Christopher Smith
@christophersmith.bsky.social
University of St Andrews; Executive Chair, Arts & Humanities Research Council; International Champion and Creative Industries Sector Champion UK Research and Innovation
All views my own, but none of the poetry.
All views my own, but none of the poetry.
Sad news; I worked with John Wallace to establish higher degrees at RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire of Music, validated by @uniofstandrews.bsky.social . He was funny, determined and passionate about music and education. RIP.
A great light has gone out. John Wallace – the brilliant musical polymath who did so much for music education, brass music, and music in Scotland – has sadly died. We were so pleased to present him with RPS Honorary Membership (pictured here) last year.
January 12, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Sad news; I worked with John Wallace to establish higher degrees at RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire of Music, validated by @uniofstandrews.bsky.social . He was funny, determined and passionate about music and education. RIP.
Reposted by Christopher Smith
Reposted by Christopher Smith
So... I've created a starter pack of UK government organisations currently on Bluesky: go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)
(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)
January 11, 2026 at 7:09 PM
So... I've created a starter pack of UK government organisations currently on Bluesky: go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz
(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)
(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)
Wonderful to see a shout out to Hay Castle, run by the excellent Tom True, in this super piece.
January 12, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Wonderful to see a shout out to Hay Castle, run by the excellent Tom True, in this super piece.
Reposted by Christopher Smith
Can’t write much about what I’m reading till we’re done on the judging of @womensprize.bsky.social for non fiction - but here’s something I wrote on Substack. The process helped me make sense of how much of my reading, and my life, has been shaped.
open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...
open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...
Why I can’t walk past a tiny second-hand bookshop: a romance
The first one set the template for this romance.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Can’t write much about what I’m reading till we’re done on the judging of @womensprize.bsky.social for non fiction - but here’s something I wrote on Substack. The process helped me make sense of how much of my reading, and my life, has been shaped.
open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...
open.substack.com/pub/thangamd...
Somewhere, in the middle of the song,
people held hands, the hall turned Blue.
Sean Scully
ropac.net/online-exhib...
people held hands, the hall turned Blue.
Sean Scully
ropac.net/online-exhib...
Sean Scully | Blue
ropac.net
January 12, 2026 at 6:18 AM
Somewhere, in the middle of the song,
people held hands, the hall turned Blue.
Sean Scully
ropac.net/online-exhib...
people held hands, the hall turned Blue.
Sean Scully
ropac.net/online-exhib...
Reposted by Christopher Smith
Adoption of artificial intelligence in academic libraries: A systematic review of current practices, challenges, and research opportunities www.sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #AI #libraries
January 11, 2026 at 6:31 AM
Adoption of artificial intelligence in academic libraries: A systematic review of current practices, challenges, and research opportunities www.sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #AI #libraries
Anyone interested in #AI and #libraries should also have a look at the superb and balanced overview published by the Conference of European National Librarians CENL, arising from a meeting @natlibscot.bsky.social
www.cenl.org/artificial-i...
www.cenl.org/artificial-i...
January 11, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Anyone interested in #AI and #libraries should also have a look at the superb and balanced overview published by the Conference of European National Librarians CENL, arising from a meeting @natlibscot.bsky.social
www.cenl.org/artificial-i...
www.cenl.org/artificial-i...
Robin Lane Fox is spot on. @rbgkew.bsky.social 's work is vital both at Wakehurst and in the Herbarium and Library.
www.ft.com/content/691c...
www.ft.com/content/691c...
The Millennium Seed Bank’s restoration quest is more urgent than ever
As its collection rises to nearly 2.5bn, there are signs it is making progress in its ambition to preserve the world’s flora — and restore endangered species
www.ft.com
January 10, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Robin Lane Fox is spot on. @rbgkew.bsky.social 's work is vital both at Wakehurst and in the Herbarium and Library.
www.ft.com/content/691c...
www.ft.com/content/691c...
Reposted by Christopher Smith
'Limited use of metrics in the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF)’s revamped environment section has raised concerns about how it will be consistently evaluated.'
Or, 'Two men make some comments about SPRE, with a bit of reference to the PCE pilot report released in December 2025.'
Or, 'Two men make some comments about SPRE, with a bit of reference to the PCE pilot report released in December 2025.'
‘Inconsistency’ fears after REF retreat on environment metrics
Clear guidance needed on how narrative-based submissions will be graded to avoid accusations that judgements are overly subjective, say experts
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:28 AM
'Limited use of metrics in the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF)’s revamped environment section has raised concerns about how it will be consistently evaluated.'
Or, 'Two men make some comments about SPRE, with a bit of reference to the PCE pilot report released in December 2025.'
Or, 'Two men make some comments about SPRE, with a bit of reference to the PCE pilot report released in December 2025.'
Reposted by Christopher Smith
The perfect opportunity to remind you that there's a big Gwen John exhibition coming up in the spring at Amgueddfa Cymru in Cardiff and then later in the year @nationalgalleries.bsky.social in Edinburgh.
A Corner of the Artist’s Room in Paris, 1907-09, painting by Welsh artist Gwen John.
January 3, 2026 at 6:59 PM
The perfect opportunity to remind you that there's a big Gwen John exhibition coming up in the spring at Amgueddfa Cymru in Cardiff and then later in the year @nationalgalleries.bsky.social in Edinburgh.
Reposted by Christopher Smith
'Narendra Modi, seventy-three, had a spherical aquatic helmet placed over his head. He was lowered into the waves.’
Raghu Karnad on Modi and an alleged underwater Hindu archaeological site.
granta.com/under-the-ru...
Raghu Karnad on Modi and an alleged underwater Hindu archaeological site.
granta.com/under-the-ru...
Under the Ruins | Raghu Karnad | Granta
‘The footage of Modi’s dive, however, only shows the submerged prime minister; nothing of the submerged city.’ Raghu Karnad on the Mahabharata and the relationship between archeology and nationalism.
granta.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
'Narendra Modi, seventy-three, had a spherical aquatic helmet placed over his head. He was lowered into the waves.’
Raghu Karnad on Modi and an alleged underwater Hindu archaeological site.
granta.com/under-the-ru...
Raghu Karnad on Modi and an alleged underwater Hindu archaeological site.
granta.com/under-the-ru...
Super to see a Lynette Roberts poem; huge thanks to @carcanet.bsky.social for championing this revival of her remarkable work
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Poem of the week: Winter Walk by Lynette Roberts
A journey through a visionary landscape, exceptionally bright in icy weather, conjures a surreal semi-mythical world
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Super to see a Lynette Roberts poem; huge thanks to @carcanet.bsky.social for championing this revival of her remarkable work
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Reposted by Christopher Smith
What a phenomenal resource. Working as an independent historian has its positives. My research interests largely overlap with those of clients and, when they don't, I make enough to fund my own research, but I can't imagine undertaking something on this scale.
A blast from my past - the Medieval Soldier database takes nearly 300,000 military service records from 1369-1453 and makes them available as a searchable database.
An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️
An invaluable resource for understanding medieval warfare, society and the English medieval state. Learn more in the link. 🗃️
We built a database of 290,000 English medieval soldiers – here’s what it reveals
We created the database in order to challenge assumptions about the lack of professionalism of everyday soldiers.
theconversation.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:14 PM
What a phenomenal resource. Working as an independent historian has its positives. My research interests largely overlap with those of clients and, when they don't, I make enough to fund my own research, but I can't imagine undertaking something on this scale.
Reposted by Christopher Smith
Applications are invited for three fully-funded Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA). Deadline is 9th February 2026.
Proposed projects must be arts & humanities-led
#PhD @findaphd.bsky.social @dcahf-met.bsky.social
More details:
#PhD www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Proposed projects must be arts & humanities-led
#PhD @findaphd.bsky.social @dcahf-met.bsky.social
More details:
#PhD www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Doctoral Landscape Awards
Applications are invited for three fully-funded Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA).
www.mmu.ac.uk
December 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Applications are invited for three fully-funded Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA). Deadline is 9th February 2026.
Proposed projects must be arts & humanities-led
#PhD @findaphd.bsky.social @dcahf-met.bsky.social
More details:
#PhD www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Proposed projects must be arts & humanities-led
#PhD @findaphd.bsky.social @dcahf-met.bsky.social
More details:
#PhD www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Reposted by Christopher Smith
Monumental Roman basin hidden for 2,000 years unearthed near Rome | ScienceDaily
Monumental Roman basin hidden for 2,000 years unearthed near Rome
Archaeologists excavating the ancient Roman city of Gabii have uncovered a massive stone-lined basin that may represent one of Rome’s earliest monumental civic structures. Its central placement hints…
www.sciencedaily.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Monumental Roman basin hidden for 2,000 years unearthed near Rome | ScienceDaily
Is that ladle, perhaps, a runcible spoon?? 🤔
December 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Is that ladle, perhaps, a runcible spoon?? 🤔
Reposted by Christopher Smith
'December, 1854. A hard winter in Lincolnshire. The lane-side trees, at the village edge, are caves of white above the dark figure, bundled in shawls. She has seen many things in her calls at cottages. But never before a woman on fire...'
Alison Brackenbury, 'Village'
What next? LINK IN COMMENTS!
Alison Brackenbury, 'Village'
What next? LINK IN COMMENTS!
November 30, 2025 at 11:18 AM
'December, 1854. A hard winter in Lincolnshire. The lane-side trees, at the village edge, are caves of white above the dark figure, bundled in shawls. She has seen many things in her calls at cottages. But never before a woman on fire...'
Alison Brackenbury, 'Village'
What next? LINK IN COMMENTS!
Alison Brackenbury, 'Village'
What next? LINK IN COMMENTS!
Reposted by Christopher Smith
The Turin Humanities Programme again offers two-year #postdocs, this time with a #CFA on the topic "After the Enlightenment: Histories, Debates, and Reinterpretations”.
Sponsored by the fabulous Fondazione 1563, deadline 16 February. #skystorians
www.fondazione1563.it/progetti/en-...
Sponsored by the fabulous Fondazione 1563, deadline 16 February. #skystorians
www.fondazione1563.it/progetti/en-...
EN THP 2025 - Fondazione 1563
Turin Humanities Programme call for application 2025 "After the Enlightenment: Histories, Debates, and Reinterpretations"
www.fondazione1563.it
November 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
The Turin Humanities Programme again offers two-year #postdocs, this time with a #CFA on the topic "After the Enlightenment: Histories, Debates, and Reinterpretations”.
Sponsored by the fabulous Fondazione 1563, deadline 16 February. #skystorians
www.fondazione1563.it/progetti/en-...
Sponsored by the fabulous Fondazione 1563, deadline 16 February. #skystorians
www.fondazione1563.it/progetti/en-...
We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it.
Tom Stoppard 1937-2025
Tom Stoppard 1937-2025
November 29, 2025 at 7:03 PM
We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it.
Tom Stoppard 1937-2025
Tom Stoppard 1937-2025
"words are brought together that have long been split apart, just as long-lost cousins at a family wedding might be surprised to see their own faces reflected everywhere they looked."
@dharmabam.bsky.social on Heaney
@dharmabam.bsky.social on Heaney
essay on Heaney over at the northseapoets substack … open.substack.com/pub/northsea...
Heaney on the Underground
Don Paterson on Seamus Heaney's choice of words
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
"words are brought together that have long been split apart, just as long-lost cousins at a family wedding might be surprised to see their own faces reflected everywhere they looked."
@dharmabam.bsky.social on Heaney
@dharmabam.bsky.social on Heaney
Reposted by Christopher Smith
essay on Heaney over at the northseapoets substack … open.substack.com/pub/northsea...
Heaney on the Underground
Don Paterson on Seamus Heaney's choice of words
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
essay on Heaney over at the northseapoets substack … open.substack.com/pub/northsea...
Reposted by Christopher Smith
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Claims of Close Reading - Boston Review
Literary studies have been starved by austerity, but their core methodology remains radical.
www.bostonreview.net
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...