Tessera

John V Willshire @willsh.bsky.social · 5d ago

I was asked to host a #peoplesemergencybriefing this week, and have made a set of cards to help the facilitation afterwards. Have put them up here as a free to download resource, for printing professionally, at home or using online. Please share with others. #peb #neb smithery.com/peoples_emer...

People’s Emergency Briefing - Action Cards

Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · last wk.

I love it when institutions step up & face the challenges. And this is @ihr.bsky.social stepping up. Sure, will be directly helping only a few people, but what a solace to know clever people are trying to come up with support in the face of the overwhelming crisis. www.history.ac.uk/fellowships-...

The IHR Trust Career Support Scheme 2026-2027

The IHR Trust is pleased to announce the launch of a new Career Support Scheme for historians.

The scheme directly addresses the UK-wide context of cuts, closures and redundancies currently faced by historians. Over 30,000 jobs have been lost within Universities in the past three years, with academic job losses disproportionately affecting Humanities researchers. Redundancies and programme closures have been felt across the four nations and their regions, leading to losses at every level in the academic pipeline.

This context leaves many researchers unable to complete projects in which they have invested considerable time and resource, and which will have real value to the history community and wider public.

The six month Bridging Fellowships are designed to provide a history home for those who need one. They sit alongside the IHR’s other funded schemes which include Doctoral and Post-doctoral Fellowships and Applied History Fellowships, as well as the non-stipendiary IHR Fellowship.

In this first year of the scheme, we will accept applications from those who have lost academic posts within the last three years (dated from the scheme closure date of 31st January 2027) or who have been awarded their PhD within the last three years (dated from the scheme closure date of 31st January 2027). We hope to extend the scheme in later years if funding can be raised to do so.

The Fellowships are designed to provide some of the resources needed to complete unfinished projects including time, money, skills, intellectual infrastructure, mentoring and community. They also provide space and support to plan next career steps, whether back into academia or into other history-related sectors.

Fellows will be supported by the IHR’s training package and encouraged to avail themselves of its resources, publication opportunities, and the national research seminar programme. They will have access to the IHR Library and its dig…

Conway Hall @conwayhall.bsky.social · 2w ago

Join us this Halloween as we screen Robert Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari followed by a post-screening discussion asking the questions of complexity of moral responsibility and what the horror genre unveils about human nature. 🔪 🩸 📅 Friday 30 October 🕒 6.30pm 🎫 https://loom.ly/65NKYMM

Catherine Fletcher @catherinefletcher.info · 2w ago

Well this is miserable news. Free Thinking was one of the few spaces in broadcasting for serious (not PR-led) discussion about arts and humanities.

Matthew Sweet@drmatthewsweet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Sorry to inform to you that Free Thinking has been axed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Glasgow Review of Books @glasgowrevbooks.bsky.social · 3w ago

‘After a dormant year, the Glasgow Review of Books revives again as a platform for writing from Glasgow and beyond, in English, Gaelic, and Scots.’ A note from the editorial team, ahead of publicising our Autumn / 2026 release, which can now be found on our website.

Ramón Soneira-Martínez @rsoneira.bsky.social · 3w ago

See you next Wednesday!!! ⏬⏬⏬

ISHASH@ishash.bsky.social · 3w ago

Join us next Wednesday (7 October) for what’s sure to be a fascinating talk by @rsoneira.bsky.social on ‘Relational Atheism: Studying Unbelief in Ancient Greece’. All welcome, please share widely! Full details here: atheismsecularismhumanism.wordpress.com/seminars/

Blue event poster for ISHASH Webinar: Dr Ramón Soneira-Martínez, 7 October 2026, 10.00 PT, 13.00 ET, 18.00 BST, 19.00 CET. Relational Atheism: Studying Unbelief in Ancient Greece. Email ishashmail@gmail.com to register

ISHASH @ishash.bsky.social · 3w ago

Join us next Wednesday (7 October) for what’s sure to be a fascinating talk by @rsoneira.bsky.social on ‘Relational Atheism: Studying Unbelief in Ancient Greece’. All welcome, please share widely! Full details here: atheismsecularismhumanism.wordpress.com/seminars/

Felicity Callard @felicitycallard.bsky.social · last mo.

The brutal reality of universities' suppression of wages (in KPMG's report for DfE on cost of undergraduate provision in England) assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6aabfa...

Table 1 – Cost increases since the last study by cost type
Actual % increase
between 2016-17 and
2019 study cost groupings
2023-24 weighted
average unit cost
Staff costs 14%
Non-pay costs 46%
Indirect departmental costs -24%
Centrally allocated indirect costs 29%
Estates costs 40%
Sustainability adjustment -2%

Source: Analysis of Data Returns
Table 1 shows that costs have not increased equally in the time between the two costing studies. Non-pay costs have increased slightly ahead of inflation and estates costs have increased in line with inflation. Universities have managed staff costs significantly below inflation, increasing only by 14% compared to the 41.2% increase in RPIX. By contrast, indirect departmental costs have reduced by 24%, but this may be due to differences in the universities participating in the 2019 and this study. The movement in MSI is reflective of changes in financial performance rather than any inflationary impact.

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · last mo.

Faculty Research Impact Officer, Arts & Humanities, @ucl.ac.uk (deadline 4 Oct). It’s a version of the role I had back in 2019, and could be a brilliant opportunity for those whose have recently finished a PhD, have some experience of engagement/impact, and aren't sure what their next step might be.

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · last mo.

Faculty Research Impact Officer, Arts & Humanities, @ucl.ac.uk (deadline 4 Oct). It’s a version of the role I had back in 2019, and could be a brilliant opportunity for those whose have recently finished a PhD, have some experience of engagement/impact, and aren't sure what their next step might be.

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · last mo.

Looking forward to chairing this sure to be fascinating conversation next week! All welcome, in person and online - please share widely.

Conway Hall@conwayhall.bsky.social · last mo.

Join philosophy experts Christopher Insole and Stephen Law for an insightful discussion from the opposite sides of the religious debate as we look to find a place to go when the facts run out. 📅 Wednesday 16 Sept 🕒 6.30pm 📍 Conway Hall or online via livestream 🎫 https://tinyurl.com/nhcmcueh

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · last mo.

Looking forward to chairing this sure to be fascinating conversation next week! All welcome, in person and online - please share widely.

Conway Hall@conwayhall.bsky.social · last mo.

Join philosophy experts Christopher Insole and Stephen Law for an insightful discussion from the opposite sides of the religious debate as we look to find a place to go when the facts run out. 📅 Wednesday 16 Sept 🕒 6.30pm 📍 Conway Hall or online via livestream 🎫 https://tinyurl.com/nhcmcueh

Peter Mandler @petermandler.bsky.social · last mo.

An important point that successive governments have failed to grapple with: 'research' is much more capacious than 'science' and if we use the latter to mean the former we will be missing out on important parts. (1/n)

Hetan Shah@hetanshah.bsky.social · last mo.

When asked in the Q&A about arts and humanities he says he personally values them (seems very genuine) but that he is the Science Minister, and it’s for the DCMS Minister to make the case for those. He’s perhaps not yet clocked he is responsible for all R&D. Would Wissenschaft Minister work better?

Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

<opens wikipedia to check on this 'Global University Systems' thingy that's so keen to absorb UK universities in distress> Excellent work by the UK government. Very wise to get tuition fees neatly flow out of the country instead of reforming the system that puts unis in distress in the first place.

Etingen established Global University Systems in 2013.[7] Its UK business model relied on access to state-funded loans for student tuition fees, which since 2010 was a model for privatizing English higher education.[8] GUS was incorporated in the Netherlands as a Besloten vennootschap (or BV) and in turn became the owner of the LSBF Group institutions and St Patrick's College through Dutch holding companies. While BVs are required to produce financial statements and file them with the Dutch KvK, the Netherlands has a favourable tax regime compared to the UK.

Hugh Jones@hbsj.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My suspicion is that the choices for the board of governors were this, or no longer being a going concern, so I understand why its been done But also, what a place we've got ourselves into: this is not a sign of a healthy system www.lincolnbishop.ac.uk/news/lincoln...

ISHASH @ishash.bsky.social · 3mo ago

For our next webinar we’ll be hosting @rsoneira.bsky.social who will share insights from new book ‘Relational Atheism: Studying Unbelief in Ancient Greece’ on Wed 7 October. Save the date! atheismsecularismhumanism.wordpress.com/seminars/

ISHASH @ishash.bsky.social · 3mo ago

We’re delighted to announce Dr Niels De Nutte as the new co-director of ISHASH, working alongside @claregs.bsky.social. Huge thanks to @antnlj.bsky.social for his brilliant work as co-director over the past 8 years! atheismsecularismhumanism.wordpress.com/team/

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A new UPEN blog by me, highlighting the latest conversations, publications and activities in the Areas of Research Interest space. ARIs are a great way for researchers to start engaging with policy - check it out! upen.ac.uk/resources/bu...

Graphic that reads ‘What's happening in the world of Areas of Research Interest?’, with photo of me (white women with glasses) smiling in conversation. Orange background branded Universities Policy Engagement Network.

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Excited that Alison Stone’s new book ‘The Philosophy of Julia Wedgwood: Imperfect Antithesis‘ is #openaccess! Wedgwood is such an important Victorian thinker - essential reading for history of philosophy & women’s intellectual history! #ethics #metaphysics www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116...

Book cover of Alison Stone’s ‘The Philosophy of Julia Wedgwood: Imperfect Antithesis‘ - painterly umber background

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Excited that Alison Stone’s new book ‘The Philosophy of Julia Wedgwood: Imperfect Antithesis‘ is #openaccess! Wedgwood is such an important Victorian thinker - essential reading for history of philosophy & women’s intellectual history! #ethics #metaphysics www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116...

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I had the best time at @humanists.uk‘s Festival of Humanism sharing the poetry of historical humanists, hearing about the power of poetry for humanists today & showing this unique scrapbook from @conwayhall.bsky.social‘s archive! Support Conway Hall: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/conway-hall

A photo of an open book crammed with overlapping cuttings of poetry taken from nineteenth century radical newspapers. Caption reads J. M. Wheeler, Freethought
Readings and Secular Songs
(1892), 828 WHE. Conway Hall Library. Plus a QR code to support Conway Hall via a crowdfunder

Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Such an energising, thought-provoking, fortifying, and enjoyable weekend with 650 humanists from across the UK. The annual @humanists.uk festival really is a highlight and Bournemouth was a sparkling diamond of a town. See you all next year! humanists.uk/2026/06/15/o...

Over 650 humanists gather in Bournemouth for the Festival of Humanism

Over 650 humanists from across the UK – and beyond – travelled to Bournemouth June 12-14 for the Festival of Humanism, Humanists UK’s flagship annual event. Held at Bournemouth’s International Centre ...

humanists.uk

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I had the best time at @humanists.uk‘s Festival of Humanism sharing the poetry of historical humanists, hearing about the power of poetry for humanists today & showing this unique scrapbook from @conwayhall.bsky.social‘s archive! Support Conway Hall: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/conway-hall

Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 4mo ago

After a fascinating session in Purbeck Hall about the experiences of apostates and the work of @faith2faithless.bsky.social, we’re now joined by historian @claregs.bsky.social and @madeleineog.bsky.social for a discussion of ‘the power of poetry’ for humanists across history.

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 5mo ago

It’s my birthday tomorrow - seeing Conway Hall reach its Crowdfunder target would be an amazing gift! Please share widely, and donate if you can ❤️

Conway Hall@conwayhall.bsky.social · 5mo ago

In a divided world, how can YOU help build a fairer, more compassionate society? 🤔 We need to raise £5,000 to continue broadening the reach of ethics through talks, concerts and events, welcoming over 100,000 people each year. Donate to our Crowdfunder today: https://bit.ly/4uUvUzM

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 5mo ago

It’s my birthday tomorrow - seeing Conway Hall reach its Crowdfunder target would be an amazing gift! Please share widely, and donate if you can ❤️

Conway Hall@conwayhall.bsky.social · 5mo ago

In a divided world, how can YOU help build a fairer, more compassionate society? 🤔 We need to raise £5,000 to continue broadening the reach of ethics through talks, concerts and events, welcoming over 100,000 people each year. Donate to our Crowdfunder today: https://bit.ly/4uUvUzM

Alix Dunn @alixdunn.com · 5mo ago

Oh hell yeah @amnesty.org comes out swinging: "Amnesty International finds that standalone generative AI systems... are fundamentally incompatible with IHRL. As such, Amnesty International is calling for a prohibition of such systems." www.amnesty.org/en/documents...

Unlawful by design: Exposing the human rights costs of generative AI - Amnesty International

This briefing examines how standalone generative AI systems, based on unlawful web scraping, are in conflict with international human rights law (IHRL) and standards through their design, development ...

amnesty.org

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Conway Hall is integral to the history of ethical thinking in the UK - but we need your support to ensure it remains a place where people can come and think together well into the future. Please donate to our Crowdfunder if you’re able! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/BWdqeewn @conwayhall.bsky.social

A photo of a diverse crowd of people talking outside the brick frontage of the historic Conway Hall Ethical Society in London

Conway Hall @conwayhall.bsky.social · 5mo ago

And just like that, our Crowdfunder is LIVE! 🥳 We need to raise £5,000 to continue broadening the reach of ethics through talks, concerts and events, welcoming over 100,000 people each year. It starts with ethics. It starts with you. Donate to our Crowdfunder today: https://bit.ly/4uUvUzM

Victorian Turkish Baths @victurk.bsky.social · 5mo ago

You started your site—with its wonderful quotations & Victorian sexual factoids pages—a year before I started mine. Perhaps there ought to be an Order of Authors of Ancient Website (Oh awe) to commemorate those who have, like us, single-handedly maintained websites for 25 years or more. Suggestions?

Lesley A Hall@erinacean.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Still maintaining/updating (by hand) my website, and some of it rather languishes these days, but I am still finding bits and pieces of references to add to the Literary Abortion page www.lesleyahall.net/abortion.htm

@nottspolitics.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Following on from the publication of the new edition of 'On Liberty', @hrmccabe.bsky.social will be joining @humanists.uk on 20 May to discuss Harriet Taylor Mill, her recognition as co-author & her profound philosophical legacy ℹ️ Event info ➡️ humanists.uk/events/in-conversation-with/helen-mccabe/

In conversation with Helen McCabe

Join us and Professor Helen McCabe as we dive into Harriet Taylor Mill's profound philosophical legacy, highlighting the groundbreaking new research that finally recognizes her as a co-author of the i...

humanists.uk

@nottspolitics.bsky.social · 6mo ago

"It is great to be part of this collaborative project to see justice done for Harriet Taylor Mill, and John Stuart Mill". @nottspolitics.bsky.social Prof. @drhmccabe.bsky.social on the publication of the new edition of On Liberty 📚 Read more about it here 🔗 tinyurl.com/mwcv3sfr