Rarely here now. I use Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/brett-smi...

Around 6.4% of the UK population report having self-harmed in their lifetime. But how is self-harm influenced by culture? Congratulations to @veronicaheney.bsky.social who has won a prestigious Wellcome Early Career award to re-configure understandings of self-harm. @durham.ac.uk

Veronica Heney to shed new light on self-harm - Durham University

durham.ac.uk

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a new IMH Co-Director, Shauna Concannon 🎉 Shauna is Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities and Computer Science @durham.ac.uk and brings a wealth experience to the role, starting on 1 September 2026. Welcome! www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...

New Co-Director Shauna Concannon - Durham University

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a new IMH Co-Director, Dr Shauna Concannon.

durham.ac.uk

This exciting new research project @sheffielduni.bsky.social aspires to create a more inclusive, creative and diverse university through engaging disability, neurodivergence and research culture. @dangoodley.bsky.social Read now in the Trust's latest newsletter: www.flipsnack.com/leverhulmetr...

Depathologising research culture through disability and neurodivergence

This exciting new research project – based in iHuman and the School of Education at the University of Sheffield – aspires to create a more inclusive, creative and diverse university through engaging disability, neurodivergence and research culture

flipsnack.com

What can the medical humanities bring to sport and exercise research? Emily Davis & Kate Marks from our Moving Bodies Lab shared their work at the International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise @qrsesociety.bsky.social. Read the writeup: medhumsplatform.org/moving-bodie...

Moving Bodies at the International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport & Exercise

Moving Bodies Lab researchers Emily Davis and Kate Marks report on the QRSE Conference at the University of Toronto, Canda.

medhumsplatform.org

On Friday our May newsletter hit inboxes 📥 This edition showcases latest news from the IMH and Discovery Research Platform, welcomes new staff and Fellows and highlights some upcoming events. Read it here: mailchi.mp/durham.ac.uk...

IMH newsletter: May 2026

News & updates from the Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University.

mailchi.mp

UUK, VCs, etc need to be on the barricades here pointing out 1) they cannot control the labour market for grad jobs 2) most evidence suggests people do in fact benefit financially from degrees and 3) the universities did not want, did not introduce, and do not benefit from the current loan system.

Dave Andress@davidandress.bsky.social · 2mo ago

While we debate this absolute shitshow, we should also bear in mind that, because a decade of Tory governments refused to raise student fees, universities now have 25% less money per student, in real terms, than a decade ago. And that is one central reason why so many of them are sacking staff.

📺️ Catch up on our events! In March we held a 3-day interdisciplinary Measurement Heretics workshop. If you missed it, you can catch up on the keynote talk 'A fluid history of measurement' here: ▶️

Measurement Heretics

Measurement Heretics: Being, Meaning, and Measuring Well (Day 1) — "A fluid history of measurement: The drop in the metric revolution"

vimeo.com

📣📣 Registered social workers in England wanted for PhD research at the University of Liverpool examining frontline discretion, ethical tensions and pressures in practice under austerity. Please share and consider taking part. Contact: T.Leeks@liverpool.ac.uk

Interested in Esports? Read our new research in @qrseh.bsky.social on the developing role of Esports Coaches doi.org/10.1080/2159... #narrativeinquiry #creativenonfiction #qualitativeresearch #stories

Shouldering the burden: how stories shape esports coaching careers

Esports coaches have become a prominent feature of the esports landscape, yet currently not much is known about esports coaching practices, research, and education. Consequently, esports coaches ha...

doi.org

Two of our researchers @georgiapunton.bsky.social & @aldersonday.bsky.social explore the concept of imagination in articles published April's edition of @psychmag.bsky.social, part of a six-part series on the imagination 💭 Read the articles 👇

Reimagining imagination in The Psychologist

Ben Alderson-Day and Georgia Punton explore imagination through two articles recently published in The Psychologist.

medhumsplatform.org

📢April 30, 2026: Webinar With Authors from the POQ Special Issue on #Qualitative Research - Sponsored by the DC chapter of @aapor.bsky.social Read about it here bit.ly/4eddVQ9 And register here www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-publi...

New research highlights a key issue in sport: chasing the “ideal” body composition is common, but the evidence linking specific body metrics to performance is unclear. Dr Therese Fostervold Mathisen & DSES' Dr Lindsay Macnaughton look into the importance of the evidence here: doi.org/10.1136/bjsp...

This is what “ keep men out of women’s sports” should mean. Disgusting.

We are please to announce the 7th Annual Eurasian Sport Industry Conference This year's theme is the sport industry in a turbulent world Submissions invited in: - Technology - Environment - Geopolitical economy - Governance Koln, Germany 4th November 2026 Details en.em-lyon.com.cn/news/view/505

New Online Seminar Series on Qualitative Research and Inclusion Announced A new online seminar series has been launched by INQRDPE, focusing on key topics in qualitative research, disability, and inclusive physical education. The first session, titled “Positionality & Reflexivity in Qualitative…

New Online Seminar Series on Qualitative Research and Inclusion Announced

A new online seminar series has been launched by INQRDPE, focusing on key topics in qualitative research, disability, and inclusive physical education. The first session, titled “Positionality & Reflexivity in Qualitative Research,” will be delivered by Dr. Antonios Ktenidis on May 6, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 (GMT-4). The seminar will examine how researchers’ identities and experiences influence the research process, highlighting implications for ethical and rigorous practice.

ifapa.net

🚨 Call for Abstracts: The New Measurement Heretics We welcome proposals from researchers in the philosophy, history, sociology, and anthropology of measurement who would like to address themes around formal & informal measurement concepts ⚖️ Find out more 👇 medhumsplatform.org/call-for-abs...

Call for Abstracts: The New Measurement Heretics

We invite proposals from researchers in the philosophy, history, sociology and anthropology of measurement for a new edited collection. Deadline 15 June 2026.

medhumsplatform.org

Next week, join us for a dynamic day exploring dancing across different disciplines, forms, spaces, and communities 🩰 📆 Tuesday 28 April, 10am-4pm 📍 Durham Book your free spot: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dancing-ac...

Dancing Across Disciplines

Keen to move and be moved? Join us for a dynamic 1-day event exploring dancing across different disciplines, forms, spaces, and communities.

eventbrite.co.uk

I wrote about the unusual phenomenon of *reality shifting* for @psychmag.bsky.social - have a look, and get in touch if you've ever travelled to another world. Yes, we've gone full Narnia.

The Psychologist@psychmag.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Reality shifting – at the boundaries of the brain. @aldersonday.bsky.social explores extremes of the imagination… www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

In bloom: nurturing lived experience researchers and responsiveness – reflections and recommendations from an intersectional lens Sumedha Verma www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

In bloom: nurturing lived experience researchers and responsiveness – reflections and recommendations from an intersectional lens

Within the Western academic landscape, a binary seems to exist: either we are the researcher or the ‘lived experience’ participant. Academics who carry their own lived/living experiences therefore ...

tandfonline.com

🌷My book is available at de Gruyter: www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi... ❣️Please order it for your institutional library❣️ if you are interested in #collaborativegrammar, people collaboratively producing turns, #grammarofspokenlanguage, #clausecombining, #socialinteraction & much more! #emca☘️

Here comes the ☀️

If anyone is interested in narrative and physical activity do get in touch. I co-lead the narrative lab practices lab within @durhamimh.bsky.social that is funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social . We want to hear more about great work / people interested in narrative and storytelling for health

ISBNPA@isbnpa.bsky.social · 4mo ago

#ISBNPA2026 Pre-Conference #Workshop This interactive workshop equips participants with practical narrative tools to communicate science with clarity, authenticity, and impact. Learn more and register here: https://loom.ly/rITDO_s

#ISBNPA2026 Pre-Conference #Workshop This interactive workshop equips participants with practical narrative tools to communicate science with clarity, authenticity, and impact. Learn more and register here: https://loom.ly/rITDO_s

Love this message about schools, libraries and books, which we need far more than trillions of dollars being spent on AI? #HigherEd #AcademicSky #edchat

Bill Leibenguth@bill-leibenguth.bsky.social · 5mo ago

A Penguin Books vending machine, with a selection of books I wouldn’t have expected to see at a train station

ICYMI – Recordings from the one-day workshop 'The Senses and Medical Humanities' organised by @claireturner.bsky.social of our Affective Experience Lab are now available to watch online. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this event! ▶️ medhumsplatform.org/the-senses-a...

The Senses and Medical Humanities

Recordings from the one-day workshop The Senses and Medical Humanities, organised by the Affective Experience Lab at Durham University, are now available to watch online.

medhumsplatform.org

Our spring newsletter is out! 🌸 This edition features some fascinating publications by our researchers, highlights from @the-polyphony.bsky.social and, as always, lots of upcoming free events. Read it online: mailchi.mp/durham.ac.uk...

IMH newsletter: March 2026

News & updates from the Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University.

mailchi.mp

🚆A Day Trip to Durham – Co-production and Physical Activity Event Our Co-production Lead, Liddie, wrote about her recent trip up to Durham Uni and reflections on wider co-production work! Read more 👇 getyourselfactive.org/a-day-trip-t...

🎉 Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences ranked in the Top 100 sport-related departments in world. 🎉 We have been ranked in the Top 100 in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject. We have continued this top 100 position since 2020. More here: www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...