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The British Academy

@britishacademy.bsky.social

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We mobilise the humanities and social sciences to understand the world and shape a brighter future.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · Sep 9

The British Academy Book Prize 2025 shortlist is here!

Each book offers a new perspective on issues of global importance, driven by rigorous research and an ability to tell powerful stories in an engaging and compelling way.

📖 Discover the full list here:

https://bit.ly/4glo8Jo

Promotional image for The British Academy Book Prize 2025 shortlist, featuring a diagonal divide with various book covers displayed on a teal and dark blue background.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 11h

In a new article in the Journal of the British Academy, FBA Robin Mansell explores the tensions between AI industry developers of LLMs and creative industries rightsholders, as well as considering the broader implications for the future of our datafied world.

Find out more ⬇️

https://bit.ly/47i4drz

A stylized depiction of a human hand reaching towards a robotic hand against a bright blue background, reminiscent of Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam." The image uses vivid pink and green hues.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 1d

Bringing together stories of environment and Empire, genocide and ecocide, war and peace – Sunil Amrith's The Burning Earth is a razor-sharp study of accountability for the climate crisis.

The Burning Earth is shortlisted for the British Academy Book Prize. Learn more here https://bit.ly/3WsTunW

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 2d

India is the forgotten heart of the ancient world, a trailblazer of ideas along a Golden Road from the Red Sea to the Pacific.

Shortlisted for the British Academy Book Prize, The Golden Road by @willdalrymple.bsky.social is a culmination of a lifetime's work.

Learn more now https://bit.ly/3WsTunW

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 3d

New from the Journal of the British Academy, the potential impacts of synthetic voice likenesses on human listeners.

Featuring insights from speech and language therapy, human–computer interaction, ethics, and the law to explore implications of voice cloning technologies.

https://bit.ly/490haHM

Close-up of a person speaking into a smartphone, holding it near their mouth.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 4d

Alongside the @royalsociety.org, @raeng.org.uk, @acmedsci.bsky.social we have opened applications for the latest round of the Horizon Europe Pump Priming Collaboration scheme. Funded by DSIT, the programme supports UK researchers in engaging with Horizon Europe. Learn more: bit.ly/42tplbM

A colour block banner with the words 'Horizon Europe Pump Priming collaboration between UK and EU partners 2026' written on it.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 4d

We will be running an ERC Consolidator Grant webinar on 24 November for UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in applying for the ERC Consolidator Grants. Find out more and register your interest: https://bit.ly/46RDnVV

A purple colour block banner with the words 'ERC Consolidator Grant webinar’ written on it.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 4d

Cuts to humanities, arts and social science courses at universities are leaving students unable to study close to home - which particularly impacts students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Read more 👀 www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/univers...

University course closures leave students unable to study many SHAPE subjects close to home - report

A new report shows that students are shut out of SHAPE education in their home regions, as large swathes of the UK are ‘cold spots’ for humanities, social sciences and arts degrees.

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 4d

ICYMI 💡 Our report on 'cold spots' in UK higher education was talked about on BBC Radio 4 Front Row last night by @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social , with @benlukeart.bsky.social and Islam Issa, Professor of Public Humanities at @@mybcu.bsky.social

Tune in at 30:00 🔊 https://bbc.in/46F96uF

Front Row - Kathryn Bigelow and Kiran Desai - BBC Sounds

Film director Kathryn Bigelow and Booker-nominee author Kiran Desai

bbc.in

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 5d

Spanning a broad range of non-fiction subjects from the global politics of women’s health to Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church, this year's British Academy Book Prize shortlist leads readers across continents and pivotal moments in history.

Here's why non-fiction is important to our authors.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 5d

Read the full report: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r...

Cold spots: Mapping inequality in SHAPE provision in UK higher education

This British Academy report reveals that many parts of the UK are becoming subject cold spots – areas with no provision in a subject within a commutable distance. These are often in rural, coastal or ...

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 5d

In case you missed it: our latest report explores a growing crisis in universities.

In many regions, students risk losing access to vital humanities, social science and arts subjects. Swipe to see our key findings and recommendations.

Key finding 1:
Cold spots have emerged in the North, South West and East of England, as well as parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Key finding 1:
Cold spots have emerged in the North, South West and East of England, as well as parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Key finding 2:
The biggest loss of provision is at lower-tariff levels. This is concerning given strong links between attainment and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Key finding 3:
Languages, Linguistics, Anthropology, Classics and Theology are among the hardest hit. If trends continue, English, History, Drama and Celtic studies – including Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh – could follow.

As we await the post-16 White Paper, we’re calling for:
- An urgent review of higher education funding
- Regulators to monitor provision with an ‘at-risk’ regional register and subject premium
- Government to help universities collaborate effectively with clearer guidance about competition law

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 9d

The British Academy and @nuffieldfoundation.org today publish the final report from the three-year Understanding Communities programme, bringing together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to build resilience and wellbeing in UK communities. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ISBMHo

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 10d

We invite applications for British Academy/Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowships 2025. The scheme supports established and senior researchers in the humanities and social sciences wishing to complete research through a sustained period of leave for one year. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3VMeTZ9

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 10d

New in the Journal of the British Academy, explore the rise of transnational kleptocracy and how rule-of-law societies have welcomed kleptocrats and oligarchs.

Read more through the link below!👇

https://bit.ly/4nb2wlB

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 11d

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

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.

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 11d

Are you a postdoctoral researcher? Don't miss the application deadline for British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants on 5 November. Funding is available for research projects across all areas of the humanities and social sciences. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3K4kEyA

White banner with an image of a researcher focused on his work. The words 'BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants' are written on the right-hand side.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 11d

This #InternationalPodcastDay tune into ‘Confessions of an Early Career Researcher’ – a new guide to the world of academia post-PhD.

The first three episodes of the podcast are available now. Subscribe for our next episodes, live on 15 October: https://bit.ly/4pNaTp1

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 11d

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

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

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 12d

Find out more about the 2025 Book Prize shortlist – Professor Rebecca Earle FBA, chair of the Prize, was featured on the latest episode of Free Thinking, where she discussed the topics and themes that are featured in this year's books 📚 Listen from 45:20: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0m57gl7

Arts & Ideas - Finding my tribe - BBC Sounds

Anne McElvoy and guests discuss connections, divisions and creating new political parties

www.bbc.co.uk

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 17d

British Academy Monograph ‘Capital, Privilege, and Political Participation’ explores how economic, social and cultural capital, and how people perceive privilege, shape political engagement. An in-depth look at who participates in politics and why it matters, now available. 👇

https://bit.ly/4nEyg2d

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 18d

New open access British Academy Monograph ‘On the Edges of Christendom’ explores the life and thought of Bishop Maurice of Burgos, and through him, what it meant to live on the border between the Latin West and Islamic al-Andalus in the thirteenth century. 👇
https://bit.ly/4gOHerD

Promotional graphic from British Academy Publishing, featuring a new book titled "On the Edges of Christendom: Market Expansion and the Church of Medieval Castile" by Abraão Antunes Monaghan, depicted with a cover image showing a close-up of medieval manuscripts.

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Reposted by The British Academy

Leverhulme Trust @leverhulme.ac.uk · 19d

The Leverhulme Trust has teamed up with @britishacademy.bsky.social to produce Confessions of an Early Career Researcher, a new podcast by ECRs for ECRs. Tune in now: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/audio-video/...

Read more about this collaboration: www.leverhulme.ac.uk/news/confess...

White text on magenta background: Confessions of an Early Career Researcher. leverhulme.ac.uk/news
"We are excited to be collaborating with the British Academy on this new podcast to help early career researchers navigate every stage of their career journey."

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Reposted by The British Academy

Clare Stainthorp @claregs.bsky.social · 19d

Check out this new podcast for ECRs - I’m proud to have been one of the guests on episode 3, where we talk about the importance of networks and mentors, and where to find them!

Episode 3 - Two heads are better than one: Networking and mentors in academia. Screenshot of podcast page banner with photo of three women (including me) in green tops smiling and talking in a relaxed podcast studio.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 19d

Our new podcast by ECRs, for ECRs is here. Tune in as researchers share their academia survival tips.

The first episodes of Confessions of an Early Career Researcher are available now. Subscribe for our final episodes, going live 15 October. https://bit.ly/47PXZQH

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 22d

From data centres and devices to e-waste and energy, our digital lives come with a hidden ecological cost 🌍

British Academy funded researchers, Federica Lucivero and Gabrielle Samuel, ask: Can a digital society ever truly be sustainable?

Read the full article 👇

https://bit.ly/3VNd9Pc

Promotional image for an article titled "Can a digital society ever be ecologically sustainable?" by Federica Lucivero and Gabrielle Samuel, featuring an abstract design of a glowing, digital landscape in blue and red tones.

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