Everyone is sending me this today, which I appreciate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/w... If you want to read my hot takes on emotions and Ebola, it comes up in these papers: www.frontiersin.org/journals/com... and: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... and: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Epidemics and Rage

nytimes.com

I saw 'Disclosure Day'. Spielberg is not doing okay. But what happened to Colin Firth? What is he doing in this? Does he have some gambling debt that we don't know about?

Do we think Nussbaum is doing okay? www.telegraph.co.uk/books/author...

The world’s leading philosopher on how opera can save us

In her new book, Martha Nussbaum argues that the art form offers an antidote to division, grievance and modern self-obsession

telegraph.co.uk

Dr. Phila M. Msimang continues our spring speaker series with the talk “Is diversity higher? Against the superficial inclusion of racial and ethnic groups in biomedical and clinical research” on April 5th. You can register to attend via zoom here: hugera.org/lecture-seri...

If you work on values in science, and have noticed that the literature is a bit too focused on values in science in Anglophone democracies – and that it therefore stays silent on issues that we should be talking about – please consider submitting an abstract to our workshop! (24–25 August, Helsinki)

CFP – Pre-conference workshop: Values in science in the rest of the world

24–25 August 2026, Helsinki – just before ENPOSS 2026 Keynote speakers: David Ludwig (Wageningen University) Karoliina Pulkkinen (University of Helsinki) The idea that social, political and ethical ...

blogs.helsinki.fi

Because it isn't like the universities need foreign student fees. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/shorter...

This book is amazing! And it is on sale at News From Nowhere. Grab yourself a bargain, Liverpool friends. @benjamblack.bsky.social

Deadline approaching!

Malte Dold@maltedold.bsky.social · 8mo ago

🎓 Call for applications – 4th Lake Como INEM Summer School in Philosophy of Economics, Villa del Grumello (Como), 7–12 June 2026. Open to PhD students, young scholars & advanced MA students. Deadline 31 Jan 2026. More information: phileco4.lakecomoschool.org

Saying the quiet part out loud UK drops target for international student recruitment - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT

UK drops target for international student recruitment

Government to encourage education providers to open campuses overseas as it focuses on reducing migration

giftarticle.ft.com

"From the 1970s to the 1990s, the African university system was characterised by great instability. There were many lost years, strikes by students and teachers, & confrontations which pitted students, faculties, administrators and ministries against one another..." (Cardoso, 2020) [1/3]

Southern African colleagues. Do you have any great undergraduate students who would benefit from a Masters degree? The Ruth First scholarship is open to Southern African students to study at Durham University. Applications close end of February: ruthfirsttrust.webspace.durham.ac.uk/how-to-apply...

This whole pro-Russian bribes thing is a bit extra.

I am meant to be at an Overcoming MS conference today. But there was a big storm and the trains were cancelled. So, I am watching the hybrid version from my sofa with cat as co-pilot.

Getting spicy at INEM... Keynote by Wendy Carlin

I am in an online workshop on trust in science and I have just realised that I have been using the central text of AIDS denialism to prop up my laptop.

In a fantastic talk this morning on the history of race by @msimang.bsky.social

Universities in England at risk of long-term decline, says British Academy - on.ft.com/3U2yymV via @FT

Universities in England at risk of long-term decline, says British Academy

Outgoing president Dame Julia Black calls on ministers to overhaul their ‘confused’ approach to higher education

on.ft.com

Job Opening at the Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology at TUM! Research Fellow for 3 years (renewable). Preferably philosopher w interest in plant, crop & agricultural research (& their history and social studies) All details: www.sts.sot.tum.de/en/sts/arbei... #philsci #sts

Ya know it is troubling times in academia when a student writes to say that they loved a module you taught and they "hope it will still happen again next year". Oof.

This week I was part of an excellent health communication event @britishacademy.bsky.social. In a previous life, I interviewed doctors in South Africa & developed strong medic envy. The feeling was "nobody needs a philosopher, everyone needs a doctor". The BA event has reignited the medic envy

"Life expectancy is dropping in poorer communities. This is virtually unheard of". 😯 At a health communication event at the British Academy.

Internet friends. I need recommendations for novels set in Dakar. Thanks!

The QS rankings are out, and it's not good news for UK universities (60% of which have dropped in the rankings). Part of this is of course simply due to Asia's investment in its universities. Then there's the bit that reflects the UK's HEI divestment. Link: www.topuniversities.com/world-univer...

Majority of British universities slip down global rankings

Chinese, Indian and south-east Asian institutions climb the annual list

ft.com

I am so glad to see that this has finally come out! "Towards a Theory of Objectivity for Activist Research" Nancy Cartwright, Samuel Foglesong, Katherine Furman, Byron Hyde, Gabriel Nyberg, Karina Ortiz Villa, Helena Slanickova upmonographs.up.ac.za/index.php/ES...

May he rest in power. His work has been such an enormous influence on me. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, giant of African literature, dies aged 87

Kenyan writer’s death announced by his daughter, who wrote: ‘He lived a full life, fought a good fight’

theguardian.com

I guess I have to give up my Labour Party membership. I am one of the "strangers" they would prefer not to have around.

She lives! My book published by @manchesterup.bsky.social ‘Women’s Troubles: Gender and Feminist Politics in Northern Ireland.’ Cover image kindly provided by @frecklescorp.bsky.social of her work ‘The Slapper’ www.emmacampbell.co.uk/emma-campbell @livunipol.bsky.social @livunihss.bsky.social

I have said it before. I will say it again. When is government going to step in? Where are the vice chancellors in this? www.ft.com/content/7514...

The English higher education market is broken

New regulator powers should include the ability to claw back pay from vice-chancellors in the event of financial catastrophe

ft.com

We are organising a multidisciplinary workshop on pseudoscience in working life. If the topic interests you, please consider submitting an abstract! blogs.helsinki.fi/pseudoscienc...

Me, this morning: "what do you think of my teaching outfit for today? I am going for Dolly Parton in the late 80s, early 90s." Partner: "Sure... That's a choice"