iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

@jbhist.bsky.social and I wrote a blog post about some research we did for an upcoming publication on emotional gestures in rhe political realm. Check it out on our website!

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OldRailwayAccidents @rwldproject.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This looks very interesting: Railways: 200 Years that Transformed Britain 21 November Exploring how railways reshaped population, society, culture, law & everyday experience; nice to see @medhistoryman.bsky.social & @jbhist.bsky.social involved! midlandrailwaysociety.org.uk/railways-200...

midlandrailwaysociety.org.uk

Railways: 200 Years that Transformed Britain – Midland Railway Society

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David Ibitson @arry-k-arry.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

A highlight of #BAVS2026 was the panel by @victorianhand.bsky.social, a mind bogglingly rich project, which reminded me of these ambiguous (long?) 19th Century hands by the unpleasant Charles Dana Gibson.

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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

This should be self evident but clearly isn’t. From @lewisgoodall.com

The problem is not that higher education has failed as an engine of social mobility. It is that, for too long, it has been treated as the only engine. The curriculum is not the problem which is driving our NEET malaise; the weakness of local economies is. Any Labour administration should therefore tread very carefully before dismantling any part of the comprehensive educational settlement created by the Labour governments of the 1960s. Burnham's proposals also misunderstand the multi-layered nature of the modern university, which in many cases is as likely to offer vocational courses as strictly academic ones.
In any case, let's stop the obsession with STEM subjects and
"practical" training. There is already too much snobbery in the assumption that working-class students are somehow less interested in the arts and humanities. And we've never needed those graduates more. In an age in which we are already outsourcing so much of our critical thinking to machines, and in which none of us can be entirely sure of the truth of what we see, where the world's complexity is ever deepening, subjects like philosophy, history, political science, linguistics, classics and literature have rarely been more important.
I'm sure our English graduate prime minister might agree.

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Patch Thompson @patchthompson.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

UoH's History department is (was?) consistently top performing in terms of research and teaching. Doing everything that a higher education department is supposed to do. And yet that isn't enough.

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Cordelia Beattie @cordeliabeattie.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I see some people are reading this post as being about Exeter but it’s referring to the University of Hertfordshire. And that’s Owen’s point. Less coverage about the axe falling there but it’s equally sad.

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

So 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)

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I'm not only incredibly sad about this, I'm also profoundly angry; mostly with the government & sector leadership who allowed this to happen, but also with colleagues who rejected the idea that lifting the cap would make this inevitable and told me that I had no right to stop students 'trading up'.

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Dr Sarah Irving @drtermagant.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Yes, sort of, but this has been happening at other universities - most of them less 'prestigious' ones - for several years now. There is understandable frustration at the fact that a lot of people are suddenly taking a lot more notice now that Exeter is following Hertfordshire, Dundee, etc etc

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Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

This petition needs as many signatories as the Exeter one. Please sign and share — don’t let Hertfordshire managers get away with this just because a Russell Group one took the spotlight. #UKHE

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Will Tullett @willtullett.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Got hard copy proofs a week or so ago, which was fun, so Sniff is slowly but surely getting closer to publication on September 8th. It's nice to hold something physical with all the words in (but the hardback cover will be shinier and more colourful looking!). Struggling to index it at the moment...

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I wonder whether, in BBC News editorial meetings, anyone suggests things like the leader of Raise the Colours - something that initiated a major national conversation - being charged with murder? Or Farage not reporting his Russian hack claim? And if they do, who shuts them down?

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

So that’s two of the “Raise the Colours” organisers now charged with violent crimes & a fifth of the 2024 race rioters with domestic abuse. Makes you wonder whether “innocent patriotism” & “protecting women & girls” are just covers for thuggish racism & misogyny?

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I am so excited to introduce our first film for the Victorian Hand from our project filmaker Lily Ford. It's such a cool, contemporary, and captivating blending of the Victorian and the digital, reflecting on the role of hands in thinking and learning. Check it out below!

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Claire L Jones @claireljones.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Who could have guessed?

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

IMPORTANT UPDATE - there was an administrative error that resulted in the closing date for this post being listed as 19 May. It is, in fact, 19TH JUNE. This has now been corrected, so please do alert anyone you know who might be interested in applying.

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

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Emilie K. M. Murphy @emiliekmmurphy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

fab late #medievalsky / #earlymodern history job folks! considering what magical unicorns perm jobs in history departments are these days, i can only imagine with some trepidation how many apps this well get... 🗃️

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Sam Clark @ssamcclark.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Signal amplification: come and be my colleague in the school of global affairs at Lancaster.

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

📢JOB ALERT 📢 We are looking to appoint a F/T open-ended Lecturer in Late Medieval / Early Modern History (1400-1700) @lancasteruni.bsky.social. This is an amazing opportunity that we are very proud to announce, so please spread the word far and wide! www.hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk

Job Opportunity at Lancaster University: Lecturer in Medieval/Early Modern History

The School of Global Affairs at Lancaster University is seeking to appoint a Lecturer in Late Medieval / Early Modern History (1400-1700). This is a 1.0 FTE indefinite appointment to start on 1 August...

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

So glad that the @victorianhand.bsky.social project is teaming up with @wraggem.bsky.social to deliver this exciting engagement event in Lancaster. If you are free on the (half-term) afternoon of 27 May, please do sign up and come along.

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University of Hertfordshire UCU @uhertfordshireucu.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

On Friday afternoon before the Bank Holiday, colleagues in the Humanities department were called to a meeting on Tuesday. They were informed that the University Portfolio Review had decided that English Language, English Literature, Philosophy, History & Creative Writing UG degrees would close

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Gareth Millward @millieqed.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

My friend (<- they don't get to deny this) @sexhistorian.bsky.social is advertising for a PhD stipend. It's an amazing project at an amazing department with amazing supervisors, and if you know anyone suitable, let them know. www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/...

strath.ac.uk

Unorthodox health activism in Britain after 1948 | University of Strathclyde

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Claire L Jones @claireljones.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

This is unfathomable to me! As well as being stupid and cruel, it doesn't even make financial sense! Humanities subjects are cheap! They are subsiding expensive subjects! Please someone stop this mindless destruction!

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Dr Dave Hitchcock @davehitchcock.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

I was external examiner for Hertfordshire history several years ago. It's an exceptional degree which I made clear repeatedly was most under threat from its own senior management. This closure of all humanities is absolute vandalism and the university will pay a heavy price if it goes through.

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Hertfordshire has long been one of the finest centres of historical research in the UK. This is a body blow to the entire historical profession in this country and to humanities education and research in general. This kind of destruction has to stop before we lose everything of value.

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Claire L Jones @claireljones.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Oooh the second Modern British History job in two days!

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

📢 JOB ALERT📢 Please spread the word that there are 2x1-year, F/T (Teaching & Research) posts going in History @ Lancaster: Lecturer in Modern British History (1800-2000), with a focus on the social & cultural histories of the economy, advertising, or consumerism. hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk

Job Opportunity at Lancaster University: Lecturer in Modern British History

Lecturer in Modern British History, c1800-2000 The School of Global Affairs at Lancaster University is seeking to appoint a Lecturer in Modern British History, c.1800-2000 (Teaching and Scholarship). ...

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk

Job Opportunity at Lancaster University: Lecturer in Modern British History

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

It’s wonderful to be featured in the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons, talking about our Victorian Hand project. If you want to find out more about how our research and engagement touches on issues of surgical practice and identity, you can read the article for free through the link below.

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The Victorian Hand @victorianhand.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Our latest blog by Public Engagement Fellow @rosscmrn.bsky.social reflects on the first two Work of Mending workshops, where sewing and surgery were brought into dialogue to explore how identity is shaped through what we do with our hands. Read more here: www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/surg...

The image features a pair of outlined hands filled with handwritten words. The text expresses thoughts on the tactile experiences and history of hands, suggesting themes of touch, work, and emotion. The tone of the piece is reflective and introspective.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

'The UK’s two richest universities already attract a disproportionate share of educational philanthropy....overall, huge disparities in fundraising serve to increase the gap that already divides the oldest and most selective institutions from the rest'.

theguardian.com

The Guardian view on Cambridge’s £190m gift: billionaires won’t fix universities’ problems | Editorial

Editorial: Philanthropy increases the gap dividing highly selective, elite higher education from the rest. Ministers need a plan for the sector overall

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Today is publication day for 'Gender, Science and Sociability in the Diary of Jane Ewbank of York (1778-1824)', a volume in which I have a chapter on medicine, emotion, and the market. You can buy it direct from the publishers or via other online retailers. 1/3 boydellandbrewer.com/book/gender-...

boydellandbrewer.com

Gender, Science and Sociability in the Diary of Jane Ewbank of York (1778-1824)

Examines the newly-discovered diary of Jane Ewbank as a vital site of knowledge-making, illuminating women's intellectual lives in Enlightenment York, where science, cultural criticism and sociability...

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The Victorian Hand @victorianhand.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

We launched our Work of Mending workshop series at The Quilters' Guild in York, exploring skilled hands from the nineteenth century to the present day. Thank you to everyone who joined and we’re looking forward to continuing the conversation at our next workshop at @hunterianmuseum.bsky.social!

Ornate quilt featuring a central star, surrounded by floral and bird patterns. Various colors and shapes create a vibrant, intricate design.

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I also cannot wait for our workshops run in conjunction with the Hunterian Museum. We had such an amazing experience bringing crafters and surgeons together on our pilot project that these cannot fail to be a really wonderful and productive excercise.

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I've been so busy with work recently that I forgot to say how excited I am about our upcoming workshops, run in partnership with the Quilters' Guild in York.

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The Victorian Hand @victorianhand.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

We’re delighted to announce the first workshops in our Work of Mending series, in partnership with The Quilters’ Guild. These hands-on, research-led workshops explore what hands do and what they mean in historical and contemporary handwork. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-work-...

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Joanne Begiato @jbhist.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

We are very excited about our upcoming workshops 🙌

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The Victorian Hand @victorianhand.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

We are delighted to invite you to take part in The Work of Mending workshops with @hunterianmuseum.bsky.social at The Royal College of Surgeons of England! This series of creative workshops explores the meaning of hands and handwork, past and present. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-work-...

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Please have a read of @helenvmurray.bsky.social's fascinating blog post for @victorianhand.bsky.social in which she explores the Victorian legacy of the hand in acts of creative production and its implications for our current moment of AI-generated slop.

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Check out the lastet, ghoulish, edition of our #handoftheweek!

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C20 Society @c20society.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

BREAKING NEWS: We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the Southbank Centre - the Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and skaters undercroft - has finally been Grade II listed by DCMS after a 35 year long campaign. ➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/southba...

The Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Lambeth – London County Council (LCC) and Greater London Council (GLC) Architect’s Department, 1963-68
Image © Morley von Sternberg

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

“I have serious questions about the…usefulness of the REF,” Ivison also said, pointing to the fact that Australia scrapped its equivalent programme after a 2020 review'. Such a role model for UK HE, Australian HE. So very flourishing. 1/2

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

REF 2029 news: leadership transition. 2029.ref.ac.uk/news/stateme...

2029.ref.ac.uk

Statement from Steven Hill on REF leadership transition – REF 2029

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

'Cutting off funding for culture and knowledge has social and political consequences. If you want a healthy and harmonious civil society, invest in the humanities and the arts, for they foster understanding, knowledge and empathy.'

observer.co.uk

Jules Verne’s dystopia was a world without humanities. Do...

When arts education is dismissed as a waste of time it damages us as a society. The focus of learning is not just to enrich our economy but also to enrich our souls

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Michael Brown @medhistoryman.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

We're so excited about these workshops. Stay tuned for more news soon about dates.

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