School of PPLS at The University of Edinburgh

PPLS Staff at the Fringe | School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences | School of Philosophy, Psychology and language sciences Back for it’s 11th year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a brand new name, The Provocateurs (formerly The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas) will feature three colleagues from PPLS for it’s 2025 run.

The @edfringe.bsky.social starts this week and, if you fancy a show that blends humour with ground breaking research, The Provocateurs could be exactly what you're looking for. Our colleagues from #linguistics Antonella, Chris & Wataru will all be taking part. Learn more & book here: edin.ac/3TY8gCf

Philosophy PhD graduate makes history | Philosophy | School of Philosophy, Psychology and language sciences Dr Miron Clay-Gilmore becomes first Black philosopher to earn a doctorate on Africana Philosophy & Black Male Studies in the University’s history.

(2/2) You can read more of Dr Clay-Gilmore's unconventional journey through education in this article published in October 2023 here: ppls.ed.ac.uk/philosophy/n...

(1/2) Exciting news for PPLS Alumni Dr Miron Clay-Gilmore on securing a position as a Post-Doctoral Fellow for The Centre of Ethics @utoronto.ca. In 2023 Miron was the first Black philosopher to earn a doctorate on Africana Philosophy & Black Male Studies in the University’s history.

Why medically assisted dying should be legalised | Aeon Essays Death is a certainty. But choosing how and when we depart is a modest opportunity for freedom – and dignity

Death is certain — but how we die need not be. In this powerful essay for @aeon.co, @thatwhichischolbi.bsky.social reframes the case for assisted dying not only as a matter of dignity or relief from suffering — but as a freedom we are only just beginning to understand. Read more: edin.ac/3GHrUiG

Listen to lecturer in non-Western philosophy @takeshimorisato.bsky.social on @philosophybites.bsky.social. Takeshi describes how Japan’s philosophical traditions evolved in dialogue with the West, and why understanding “the self” may require looking between us. Listen: edin.ac/3TtG6i4 #Philosophy

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

For today’s episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to philosopher @shannonvallor.bsky.social about the myth that technology can be value free. Why do we let Silicon Valley get away with the idea that it’s never the fault of the tech?

Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

Episode four: The Brain Abstracted | School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences | School of Philosophy, Psychology and language sciences In our fourth episode Dr Mazviita Chirimuuta discusses her work and new book The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience with early career research fellow Kate N...

Listen to Dr Chirimuuta talk more about her work in this area on our podcast PPLS Perspectives. ppls.ed.ac.uk/ppls-perspec...

Philosophy lecturer’s book wins second accolade | Philosophy | School of Philosophy, Psychology and language sciences The Brain Abstracted by Dr Mazviita Chirimuuta, which won the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize last year, has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Lakatos Award.

Another major for philosophy at Edinburgh! Dr Mazviita Chirimuuta’s book has been awarded the prestigious Lakatos Award by LSE. This is the second major accolade for the “strikingly ambitious & original” exploration of neuroscience and the limits of neurophilosophy. Read more: edin.ac/44rbCSO (1/2)

Congratulations to @zelny.bsky.social
for winning the SPT2025 Graduate Student Paper Award!! So proud of you Andrew. @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social @schoolofppls.bsky.social @technomoralfutures.bsky.social

Mazviita Chirimuuta wins the 2025 Lakatos Award! The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is pleased to announce the 2025 Lakatos Award winner Mazviita Chirimuuta, who receives the award for her book “The Brain Abstracted:…

🏆 We are pleased to announce the 2025 Lakatos Award winner Mazviita Chirimuuta, who receives the award for her book “The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience”

Congratulations! 👏

👉More about the award: www.lse.ac.uk/philosophy/b...

Thrilled to see the work of my brilliant Edinburgh colleague Mazviita Chirimuuta recognised with the Lakatos Award 2025 @schoolofppls.bsky.social 💫💫💫

Medical Research Foundation | Emotional outbursts in childhood linked… Children who had difficulty managing intense emotions at age seven were more likely to show signs of mental health issues such as despair, sadness and worries at age 11, 14 and 17, research by Dr Aja ...

Foundation-funded research, led by Dr Aja Murray at @schoolofppls.bsky.social, finds that emotional outbursts in childhood may be linked to depression and anxiety in teenage years.

Helping children to develop emotion regulation skills early could make a difference. 🔗⏬

#MentalHealthResearch

Emotional outbursts in children linked to depression Young children who struggle to control their emotions and behaviour have more symptoms of anxiety and depression as teenagers, a study says.

Emotional outbursts in kids may signal future mental health challenges. A study funded by @medresfdn.bsky.social & led by Reader in Psychology Dr Aja Murray finds that children who struggle to manage intense emotions at age 7 show more signs of anxiety & depression in their teens. edin.ac/4659CCb

Episode four: Genes, Society and Health Our first episode of 2025 sees Research Fellow Dr David Hill sit down with Dr Charlie Xia to discuss his work exploring causal links between poverty and mental illness.

You can learn more about this study on episode 2/4 of our podcast PPLS Perspectives: ppls.ed.ac.uk/ppls-perspec...
(2/3)

Socioeconomic status linked with brain health A person’s level of social and economic status can shape their brain heath in later life, a study suggests.

How does your socioeconomic background shape brain health in later life? A groundbreaking study led by @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social with links socioeconomic status to changes in brain white matter – a known risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Read more: edin.ac/3TkFV8C (1/3)

Exciting opportunity for a post-doctoral psychology researcher with a strong interest in clinical neuropsychological research, to join the cognition in MND research team supervised by Prof Sharon Abrahams
@schoolofppls.bsky.social

For project details & to apply➡️ t.co/I4jgF8GWgZ

YouTube video by Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh Does Drill Cause Violence? (Over)Policing Rap Music

In case you missed it, the recording of post-doctoral fellow from @manchester.ac.uk, Dr Tareeq Jalloh giving his talk Does Drill Rap Cause Violence as part of the World Philosophies Lecture Series is available below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2wl... #Philosophy #Africanaphilosophy #drill #drillrap

Beyond the Books is back! 📻🎉

Listen to host Beth chat with Dr Désha Osborne about connections between Scotland and the Caribbean, her experience of editing the historical romance poem Hiroona, and the incredible power of storytelling.

Full episode (28 mins) > youtu.be/RsT2_1lQIMQ

A day of fantastic talks at our @schoolofppls.bsky.social Research Day: from the neuropsychology of MND to suffix bias in language evolution, from the epistemology of engineering to the role of literary fictions in enhancing empathy, among many many more talks. Thanks to all my amazing colleagues!

🔊 An opportunity for a post-doctoral psychology researcher with a strong interest in clinical neuropsychological research, to join the cognition in MND research team @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social, supervised by Prof Sharon Abrahams @schoolofppls.bsky.social
Project details & apply➡️ edin.ac/43AKKRb

Episode six: How is Social Media Shaping Language? Sociolinguist Dr Christian Ilbury returns to PPLS Perspectives with PhD student Gilly Marchini. In this episode they discuss how digital culture and technology have changed the way in which we use or ...

Learn more from Christian about how social media is shaping linguisitics in this episode of our podcast, PPLS Perspectives.

ppls.ed.ac.uk/ppls-perspec...

Word of Mouth - The End of the Full Stop? - BBC Sounds Michael Rosen and Christian Ilbury discuss how online chat is changing how we punctuate.

Is use of punctuation dying out? In the latest episode of Word of Mouth @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social chats with PPLS Sociolinguist @christianilbury.bsky.social to discuss if the full stop on the way out and whether social media may be the cause. Listen below: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

'I interviewed 1,000 moms—here’s what I learned: affection matters a lot.' Psychologist @jasminwer.bsky.social talks to @newsweek.com about her study which finds kids who get more warmth from their mothers between ages 5–10 grow into more open, kind, and conscientious adults. edin.ac/3F8rOQw

The Philosophers’ Consortium on Assisted Dying in Scotland (PCADS) is a group of Scotland-based philosophers offering expert advocacy on behalf of the legalisation of assisted dying in Scotland. Learn more here: www.pcads.org (2/2)

Consortium of ethics experts welcomes vote on Assisted Dying Bill and urges MSPs to support the legislation. Great to see a quote @thatwhichischolbi.bsky.social (representing PCADS) in this article in @scotnational.bsky.social. Read more: www.thenational.scot/news/2515624... (1/2)

Huge thanks to friends at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
and @schoolofppls.bsky.social for hosting me and sparking some great discussions on psychedelics, well-being, and more.
(I promise I have more than one outfit)

Super privileged to have been able to host John Rickford at @schoolofppls.bsky.social today. Amazing to hear him read from his memoir, Speaking My Soul.

Mental health linked with personality traits Common mental health conditions are more closely related to people’s personalities than previously thought, a study suggests.

New research strongly links personality traits to mental health. Senior Researcher @renemottus.bsky.social & colleagues from The University of Tartu analysed data from 16,000+ people to find personality explains up to 25% of the risk of a range of conditions. Read more edin.ac/4m4rd2R

Episode seven: The CHILDS Study In the final episode of our second season of the podcast Postdoctoral Research Assistant Dr Iain Hardie talks to PhD student Hannah Gofton about the CHILDS (COVID-19 Health Impact on Long-term Child D...

In the last episode of Season 2 of PPLS Perspectives Dr Ian Hardy unpacks how pregnancy during the Covid-19 pandemic may, or may not, have affected childhood development. From big health data to public impact, it's a deep dive into vital research at @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social Listen: edin.ac/4koTIqv

PPLS staff and student success at Edinburgh University Students’ Association awards The recent Teaching and Student awards recognised the positive impact PPLS staff and students have made to the School and wider University community.

Huge congratulations to our PPLS staff & students recognised at the Teaching & Student Awards 2025! Including WINNER of Outstanding Course (CAHSS) for Sociolinguistics, praised for being fun, relevant, and unforgettable - @christianilbury.bsky.social Read more: ppls.ed.ac.uk/news/ppls-st...