be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy

Very grateful for the Ctic Coaster mini-bus that operates around St David's peninsula today.

Always good to hear Royal Northern Sinfonia on the radio. My sister's orchestra and I don't get to see them live as often as I'd like.

The Past and other Places@pastandotherplaces.bsky.social · 12h ago

The Unthanks and friends with Royal Northern Sinfonia tonight on Radio 3 (5th Aug). "Songs shaped by the North and reimagined by the orchestra in bold new ways. an evening of storytelling, atmosphere and musical alchemy." #Northumbria #NorthEastEngland #music #proms www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Funding for UK researchers to attend a research collaboration symposium on the broad theme of ‘Humans and Nature: More resilient towards the future’.

The British Academy@britishacademy.bsky.social · yesterday

Are you an early career researcher in the humanities and social sciences? Join the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium to network with fellow researchers in an in-person symposium in Bonn, Germany. Apply now: https://bit.ly/4yL3Stm

Absolutely. Plus better education and training for pet owners, especially those who have dogs and cats.

Matthew Kelly@matthewjkelly.bsky.social · 11h ago

Environmental impact of pet ownership needs comprehensive investigation. Numbers up over past 20 years. Pet food production (inc. animal welfare). Chemical use. Bird predation by cats. Dog-walkers as landscape use lobby, etc. www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/p... www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

We're saddened to hear of the death of the great castellologist Jean Mesqui. Trained as a civil engineer outside his "day jobs" he published extensively, & his 2 vol Châteaux et enceintes de la France médiévale essential for anyone studying French castles. Our condolences to his family & friends.

We are often asked how the ultra-violent games of cricket documented in the Icelandic Sagas lasted so many days (up to 11). The truth is there were many rest days, as modern blood transfusion and head transplants were not available. Impact players were often sourced nationwide.

So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper.

So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)

"Receive what you are: the body of Christ." I love these words for the distribution of communion, and will be using them tomorrow. And trying very hard to avoid repeating the previous incident in which I somehow managed to come out with: "You are what you eat: the body of Christ."

Ignore the Russell Group-fixated headline. The universities with the largest declines are: Lincoln Bishop (down 51.4%), University for the Creative Arts (down 50.5%), Norwich University of the Arts (-40.4%), Falmouth University (-35.1%) and Goldsmiths, University of London (-30.0%). 1/2

Russell Group universities take £10m teaching grant hit - Research Professional News

Funding allocations confirm impact of £51m cut to Strategic Priorities Grant

researchprofessionalnews.com

Ey up, being Yorkshire is a state of mind so Happy Yorkshire Day wherever you are and wherever you’re from.

And in more positive news, the person whose opinion I both fear and value the most likes the book draft. This is a huge relief and a massive encouragement.

An important discussion in Margot's TL on a subject that is close to this household (Maths Half's group is part-funded by the particle physics and astronomy strand of STFC). What I'm struck by is the lack of a strong voice from the Royal Society on the current crisis (correct me if I'm wrong). 1/

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 6d ago

Hmmm. Many STEM scientists argue that science isn't and shouldn't be political, a view many in Humanities and Social Sciences view with great scepticism. Big literatures on this. But should we really be using Jodrell Bank to argue for a more politically-inflected science policy at UKRI? Really?

Fantastic thread. I was delighted to see this amazing portrait of Jemima Nicholas at Haverfordwest library when I last home.

The Leverhulme Trust, as part of its major (£100 million) centenary investment in UK research, has announced 3 new partnerships designed to enhance opportunities for underrepresented groups at the early stages of research careers. @leverhulme.ac.uk Terrifically good news, and sorely needed. 1/3

Today I learned you can detach your post from someone's quote post. Very useful.

Jason is the youngest Black professor in Cambridge’s history. Rightwing newspapers are trying to smear him with fake accusations of plagiarism. We can't let them. Stand up to their hate and division by adding your name. goodlawproject.org/s/3ec4c0

Stand up to hate and division by adding your name.

Jason is the youngest Black professor in Cambridge’s history. Rightwing newspapers are trying to smear him with fake accusations of plagiarism. We can't let them.

goodlawproject.org

Now, we all know the Bayeux Tapestry is currently visiting the BM &tha t there is a replica in Reading. But do you know there are quite a few embroideries inspired by the BT around the UK? Today I went to see the Invasion Tapestry in Fishguard lastinvasiontapestry.cymru #skystorians 🏺1/

Same.

Plashing Vole@plashingvole.bsky.social · last wk.

Literally all of this has been applied here, bought in from some speak-your-weight consultancy. Neither academic staff nor students were consulted. The result is a far worse degree in every subject, and widespread sackings, which was the point.

'Strip away the grandiose language and a pattern emerges – some combination of fewer, larger modules, almost always wedges of 30 credits, an all-core or heavily prescribed first year, reduced optionality in later years, curated pathways instead of individual module choice... [cont.] 1/4

Curriculum reform is a wedge issue

With curriculum reform converging on fewer, larger modules across the sector, Jim Dickinson argues that consolidation solves institutional problems while reallocating regret onto students least able t...

wonkhe.com

Yep. Lotta people have never taught in a local post-92 university towards the bottom end of the league table at the sharp end of the lifting of the numbers cap - and it shows.

Will Davies@will-davies.bsky.social · last wk.

If you work in a (ahem) provider in the lower half of the league table, your sense of how well university is - in 2026 - fulfilling its romantic 1960s progressive function of democratising cultural capital is probably quite different than if you work at Oxbridge.

The wider issue is the peanuts UKRI is operating with. Under £10bn for the engine of the UK's research in ALL subjects should be a national disgrace. Jodrell Bank is a helpful example but we are losing so much across *every* research field. This underfunding will damage the UK for decades to come.

Robert Falla-Louvét 🔭🪐🚀@lanerobertlane.space · last wk.

This is so stupid and short-sighted. I wonder if Burnham knows they're stripping funding from an iconic science institution in Manchester?! 🔭🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

oh no.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last wk.

Bill Oddie, naturalist and broadcaster, dies aged 85

Normans at #IMC2027! Call for papers sponsored by the Battle Conference. Full details in the alt text and pasted in successive posts. Deadline for abstracts 15 Sept. #medievalsky #archaeology #skystorians @imc-leeds.bsky.social

Bayeux Tapestry discourse again, I see.

The current situation in France

My dept is about to be reduced to 3 people covering 3 separate disciplines. The 25 PhD students will be left bereft of adequate supervision numerically and in terms of expertise. The government has decided that they should have no recourse (music to my university’s ears).

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2w ago

'Read it on a substantial train delay – alongside the promises made to students when the Office for Students (OfS) was created – it is something much worse. It is the formal expiry of the deal that was supposed to make marketisation safe for the people paying for it.' 2/2

'On Tuesday the government published its response to the Education Committee’s report on higher education funding and the threat of insolvency. It’s 37 pages...read quickly, amount to a department competently batting away an inconvenient select committee.' 1/2

Ministers are throwing students to the wolves

On Tuesday the government published its response to the Education Committee’s report on higher education funding and the threat of insolvency.

wonkhe.com

'A restructure at London South Bank University that is dividing staff into teaching and research tracks could become a “test bed” for the wider sector, staff claim.' New staff to be employed by a subsidiary, and won't have access to TPS. 1/4

‘Nuclear’ restructure at London South Bank seen as ‘test bed’

University claims its changes will protect academic jobs and strengthen teaching but striking staff say reforms pose an ‘existential’ threat

timeshighereducation.com