iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Michael Donnay

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We are a drop-in session for people to ask questions about the Hidden REF Competition before submissions close! Join us today (Tuesday 25 August) from 11.00-12.00 to get all your questions answered! The link to join is on our website. hidden-ref.org/resources/co...

hidden-ref.org

Community Calls - The Hidden REF

Community Calls The Hidden REF Community Calls are open, informal spaces for people across the research community to come together and talk about research culture – […]

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

How are things going in the UK you ask? Today's message from work: As the UK moves into a fourth heatwave of 2026, with our area not experiencing any measurable rainfall in more than four weeks, colleagues and students should avoid sitting under trees.

static.klipy.com

Viva Piñata: Fergy & Franklin's Tree Branch Fall

ALT: Viva Piñata: Fergy & Franklin's Tree Branch Fall

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Behind almost every research study is a collections specialist, data manager, technician or bit of code that never makes the paper. The Hidden REF 2026 is open & recognises exactly those outputs & roles, the ones traditional assessment leaves out. hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c...

If we recognise everyone who is vital to research, we advance our ability to conduct research. www.hidden-ref.org

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Lauren Klein @laurenfklein.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

There's probably a German word for writing something prescient but wishing you'd been wrong. From the epilogue to DATA BY DESIGN, written last fall, which I am proof-reading today

When I set out on this project over a decade ago,
I knew that I wanted to model the value of history and
context, of complexity and critique. But I did not antici-
pate just how much, in the end, I would want this project
to stand for the value of the humanities writ large. This
value manifests in the deep thinking born of disciplinary
training and domain expertise; the fresh ideas that are
sparked when disciplines and domains come together;
and the time and labor—so much time and labor—that
are required for the cultivation of any truly transforma-
tive idea. Now, looking back, I can very clearly see how
this project only exists because of my PhD in English—
because of what I would learn about visualization, its
uses, and its possibilities, only after leaving the tech job
that paid me (in part) to design actual charts.
The possibilities that emerge from this type of
humanities research are precisely those that the
current administration has sought to foreclose. One
of the very first acts of Trump 2.0—after freezing over
$400 billion in active research grants and arresting
student activists simply for speaking (or writing) their
mind—was to repurpose the National Endowment
for the Humanities (NEH) as an ideological enterprise
and to dismantle its Office of Digital Humanities (ODH)
altogether. Not coincidentally, the NEH ODH funded

this project not once but twice. Data by Design may
in fact be one of the last projects—at least for the
moment—to reap the benefits of what ODH grants
enabled: dedicated time for experimentation and
iteration, increased visibility and potential for impact,
and cold hard cash (OK, direct deposit) to provide
students with real research experience. In the case of
my Digital Humanities Lab students, they would take
this experience on to graduate school and professor-
ships, to nonprofit and community work, and to jobs at
Microsoft, Meta, and the NSA, to name just some of the
places where my formerly NEH-funded students are
now employed.
In this context, I’ve been thinking back to W. E. B. Du
Bois and the students he taught at Atlanta University,
which is located just a few miles from Emory, where
I teach today. Du Bois also sent his students into an
actively disillusioning world—one in which they never-
theless went on to pursue graduate study, careers
as teachers at all levels, roles in government and as
entrepreneurs, as well as homemakers, members of
the clergy, and more. As our project team learned from
reading these students' words, what they achieved—in
the face of deeply entrenched racism and hostility—
was in large part due to the strength of their kinship
networks, their communities, and their convictions. But
a small part of the reason for their flourishing, or so I like
to think, was that in college, they had been immersed
in a sustained collaborative research project. They had
been guided through difficult questions about data
collection. They had been pushed to consider what the
data could and could not represent. And they had each
personally experienced the enhanced perspective
that always comes with accumulated knowledge
and additional research. To be clear: Du Bois and his
students faced a very different set of conditions than

my students and I do today. Speaking now just for
myself, as a person with tenure, white skin, and—in the
context of the present moment—a birth certificate from
New York State, I am infinitely more protected. But the
frequencies of Du Bois’s project that resonate with the
one that I have envisioned and sustained over the past
twelve years are real, and they are affirming. They attest
to the value of the work that takes place in universities:
work that is slow, work that students must learn from
their professors how to do, and work thatww we as their
professors hope they will carry with them wherever
they go.
In today’s world, this work matters precisely
because it is not fast or “trending,” because it is not prof-
itable or “scalable,” because it is not attractive to fascist
governments. Why this work matters is because it is so
full of possibility, it is so full of community, and at times
(my personal writing process notwithstanding) so full of
joy. This is the kind of work we need more of right now.
It’s the kind of work we need our institutions to actively
support. Indeed, it’s the kind of work that we need more
people—more students, more tech workers, and more
students who will become tech workers—to learn to
recognize, to value, and perhaps even themselves to
learn how to do.

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Hidden REF @hiddenref.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

The Hidden REF Competition is now live! The competition is your opportunity to highlight your hidden contributions to research. All the information you need to put together your submission can be found at: hidden-ref.org/hidden-ref-c... 🗓️ The deadline for submissions is 13 September

hidden-ref.org

Hidden REF Competition 2026 - The Hidden REF

Celebrating all research outputs and everyone involved in their creation The Hidden REF Competition The Hidden REF Competition celebrates all research outputs and everyone involved in […]

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Copim @copim.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

What the REF is happening with books?! We joined the @hiddenref.bsky.social team earlier this month to unpack the challenges of 🔓️ defining openness 💰️ funding models beyond BPCs 🪢 the tension between flexibility and REF policy! Listen to Ep 18. now! 🎧️

buff.ly

Ep 18. What the REF is happening with books?!

This week on What the Ref, the team heads to Plymouth for a lively workshop on non-traditional outputs before diving into a fascinating interview with Gareth Cole on the future of open access books.…

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

So excited to see this and especially pleased to see @betterimagesofai.bsky.social being used to illustrate the page!

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 02/04/2026

During WWII, the US couldn't find enough women to fill factory jobs. So, Congress used Lanham Act funds to build childcare centers in key defense production locations, offering full-time, high-quality care (and even summer and afterschool care) for <$10/day in today's dollars. 2/

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

DARIAH-IE @dariahie.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

📢 DARIAH - Training & Summer School Small Grants Call Open! Apply for funds to run a summer school, workshop, or hackathon. 🗓️ Events must take place in 2026 💰 Total pool: €10,000 ⏰ Deadline: 16 April 2026 at 17:00 CEST Open to DARIAH-IE Partner Institutions ! www.dariah.eu/2026/03/23/d...

dariah.eu

DARIAH Digital Arts and Humanities Training and Summer School Small Grants Call 2026 | DARIAH

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Society of RSE @society-rse.org · 16/03/2026

⏰ There's still time! The 2026 International RSE Survey will be open until this Friday, 20th March. ⏰

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Better Images of AI @betterimagesofai.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

❓Did you know that you can donate your own better images of AI to our library? If you make your own images and would like to help improve the transparency and inclusivity of AI media, the Better Images of AI Submission Handbook makes this easier 🙌🏽 blog.betterimagesofai.org/submission-h...

blog.betterimagesofai.org

Submission Handbook for Better Images of AI - Better Images of AI Blog

To make the process of submitting images to our library easier for everyone, we've released our Submission Handbook to Better Images of AI.

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Society of RSE @society-rse.org · 06/03/2026

The RSECon26 Call for Submissions is open! Share the tools you build and the RSE practices you are advancing. We welcome talks, workshops, and posters from all domains. Check the guidelines and submit your proposals today! Link: rsecon26.society-rse.org/calls/submis... #RSECon26

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

EPCC @epcc.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The 2026 International Research Software Engineering Survey, run by the Software Sustainability Institute, will produce valuable insight into the RSE community that can be used to advocate for the community with policymakers and funders. Closes 20 March. Have your say! edin.ac/49x1ax7

Montage promoting SSI International RSE Survey

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Edinburgh Centre for Data, Culture & Society @edcdcs.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Looking forward to hearing Dr Suzanne Black speak on the structural issues of preserving digital cultural heritage and platforms like AO3 in March! Join us! edin.ac/3MgQsSA #EdCDCS

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Sarah Pyke @sarahpyke.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Thrilled for @senatehouselib.bsky.social, who've secured funding to catalogue Jonathan Cutbill's Haud Nominandum, the largest personal collection of English-language LGBTQ+ materials in the world! We had a handling session at #QueerBibliography 2023 with a tiny selection and it's a riot also jobs!

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

It's almost like running a country based on month-by-month budgeting is not the best way to do it...

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Institute for Research Software @softwaresaved.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

🟥 The deadline for Expressions of Interest for Round 2 of the RSMF is next Wed, 25 Feb, 16:00 GMT. If you missed our live sessions, you can still get all the insights from our webinar recordings: Webinar 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUha... Webinar 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpC0...

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Got to play with some real wood type @edinburghprints.bsky.social tonight and had a blast. I took a crack at the @softwaresaved.bsky.social motto and discussed Lego printing at length, so I think it counts as #DHmakes

Impressions from wood letterpress type reading “Better software Better Research”. The top line is red, the next is black, the third is green and the final one is black.

Wooden letterpress type inked in blue, green and red ink.

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

We need your help! Over the last decade, the @softwaresaved.bsky.social and partners have collected heaps of data on the research software community. Now we want to know how you’d put that data to use. In fact, we’re so eager to know that we’re offering a prize for the best data analysis.

software.ac.uk

RSE Data Competition | Software Sustainability Institute

We need your help! We’ve got heaps of data on the research software community but want to know how you’d put that data to use.

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Society of RSE @society-rse.org · 20/01/2026

The 2026 International RSE Survey is now live! This survey will help us better understand what RSEs need and how we can advocate for the community with policymakers and funders. We'd really appreciate your input. Please share with your networks. #RSEng www.software.ac.uk/news/2026-in...

software.ac.uk

2026 International RSE Survey | Software Sustainability Institute

We have launched the 2026 International RSE Survey.

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Today the @softwaresaved.bsky.social alongside our international partners launches the 2026 Research Software Engineering Survey. If you write code for academic research we want to hear from you - even if you have a different job title. @society-rse.org @ukiedh.bsky.social @dariaheu.bsky.social

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Society of RSE @society-rse.org · 19/01/2026

The RSECon26 website is now LIVE. Join us for this special milestone as we celebrate 10 years of the RSE Conference in Sheffield from 9-11 September 2026! Check the site rsecon26.society-rse.org for: 📍 Venue 📅 Important Dates 📡 Call for Satellite Events 🤝 Sponsorship packages (Coming soon!)

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

In my opinion, this is one of the best things @society-rse.org does - if you work in research software engineering and are interested in either developing your own career or helping others develop there's, definitely check it out!

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Niche question for the American #DHmakes and #letterpress folks: does anyone know if you can take approx. 15lbs of letterpress type through TSA in your carry-on? Asking for a friend who can't afford shipping to the UK at the moment...

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Sebastian Ahnert @sebastianahnert.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

We’re hiring a two-year DH postdoc for our HAVI project, to work on a new type of knowledge graph architecture for the humanities (and beyond). Deadline soon (18 Jan)! www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...

cam.ac.uk

Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Applications are invited for a full time post doctoral researcher to work on an international collaboration to develop AI-based solutions for research on archival materials as part of the Humanities

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

DH Awards @dhawards.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Nominations are open for DH Awards 2025. Anyone can nominate things that are #DigitalHumanities, available to voters, and updated in 2025. #DH Nominations close 2026-02-26 and the only way something gets on the ballot. You only need to nominate something once. dhawards.org/dhawards2025...

dhawards.org

DH Awards 2025 – Call For Nominations | Digital Humanities Awards

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Cassie Ulph @crulph.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Apps are open for a Lead Engineer as part of the Digital Library project at UoL! The appointee will be part of the redevelopment of the library's entire digital offering, and a brilliant cross-service project team. Please share! Details here: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

jobs.leeds.ac.uk

Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Lead Engineer (Digital Library)

The interviews will be held on the 12 February 2026This role will be based on the university campus with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible worki...

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

I had a wonderfully #DHmakes Christmas, including this lovely surprise all the way from @skeuomorphpress.org! Recovering from my first day back at work by admiring it and putting some new type from Skyline Type Foundry into my 3D printed California job case.

A cardboard box from Skyline Type Foundry containing Adonis type sits next to a pamphlet titled 'A Rant about Technology'

A bright orange, 3D printed California job case holding movable type sits next to an array of hand tools and a pamplet with black text set over cool orange flames.

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

lucynoakes1.bsky.social @lucynoakes1.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252: Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email. Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk

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Digital Research Academy @digiresacademy.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Final Call! OSR applications close 30 November! If you’ve been planning to apply, this is the moment. Join an international community of researchers & open science practitioners for a week of focus, creativity, collaboration, and connection in Machynlleth. Apply: buff.ly/6z1PhfU

A picture says that Open Science Retreat Global and Join us and send in your application now.

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

RSE-Midlands @rse-midlands.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

📢 Save the date for RSE Midlands 2026! 🗓 20 April 2026 📍 University of Nottingham Details coming soon—watch this space! #RSEMidlands2026 #RSEng #Networking #Midlands rse-midlands.github.io

media.tenor.com

a calendar that says save the date is on a yellow background

ALT: a calendar that says save the date is on a yellow background

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

University of London Press @uolpress.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Very excited to publish this #OpenAccess #DigitalHumanities book today! Available to purchase in paperback, hardback and EPUB, can be downloaded for free as a PDF, or read online for free via our instance of Manifold: 🔗https://uolpress.co.uk/book/reframing-failure-in-digital-scholarship/

uolpress.co.uk

Reframing Failure in Digital Scholarship - University of London Press

Failure is ordinary. From technological failures and computational obsolescence to rejected applications and challenging collaborations, failure is an unavoidable part of any scholarly endeavour. This...

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

The Warburg Institute @warburginstitute.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

We loved hearing Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine talk about using the Warburg Library while researching for her new album on @latenightseth.bsky.social 💫 Congratulations to Florence on the release of Everybody Scream! Watch “Evelyn’s daughter” (from 2:40): youtu.be/M_mc_gErXX0?...

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

This looks like a dream job, working with the team @ukiedh.bsky.social and @dh-researchhub.bsky.social to support the digital humanities community in Ireland and the UK! #DH #Jobs

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

What better way to mark #InternatationalRSEDay (coming up on Thursday!) than applying to help organise #RSECon26, the tenth annual research software engineering conference run by @society-rse.org in Sept 2026? Learn more: society-rse.org/rsecon26-com... Apply: forms.gle/ooKQ5na6Bx9q... 📆 10 Oct

society-rse.org

RSECon26 Call for Conference Committee Members - Society of Research Software Engineering

RSECon26 Committee call is now open.

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Chef Kennedy🐸🏳️‍🌈 @kennedy.northsky.social · 23/09/2025

there's a big problem with the culture here on bluesky, and it's that not nearly enough people are posting about the 10 year anniversary of Carly Rae Jepsen's groundbreaking and timeless album EMOTION being this year and how awesome that is

the album art for the upcoming 10 year anniversary edition of Carly Rae Jepsen's EMOTION with expanded tracks

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Come join me on the organising committee for next year's #RSECon. It's a great way to give back and get to know the community, plus we'll cover the cost of your registration at the conference!

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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

What strange times, when the commander of RAF Greenham Common is coming out as a liberal supporter of the right to protest

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

This is a great opportunity to develop your own professional practice, connect with the amazing community of @softwaresaved.bsky.social fellows and help research software better! Open to UK and international applicants. @ukiedh.bsky.social @dariahie.bsky.social

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Reposted by Michael Donnay

Research@LivUni @livuniresearch.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Hear from Mareike Wehner and Dr. Natalie Wallis of #LivUni's Outputs Development team, who are looking to support more diverse research outputs and foster a research culture that drives innovation. Find out about NTOs and their impact. 👉 www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Look beyond papers for a better REF and research culture - Research Professional News

Mareike Wehner and Natalie Wallis describe how and why their university is encouraging non-traditional outputs

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Michael Donnay @mjdonnay.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Today's copyediting bugbear: journals that have a 'published online' date and different 'publication' date for the print edition. And you'll never guess which one is the 'official' one... 🙄

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