University Press @concordiapress.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Out now: 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘺: 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘐𝘤𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘦, 1550–1700, by Madeline Bassnett! www.concordia.ca/press/climat...
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HappyToast @happytoast.co.uk · 24/09/2026
Really stupid and inflammatory use of the word discrimination. Almost like it's to prick up the ears and win votes from the English uglies who 'want their country back' and think they're a minority now. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Burnham brands ban on football fans drinking alcohol in stands as 'discrimination'
The prime minister opposes the law - in place since 1985 - and believes there is a case to remove it.
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
And if you feel like you want to id as bisexual but wonder if you're 'enough': the term belongs to you too. Desire is important too!
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Michael Bell @mbellcoop.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
See also the huge wave of university redundancies recently
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Academic Audio Transcription Ltd @aat-transcribes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Clients love our transcripts for a lot of reasons, including the way we offer timestamped speaker changes as standard. Want to find out more? Visit academicaudiotranscription.com or visit the QR code below.
In bold headline text on a vibrant yellow background, text reads: Clients love our transcripts for a lot of reasons. Here's one... 

Underneath, against a lighter yellow background, text reads: We include timestamped speaker changes as standard so you always know whose turn it is in the conversation (even if your participants don't, sometimes). 

On the bottom right of the image, against a pink background, text reads: Find out more (with an arrow pointing to a QR code which leads to https://academicaudiotranscription.com). 

In the bottom left-hand corner is the company logo, a pair of hands over a sideways oriented speech bubble (as if a keyboard), and the words Academic Audio Transcription.
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Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice
Charlotte Weatherill @ckweatherill.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A week today! The show must go on? Revisiting the script of international climate cooperation 10 years after Paris 30th Sep, 1-2.30pm BST. On zoom, free and open to all. Drawing on a new SI in GEP, and featuring the editors and six of the authors. Register here: www.bisa.ac.uk/members/work...
The speakers will be: 

Eva Lövbrand (Linköping University) The Show Must Go On? Revisiting the Script of International Climate Cooperation Ten Years After Paris
Maria Jernnäs (Linköping University) Measure-ability: The Paris Agreement’s Transparency Regime and the Making of the Calculating State
Cecilia Oliveira (RIFS Potsdam) Remaking the Amazon? The Emergence of Transterritorial Spaces of Governmentality
Florian Steig (Oxford University) The Global Politics of Sea Level Rise Adaptation
Angela Oels (Augsburg University) More than an Empty Bucket? The Competing Rationalities in the Operationalization of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage
Maarten Hajer (Utrecht University) The Script of the Science–Policy Interface: Performative Routines in Climate Politics
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Brainmage.itch.io @brainmage.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Happy bi visibility day. Don't forget to wear your bi-viz vests.
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Natalya D @natalyad.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Happy Bi Visibility all. Some of us uncloak today, but not everyone wants or feels safe to, and they are just as valid. My favourite bisexuality resource is www.bisexualindex.org.uk run by a wordsmith friend of mine. Lots of mythbusting and facts about bisexuality there.
bisexualindex.org.uk
The Bisexual Index | Welcome to the Index!
Website of UK Bisexual Activist group The Bisexual Index
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Happy bi visibility day to all those who have been told they're both 'not enough' and 'too much'. I see you all 🩷💜💙
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Another one of our brilliant newsletters! Maddie Moore's election to NEC via a casual vacancy is a particular highlight. #UCU #UKHE
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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
UCU's Anticasualisation Committee's webinar on Equalities and Casualisation is TODAY, running twice at 12.30pm and 5pm. Details on this page (scroll down): do register for one of the two sessions if you can make it! #UCU www.ucu.org.uk/acc
ucu.org.uk
Anti-casualisation committee
Representing all casually employed staff and fighting the exploitation of casual contracts throughout FE, HE, ACE and prisons.
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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 22/09/2026
Join us online at 1pm on Thursday (24th Sept) for 'Historical Context: The Climate Crisis' bit.ly/3V4lgKf With panellists @dagomardegroot.bsky.social, @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social and @ellydezateux.bsky.social. How does historical expertise help us understand the world today? All welcome #Skystorians
bit.ly
Historical Context: The Climate Crisis
A panel discussion, hosted by the Royal Historical Society, in which expert historical researchers provide context for current events.
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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
University of Lincoln has disposed of over 500 staff since 2024. As we start a new academic year management have refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies. @uculincolnbranch.bsky.social is balloting its members on their willingness to take industrial action. If this is you please vote.
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
And not a moment too soon
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Grumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 22/09/2026
We've run a tea & cakes event to get to know our first years. The university provided just enough cake for each student to maybe get one piece but didn't count staff who might be present. Feels very on brand for all things management in the sector.
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 22/09/2026
In our latest branch solidarity update video, UCU vice president Mark Pendleton hears about the latest at @exeterucu.bsky.social ehere members are organising and fighting back against job cuts, high workload and poor management
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is a great listen. Excited to hear more.
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UCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 22/09/2026
The first episode of UCU's podcast has dropped! Featuring our very own @markpendleton.bsky.social ! Links to listen are in the original post.
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 22/09/2026
Dyfrig Jones UCU President talking about the #EducationItsOurs campaign in our new podcast - No Shortcuts 🎙️
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
🙃
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
So it's 'I have no problem with bi people, I just don't want them anywhere near me', is it
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Cora Neas @corabora.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Finally, some good news: It's Fat Bear Week
kxan.com
Fat Bear Week 2026 begins: What to know, how to vote
Get ready to cast your ballot.
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
New Public Management sounds like a post-punk band
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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
the libdems (after some equivocation) have just passed an explicitly pro-trans policy in conference, which condemns the EHRC’s code as “discriminatory & unworkable" www.libdems.org.uk/news/article...
libdems.org.uk
Restoring Trans Rights
The Liberal Democrats will continue to stand in solidarity with trans and non-binary communities, defending equal rights, personal dignity and safety for all.
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Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Amazing result! Congratulations Maddie! #UCU #UKHE
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Willard Foxton @willardfoxton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I think it's absolutely mad that today there's a *national news story* about 400 oil platform workers losing their jobs, and the government being blamed. 25% of the UK TV industry lost their jobs in the last 4 years and we never hear a peep about it! Some jobs are 'real jobs' I guess.
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Starfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy Podcast @irhottakes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Okay, so I have a plan to get everyone on our side. First, we be absolutely as viscerally unpleasant as possible. Next, we downplay any time we get what we want, say it's the bare minimum and so forth. Finally, if anyone gives up and says we win or apologizes, we belittle them.
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