Natalie Hempel
@nataliehempel.bsky.social
Neuroethologist, research on animal senses, colour vision, insect learning, pollination, navigation, bees. Assoc Prof Exeter Uni, Mother, she/her/hers
The government has effectively outsourced HE policy to consultants, including Nous, KPMG and others. At Exeter it’s Nous www.theferret.scot/consultancy-...
‘Nousferatu’: the notorious consultancy advising Edinburgh uni amid 'huge' cuts
Scotland’s largest university has turned to Nous Group at the same time as it is making savings that could lead to nearly 2,000 job losses. Staff say they were misled about the extent of its work.
theferret.scot
Can we do without the humanities, arts and social sciences in this day and age?
We sacrifice the humanities at our peril
Another month, another of our great universities making brutal cuts. At Exeter (motto: lucem sequimur, ‘we follow the light’) over 500 members of staff have been notified their jobs are at risk in a p...
spectator.com
Looks like a very useful neuroscience funding searcher from the good folks @thetransmitter.bsky.social
Neuroscience Grants Funding Finder
Discover grants, fellowships and funding opportunities for neuroscience research at all career stages.
thetransmitter.org
Ever wondered what mosquito pupae do when they get flushed out of their aquatic habitat? The answer surprised us - and might surprise you too. 🦟 📍Room 500 | 🕓 4:45 pm | #ISBE2026 @isbe2026.bsky.social
"If we still believe that science is a vocation grounded in argument, curiosity and care, we can’t delegate judgement to machines" https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/ai-not-peer-so-it-cant-do-peer-review #ai #peerreview #academia
AI is not a peer, so it can’t do peer review
If we still believe that science is a vocation grounded in argument, curiosity and care, we can’t delegate judgement to machines, says Akhil Bhardwaj
timeshighereducation.com
The proposed job cuts at the University of Exeter are unnecessary and sudden, and target the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour. We are grateful to all colleagues from the UK and around the world for your efforts and support. Thank you for standing with us!
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB)@crab-exeter.bsky.social · 3w agoThanks to our colleagues from around the world who signed the Open Letter against redundancies in CRAB. The letter surpassed 700 signatures in just over 1 wk. We hope execs will now see the harm they are doing to the University of Exeter's global reputation. sites.google.com/view/save-cr...
See you in Vienna next year! 🦋🐒🦜🪲🦒🐸🐿️🦎🐠🐋🐌🕷️
Behaviour 2027@behaviour2027.bsky.social · 4w agoWe are excited to announce that #Behaviour2027 (XXXIX International Ethological Congress) will be taking place in Vienna, Austria! We are looking forward to having you all join us next year from August 23-27. Please follow and share!
My years at CRAB as a PhD student impacted hugely, and in the most ➕ ways, the researcher I came to be. Even if I changed unis half way through, I’ll be forever grateful to the CRAB community for their support and encouragement. I hope the university realises how important they’re for our field!
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB)@crab-exeter.bsky.social · 3w agoThanks to our colleagues from around the world who signed the Open Letter against redundancies in CRAB. The letter surpassed 700 signatures in just over 1 wk. We hope execs will now see the harm they are doing to the University of Exeter's global reputation. sites.google.com/view/save-cr...
Have you ever thought of all what animals can do when predation is not a big issue? In this review 👉 doi.org/10.1016/bs.a... @maribelrm.bsky.social @juancarvajalcastro.bsky.social and I show how aposematism can be viewed as an “umbrella trait” influencing multiple aspects of its bearers' lives🔴🟡⚫
So much support from the animal behaviour research community, and many others, who have signed this letter. Thank you. Your care, concern and kind words at this time provides such encouragement.
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB)@crab-exeter.bsky.social · 3w agoThanks to our colleagues from around the world who signed the Open Letter against redundancies in CRAB. The letter surpassed 700 signatures in just over 1 wk. We hope execs will now see the harm they are doing to the University of Exeter's global reputation. sites.google.com/view/save-cr...
The proposed job cuts at the University of Exeter threaten our amazing Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB). The support from the community over the last few weeks has been overwhelming. I really can't express how much it means to all of us. Thank you, everyone, for standing with us.
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB)@crab-exeter.bsky.social · 3w agoThanks to our colleagues from around the world who signed the Open Letter against redundancies in CRAB. The letter surpassed 700 signatures in just over 1 wk. We hope execs will now see the harm they are doing to the University of Exeter's global reputation. sites.google.com/view/save-cr...
I've signed and sent a letter - from authors, broadcasters, journalists, artists, scholars and performers - to express our deep concern at @exeter.ac.uk’s troubling plans to make mass redundancies within the Humanities Dept @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social. I would love it if you read and shared widely.
Answer to sub head: yes. Industrial strength with save HE, but more broadly, we need everyone to get stuck in. We can’t leave this sector to managers and wonks. They just don’t know how to consult and lead.
How to kill a university's reputation
After Exeter’s announcement that it will cut 150 academic jobs, is there any hope for higher education?
newstatesman.com
Is 29,900 signatures a lot? It does sound like a lot.
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
change.org
Nearly half of the academic staff in the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the Penryn Campus are now at risk of redundancy. Putting your world-leading staff at risk is not sustainable! 🌍🔥[1/4]
Excellent educators and researchers at the University of Exeter are at risk of redundancy. c.150 job roles will be cut across Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, Climate Science and more. Please share & sign the petition here: www.change.org/p/stop-redun... @exeterucu.bsky.social #DefendExeterUni
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
change.org
Interview ‘I’m not a quitter!’ Rubén Blades, the salsa supremo who acted with Jack Nicholson, inspired Bad Bunny – and served as Panama’s tourism minister www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
‘I’m not a quitter!’ Rubén Blades, the salsa supremo who acted with Jack Nicholson, inspired Bad Bunny – and served as Panama’s tourism minister
As he prepares to play the UK, the 25-Grammy-winning musician (and Harvard law graduate) looks back on his astonishing journey from the barrios of Panama City to global stardom
theguardian.com
@crab-exeter.bsky.social are a fantastic group of researchers, and a real beacon of excellence for Exeter. What a huge and deeply sad act of self sabotage this would be. Please consider signing their open letter👇🏻
Stu West@stuwest.bsky.social · last mo.The University of Exeter have announced a programme of academic staff cuts, including all of www.exeter.ac.uk/research/gro... Sign the open letter of support at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... @crab-exeter.bsky.social
Update from the Univ of Exeter redundancy front... disappointing reading from top to bottom
A letter in The Times in defence of the humanities at Exeter. Exeter has a degree of social capital that other institutions do not, but also the scandal here is we’re not in deficit and have loadsa cash. So if this debate can compel a rethink on of the funding model for HE, I’ll be delighted
This open letter has attracted 200 signatures already. If you haven't already, please do consider taking 2 mins to sign to help support our research and teaching.
Iain Soutar@isoutar.bsky.social · last mo.Open letter in support of the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Exeter, in which all 20 staff (including myself) have been put at risk of redundancy. Additional voices welcome, and please share widely docs.google.com/document/d/1...
PSA, BISA and UACES joint letter in support of my own discipline at Exeter, currently facing decimation.
Letter of support: Proposed changes at the University of Exeter
Letter to the University of Exeter from PSA, BISA and UACES concerning proposed PIR redundancies.
bisa.ac.uk
The University of Exeter have announced a programme of academic staff cuts, including all of www.exeter.ac.uk/research/gro... Sign the open letter of support at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... @crab-exeter.bsky.social
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB) | Research Groups | University of Exeter
exeter.ac.uk
We just had a meeting with over 700 (!!) of our members and OVERWHELMINGLY voted in favour of a motion to calling for a strike ballot! 🩷 We're doing this together. We are the University! #DefendExeterUni.
The crisis in UK higher education is worsening week by week — Exeter University is one of the best in the UK, with superb lecturers (and several You’re Dead To Me guests), but it’s planning massive job cuts in History, Archaeology, Classics — see the petition below to lend your voice in support
Dr Susan Greaney@suegreaney.bsky.social · last mo.Petition against the job losses here: c.org/ddjtYXzdQQ
Hey Bluesky crowd! You also should be signing our petition opposing the announced redundancies at the University of Exeter. 📢 We're 17k and growing! Redundancies ARE NOT necessary and we must #DefendExeterUni 🩷 c.org/RFqMvrKb6z
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
c.org
This petition needs as many signatories as the Exeter one. Please sign and share — don’t let Hertfordshire managers get away with this just because a Russell Group one took the spotlight. #UKHE
Joanna Bourke@joannabourke.bsky.social · 3mo agoShocking news about redundancies in the Humanities at the University of Hertfordshire, despite their exceptional research activities. I have signed the petition against these actions: it would be great if you would as well: c.org/kDQynZV7J4 @bbkhistorical.bsky.social @bisa-bkk.bsky.social
We just ran a branch meeting to pass a strike motion that attracted 707 members!!! I meant whaaaat?! And we passed the six amendments, and the motion itself in half an hour! WTF! And we had time for a discussion to close!!!! Boss chairing by yours truly and Michael Flexer. @exeterucu.bsky.social
