Philip Lewis

Graphic that reads ‘The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium, with the date 10-12 June’

The British Academy and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are inviting applications from early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to attend a research collaboration symposium on the broad theme of Truth, Justice and Peace in Germany. https://bit.ly/4nyWsmv

Post a favourite econ paper, I'll go first:

"Trade, Merchants and Lost Cities of the Bronze Age" by Barjamovic & co-authors.

Turns out you can do some pretty incredible stuff with an (almost) four thousand year old dataset!

Link: keremcosar.uvacreate.virginia.edu/publications...

British Academy responds to government announcement on university maintenance grants The British Academy has issued a response to the government's announcement on using a proposed levy on international students to fund maintenance grants.

Read our response to the Government’s announcement that university maintenance grants will be reintroduced for certain courses, funded through a levy on international student fees
https://bit.ly/4gPz7uO

'The symposium aims to incentivise and establish international engagement and collaboration between early career researchers based in Germany and the United Kingdom. This symposium’s theme is "truth, justice and peace".'

Open to early career researchers in Humanities & Social Sciences.

The missing link is an urgent review of higher education funding. So much to play for…

Graphic that reads ‘The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium’

Applications for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium 2026 are now open. The application deadline is 29 October. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4nyWsmv

Feel like we should bring back the old twitter follow friday to boost good people on here who maybe didn't get an initial boost from the starter packs.

So follow @psurridge.bsky.social and @profjanegreen.bsky.social - two excellent and thoughtful political scientists.

What we know about the U.S. H-1B visa program Nearly 400,000 H-1B applications were approved in fiscal year 2024, most of which were applications to renew employment.

As the Trump administration is expected to add a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, here's what we know about H1-B visas
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
🧵

China Green Leap Outward — Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab A new China Low Carbon Technology FDI Database

1/ New report from @bentleyallan.bsky.social's Net Zero Policy Lab: As the US withdraws from green tech industries and pressures allies to follow suit, China is stepping in to power the developing world's energy transition. The scale is staggering.

www.netzeropolicylab.com/china-green-...

White banner with an image of a cityscape. The words 'Global Innovation Fellowships: The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) 2025-26' are written on the right-hand side.

There are only three weeks left to apply for the Global Innovation Fellowships: The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). The scheme aims to address contemporary European foreign policy challenges with creative and innovative solutions. Apply now: buff.ly/fAhi5yw

Applications for CIFAR Global Scholars Programme are now open. This innovative programme, supported by the British Academy, gives UK-based researchers the opportunity to join one of CIFAR’s interdisciplinary research programs. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4m1Byvd

I'm sorry to not be able to join this year, and cannot recommend this important conference enough. #equitablepartnership

If you are interested in equitable international research partnerships you might like to join our conference exploring this theme

The British Academy is still inviting proposals for the next round of International Interdisciplinary Research Projects. Work with international partners to develop genuinely interdisciplinary projects that range across all SHAPE and STEM disciplines. Apply now: buff.ly/a4f8IWc

White banner with an image of a cityscape. The words 'Global Innovation Fellowships: The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) 2025-26' are written on the right-hand side.

We still invite applications from early- to mid-career researchers to Global Innovation Fellowships: The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) offering an opportunity to collaborate with DGAP on various European policy issues. Apply now: buff.ly/fAhi5yw

White banner with a close-up image of a person's hands typing on a laptop keyboard. The words 'International Writing Workshops 2025' are written on the right-hand side.

Applications for the International Writing Workshops close in three weeks. The scheme aims to develop workshops to support early-career researchers from developing countries to enhance their writing skills and professional networks. Apply now: buff.ly/irxm4Jz

UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences are invited to our informative ERC Synergy Grants 2025 webinar on 8 September.

Draft B1 proposals may be submitted by 1 September at 12:00 for feedback during the session.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4lTTx6x

APEX Awards The APEX awards are a new funding opportunity designed to promote collaboration across academic disciplines through the support of world-leading interdisciplinary research projects.

Working across disciplines? Up two years funding for established researchers with big ideas… closing on 9 Sept (3pm). Fantastic opportunity!

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/apex...

Time for a reality check: Britain cannot be a big player on the world stage unless we speak more languages | Sophia Smith Galer For all the talk of addressing the problem, things have got worse. Which is criminal when there is so much we could do, says journalist Sophia Smith Galer

Languages… gateway to going global (and, honestly, so so much more). www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

yes. yes yes.

the UK is (not just the originator but) the setting for some of the most popular culture in the world. there is a whole genre of videogames that are set in an imagined Britain. 'soft' power is real economic and even political power.

Agree. One thing that I really liked about @jpspencer.bsky.social’s Labour Together report is it included culture in “growth spending”. So much policy about regional development in the UK basically regards culture, tourism, etc. as distractions from the real work of building trains to nowhere.

Second Equitable Partnerships Conference Register your interest

Registration of interest for attendance, presentations, and posters is now open for the Second Equitable Partnerships Conference: buff.ly/o4XkjfF 

Hosted by South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF), @royalsociety.org, and the British Academy on 3-5 February 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa.

@britishacademy.bsky.social will be running a webinar for UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in applying for @erc.europa.eu Synergy Grants on Monday 8 September at 12.00 U.K. time. Register to attend here: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

@britishacademy.bsky.social will be running a webinar for UK based researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in applying for @erc.europa.eu Starting Grants on Wednesday 24 September at 14.00 U.K. time. Register to attend: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

The British Academy, the national body for humanities and social sciences, last month warned that the levy would put pressure on universities' finances and add to the impression that Britain was "not welcoming to international students", hampering the government's drive to boost the economy and the country's soft power.

English universities face a £621mn-a-year hit from a proposed levy on fee income from overseas students - more coverage of this issue today
on.ft.com/45iK18l

White banner with an image of a cityscape. The words 'Global Innovation Fellowships: The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) 2025-26' are written on the right-hand side.

The British Academy and @dgap.org invite early- and mid-career researchers to apply for the latest Global Innovation Fellowships, focused on key policy themes in collaboration with German partners. Apply now: buff.ly/fAhi5yw

White banner with a close-up image of a person's hands typing on a laptop keyboard. The words 'International Writing Workshops 2025' are written on the right-hand side.

Applications for the International Writing Workshops are still open for researchers seeking to create networking opportunities and increase the uptake of research of international early-career academics based in developing countries. Learn more: buff.ly/OdmgXOf

The British Academy is running an informative webinar on the Monday 8 September for UK-based, humanities and social sciences researchers interested in applying for the ERC Synergy Grants 2025 call.

Find out more on our website and register your interest: buff.ly/VHCnyaY

The British Academy is running an informative webinar on the Wednesday 24 September for UK-based, humanities and social sciences researchers interested in applying for the ERC Starting Grants 2025 call.

Find out more on our website and register your interest: buff.ly/VHCnyaY

ERC Starting Grants Webinar

The British Academy is running an informative webinar on the Wednesday 24 September for UK-based, humanities and social sciences researchers interested in applying for the ERC Starting Grants 2025 call.

Find out more on our website and register your interest: buff.ly/7jPoDN1