iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Shafquat Towheed

OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Our new podcast episode drops today! Dr Francesca Benatti and Dr Shafquat Towheed discuss comics, and whether they are good quality reading material. Find 'The OU Literature Podcast' on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast providers. Image (C) Jessica Abel used under CC 3.0.

A post featuring a very colourful page from a graphic novel showing characters drawn in bright colours with speech bubbles, set in the centre of a blue surround, with the words 'Is reading comics bad for you?' in the centre, followed by the words 'A new episode from re: reading - The OU Literature Podcast'

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Dr Francesca Benatti @rhymesontheroad.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Is reading comics bad for you? Discover what I think in this podcast where I discuss it with my colleague @shaftowheed.bsky.social

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

In case you missed this, the recording will be available until the end of 2026 - everything you wanted to know about the SHARP Book Prize 👇🏼

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

📚 Remediating the Early Book: Pasts and Futures conference in Dublin. PhD student Ruth Allen presented her collaborative doctoral research with the National Trust on medieval books in its collections. Supervisors: Dr Andy Murray & Dr Susie West. #BookHistory #ArtHistory @shaftowheed.bsky.social

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

📢 This Wednesday: What is the role of the public humanities in the 21st century? Join OpenARC for a free online conference bringing together researchers, teachers and learners to explore some of the key challenges facing Arts & Humanities education and research today. @shaftowheed.bsky.social

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Come and join us on Wednesday - to get your meeting link, just email FASS-Arts-Research-Centre@open.ac.uk and they will forward the meeting link to you

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Researchers, teachers and learners are all welcome. 💡 Join individual sessions throughout the day according to your availability. 🖊️ To register please email: FASS-Arts-Research-Centre@open.ac.uk

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

The conference will examine issues including: 📚 The increasing instrumentalisation of university study 🏫 The narrowing of school curricula 🔬 The prioritisation of STEM And ask what role critical and creative thinking should play in today's world.

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

🎓 What is the role of the humanities in the 21st century? Join OpenARC's free online conference exploring the challenges and opportunities facing Arts & Humanities education and research today. 📅 17 June 2026 ⏰ From 9:30am 📍 Online #PublicHumanities #ArtsAndHumanities

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Just a reminder, this time next week! Join us for this free conference on the Public Humanities in the 21st century, just send an email to the OpenARC inbox to receive your Teams meeting link

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SHARP @sharpweb.org · 13/05/2026

Hey book nerds! We just hit 200 registrants for the SHARPIES! Don't let July 7th-9th be the worst bout of FOMO you've ever experienced. Register now! events.zoom.us/ev/Ap9iEZwmC...

events.zoom.us

SHARPIES: A Global Book History Festival

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SHARP @sharpweb.org · 12/05/2026

Are you interested in archives? Publishing? What about accounts of power and race in archives and publishing? Well, the SHARPIES online book history festival has got some new scholarship for you to check out. Consider registering today (and tell your friends!) events.zoom.us/ev/Ap9iEZwmC...

"Stacker/Finder/Keeper": Mayme Clayton and the Itinerant Life of Black Books keynote by Ruthie Block, Tuesday, July 7 @ 2:30pm UTC
Archives, Power, and Preservation: A Conversation hosted by Colleen Barrett, Tuesday, July 7 @ 6:30pm UTC
Minority Publishing: A Conversation hosted by Asha Rogers, Wednesday, July 8 @ 7:30pm UTC

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SHARP @sharpweb.org · 26/05/2026

You'll also need to register to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM), where members learn about what the Executive Council and Board have been up to, what SHARP is planning for the future, and what prizes have been awarded. The AGM will be on Tuesday July 7th at 8pm UTC.

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SHARP @sharpweb.org · 26/05/2026

Have you ever wondered what SHARP is? How to get published in one of SHARP's publications? Or how the SHARP Book Prize gets awarded? You're not alone! Register for the SHARPIES to get answers to these questions and more! events.zoom.us/ev/Ap9iEZwmC...

A poster for the following events:
SHARP News Editor Panel with Allie Alvis, Madeline Zehnder and hosted by Jolie Braun, Wednesday, July 8 @ 6pm UTC
Editor Insights: Book History and Lingua Franca with Yuri Cowan and Susan Pickford and hosted by Michelle Michel, Thursday, July 9 @ 1pm UTC
Demystifying the SHARP Book Prize, Kinohi Nishikawa interviewed by Shafquat Towheed, Thursday, July 9 @ 6pm UTC.

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

An exciting new project, congratulations @sjwolfson.bsky.social 🎉

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

🔭 Explore what’s coming up at OpenARC - The Open University Arts & Humanities Research Centre! We host research groups, facilitate disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, events & funding support. 🔗 Discover all upcoming activities and news here:

fass.open.ac.uk

The Open University

OpenARC, The Open University Arts & Humanities Research Centre, is the hub for research in the School of Arts and Humanities at The Open University. It hosts a broad range of research groups, and…

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

🏛️ Prof Elizabeth McKellar and Prof Clare Taylor attended the Vanbrugh Panel Discussion at Blenheim Palace, exploring the legacy of Sir John Vanbrugh. Sharing photos from the evening — including Blenheim Palace wrapped in scaffolding during ongoing conservation work. #Architecture #BlenheimPalace

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Congratulations to Emily Bullock who has been shortlisted for the Aurora Metro Virginia Prize for Fiction 👏

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🎓 Congratulations to Michael Terry on successfully passing his PhD viva 🎉 The title of Michael’s thesis is "The Representation of Aerial Combat in First World War Literature". Supervisors: Sara Haslam & Edmund King. #PhD #VivaSuccess #DoctoralResearch #FirstWorldWar

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Just a reminder, our Public Humanities conference is in 2 weeks time on 17 June! Final programme and the registration link will be available shortly, please do register for a free place.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Congratulations to our colleague, fiction writer Emily Bullock! Emily has been shortlisted for the Aurora Metro Virginia Prize for Fiction with her manuscript: For Always Only. She is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the OU and Associate Lecturer on Advanced Creative Writing module A363.

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University English @univeng.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

#EnglishCreates: Futures Today, Dr Shafquat Towheed (The Open University) asks a crucial question: Will we still be reading English literature in the future? Despite numerous challenges, he suggests that the answers are more promising than we might assume... universityenglish.ac.uk/will-we-stil...

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

These moments of exchange & creativity are what we’re building on as we move towards June’s conference—exploring what it means to practise public humanities today. 📅 Save the date: 17 June 2026 💻 Online, free & open to all 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/events/confe... @shaftowheed.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

We really enjoyed a wonderful day of research talks at the @openarc.bsky.social Spring Festival yesterday. OpenARC is the research centre for Arts and Humanities at The Open University. Thanks to @shaftowheed.bsky.social and the team for making it such a success! #artsresearch #publichumanities

Spring flowers at the foot of a tree, in warm Spring sunshine

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

🎓 OU PhD Student Lecture Series | 30 Apr–21 May 2026 Join a series of online talks from Open University PhD students. Everyone is welcome—come learn something new and support our postgraduate researchers! 🖇️ fass.open.ac.uk/events/next-... @shaftowheed.bsky.social @ou-ld-social.bsky.social

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

👥Our 17 dynamic interdisciplinary research groups showcase the breadth of Arts & Humanities research — from established strengths to emerging areas shaping future inquiry. 🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/research/cen... @shaftowheed.bsky.social @ou-ld-social.bsky.social @oulibrary.bsky.social

fass.open.ac.uk

The Open University

OpenARC, The Open University Arts & Humanities Research Centre, is the hub for research in the School of Arts and Humanities at The Open University. It hosts a broad range of research groups, and faci...

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Reposted by Dr Shafquat Towheed

OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

We'll post about our research groups over the next days, starting with... 1️⃣ Baron Thyssen Centre for the Study of Ancient Material Religion (Classical Studies) — exploring the material, visual & sensory worlds of Greek, Etruscan & Roman religions. Director/Deputy: Jessica Hughes/Emma-Jayne Graham

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Find out more about the research groups in The School of Arts & Humanities at the OU below 👇🏼

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OpenARC Research Centre @openarc.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

💡 External Funding Workshop (OpenARC) 🎨 📅 Monday 16 February 2026 ⏰ 2PM–4PM 💻 Online via Microsoft Teams OU colleagues at all career stages are warmly invited to join this practical workshop on developing successful external funding bids. To register, email: FASS-Arts-Research-Centre@open.ac.uk

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

OU colleagues, come and join us for this online workshop, details below 👇🏼

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

The deadline is being extended to 28 November so there’s still time to apply if you want to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief of SHARP News - details below 👇🏼

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

The conference has started! Plenty of sessions over 3 days on Letters and Literature so do come and join us!

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Are you a social media savvy book historian with a talent for sharing news in the digital sphere? We might have a role for you! SHARP News is looking for a new editor, details below👇🏼

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

The first of a series of postcards for our free online conference: Letters and Literature 1500-2025, 5-7 November 2025. Full programme: digital-humanities.open.ac.uk/letters2025/... Every day we'll share a postcard sent to us by one of our guest speakers. Watch out for tomorrow’s!

A postcard showing scenes from the town of Chapel Hill

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

SHARPists & book historians, do you know about our ‘Letters and Literature’ conference next week online on Teams? Details below, check the programme and please do register online for any sessions that interest you! ✉️✍🏽 @sharpnews.bsky.social

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Excited to announce the launch of the Writers’ Nook in Café Wilbers, Tees Restaurant, UHNT, Stockton on Tees, developed with Dr. Siobhan Campbell of @openuniversity.bsky.social and Nurse Consultant Mel McEvoy. Official unveiling on Tuesday 14 October, 3pm. PLEASE SHARE AND COME ALONG!

Press release for the launch of the Writers' Nook at University Hospital North Tees on 14th of October 2025 at 3pm

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SHARP News @sharpnews.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

REMINDER: Deadline to apply to be the next SHARP News Bibliographer(s) coming up soon! Apply by October 01 2025. See the link for details: sharpweb.org/sharpnews/20... #BookHistory #Bibliography #Bibliographer #Research #Zotero #Publishing #Books

sharpweb.org

Call for Applicants: SHARP News Bibliographers – SHARP NEWS

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

We are delighted to reveal that our colleague Ed Hogan has been shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. His story, Little Green Man, will be broadcast today at 15:30 on BBC Radio 4: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio 4 - BBC National Short Story Award, BBC National Short Story Award 2025, Little Green Man by Edward Hogan

Edward Hogan's tender story is in the running for the 20th BBC National Short Story Award.

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OU English and Creative Writing @ouliterature.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Excited to see the preparations for our upcoming Conference: ‘Letters and Literature 1500-2025: histories, forms, communities’ Online only from the 5th to 7th of November 2025. More details soon!

‘Letters and Literature 1500-2025: histories, forms, communities’
Online only conference from the 5th to 7th of November 2025.

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Dr Shafquat Towheed @shaftowheed.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

SHARP is looking for a new treasurer! Details below, please send in your nominations by 7 April (applicants will need to be US based/US citizens for this role)

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