@davisqmw.bsky.social
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Very exciting job announcement! Permanent early medieval (Britain and/or Europe) teaching post at KCL. I know first-hand that this is a great opportunity to work with amazing colleagues and students. www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/136727-...
28.01.2026 11:00 — 👍 39 🔁 39 💬 0 📌 4
Dear Sir Paul, Re: Royal Society Code of Conduct I am sure that many scientists have written to you about the specific question of Elon Musk’s Fellowship and whether, under the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct, his retaining that Fellowship is appropriate. I will not rehash these issues. Instead, as a female scientist with extensive experience of activities aiming to increase equality, diversity and inclusion in the engineering and physical sciences sector, I am writing to you (in a personal capacity) to ask you to reconsider the statements you have recently made in this context to the UK press about the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct and how it is applied. A 2018 report from the joint National Academies of the United States of America, concluded that “sexual harassment is common in academic science, engineering, and medicine” and that “greater than 50 percent of women faculty and staff and 20–50 percent of women students encounter or experience sexually harassing conduct in academia”. This report described codes of conduct that make clear that sexual harassment is unethical and will not be tolerated as a “powerful incentive for change”. The authors also noted that sexual harassment can have significant and damaging effects on the integrity of research. In my own praxis, I have found that clear and consistently-implemented codes of conduct that address these issues make female scientists and engineers safer, and allow them to focus more effectively on their research. For codes of conduct to have such a positive effect, it is vital that sanctions for actions which transgress the code are meaningful and substantial.
I was hence aghast to realise that in an interview with the Financial Times published on 9/1/26, you appear to have suggested that the Royal Society “should only expel fellows if their science proved “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective””. Moreover, in a further interview with the Guardian on 11/1/26 you suggested that the code “may need to be looked at again”, with the implication that your aim would be to remove the option of sanctions on Fellows for reasons not strictly related to faults or defects in their research. I suggest that changing the Royal Society’s code of conduct so that the likelihood of serious sanctions for sexual harassment is reduced, would directly endanger women who interact with the Royal Society at events or otherwise, and would provide a licence to harass to the already powerful people on whom the Society bestows fellowship. The implications of your words - that under your leadership the only infringements of the code which are likely to receive the sanction of the Fellowship being removed are those related to research misconduct - already risk empowering harassers. You stated, in the Financial Times interview, that “there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances”. Given this awareness of the possibility of bad actors in our scientific community, it is wholly irresponsible to suggest that the Royal Society would not act to sanction these people if they harass more vulnerable scientists. I am hence writing to request that you retract any suggestion that the Society’s Code of Conduct should be changed so that the only reason a Fellow might be sanctioned by the removal of their Fellowship is “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective” research. This action is necessary to safeguard female scientists, a requirement placed on the Society by safeguarding legislation and UK statutory guidance. Yours sincerely, Professor Rachel A. Oliver.
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
12.01.2026 08:59 — 👍 794 🔁 292 💬 25 📌 27('long 17C historians' 🤣) #earlymodern
13.01.2026 13:30 — 👍 10 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas. This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday. To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community. We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students. With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.
Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended.
They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision.
Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...
Having spent a wonderful academic year there, I cannot recommend these fellowships enough and I’m happy to answer any questions
19.11.2025 18:23 — 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
'This charming series' starts Monday, Radio 4, 11.45am.
#AHistoryOfEnglandIn25Poems on BBC Radio 4 next week! Tune in from Monday!
20.09.2025 18:40 — 👍 48 🔁 15 💬 0 📌 0
Image of crowd with text: 'Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society. We warmly welcome applications to join the Fellowship. Fellowship recognizes the scholarly contribution of historians working in all sectors of professional history. Next closing date: Monday 11 August 2025'
The Royal Historical Society is a fellowship of professional historians. We welcome applications from historians working in education and many other sectors.
Fellows make original contributions to historical understanding through research, public history and heritage bit.ly/4iOu51g #Skystorians
Quite important really now to ask (and answer) 'What are universities for?' and 'How do/How can universities do what they are for?'. Then ask: Can universities 'do' university (including for taught students) without doing research?
15.03.2025 12:56 — 👍 24 🔁 8 💬 1 📌 2Love it!
16.03.2025 14:25 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Very excited about reading this! I'm currently doing research on the Annals of Clonmacnoise so I think this will pair nicely. #medievalsky
29.01.2025 00:50 — 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0Wow!
19.01.2025 18:16 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Winter sunshine in Nice.
01.01.2025 18:26 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
