David Roberts
@davidrobertsarch.bsky.social
Archaeologist at Cardiff University, directs Teffont Archaeology. Views my own not my institution's.
Reposted by David Roberts
I’ve written the @resprofnews.bsky.social Sunday Read this week. I’ve looked at the value and importance of the arts, humanities and social sciences and what policymakers might do to support them at a time we are seeing major cutbacks in universities www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...
December 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I’ve written the @resprofnews.bsky.social Sunday Read this week. I’ve looked at the value and importance of the arts, humanities and social sciences and what policymakers might do to support them at a time we are seeing major cutbacks in universities www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...
Reposted by David Roberts
The recent White Paper called for more specialisation in HEIs. But let’s avoid a one size fits all mindset here for research - social science, humanities & arts (SHAPE) don’t tend to have the high capital costs of some STEM disciplines & so you can have excellent departments in many institutions
December 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The recent White Paper called for more specialisation in HEIs. But let’s avoid a one size fits all mindset here for research - social science, humanities & arts (SHAPE) don’t tend to have the high capital costs of some STEM disciplines & so you can have excellent departments in many institutions
Reposted by David Roberts
In the meantime, we are seeing big changes in universities. I suggest that in England the Office for Students should take on the mantle that HEFCE used to have to monitor the health of disciplines and to watch for ‘cold spots’ of provision
December 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In the meantime, we are seeing big changes in universities. I suggest that in England the Office for Students should take on the mantle that HEFCE used to have to monitor the health of disciplines and to watch for ‘cold spots’ of provision
Phwoar. What a job..
Principal Curator of Collection Development (Archaeology)
National Museum of Wales
Salary: Grade F £44,793.83 - £47,360.00
Closing Date: December 23, 2025
Based in Cardiff
www.bajr.org/job-ad/princ...
National Museum of Wales
Salary: Grade F £44,793.83 - £47,360.00
Closing Date: December 23, 2025
Based in Cardiff
www.bajr.org/job-ad/princ...
Principal Curator of Collection Development (Archaeology) - BAJR - British Archaeology Jobs and Resources
Salary: Grade F £44,793.83 - £47,360.00Closing Date: 23/12/25Location:
www.bajr.org
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Phwoar. What a job..
Reposted by David Roberts
Terrific find
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
December 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Terrific find
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
Reposted by David Roberts
A new report on dietary findings in a select area of Pompeii likely inhabited by enslaved people came out in Scavi di Pompei. Many newspapers are now running w/a headline about Roman slaves “eating better” than free Romans. pompeiisites.org/e-journal-de... Let’s discuss why this is problematic
December 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
A new report on dietary findings in a select area of Pompeii likely inhabited by enslaved people came out in Scavi di Pompei. Many newspapers are now running w/a headline about Roman slaves “eating better” than free Romans. pompeiisites.org/e-journal-de... Let’s discuss why this is problematic
Reposted by David Roberts
This article suggests the possibility of training AI on pre-existing proposals and their review reports, scores and related decisions. I.e. training them on a system which is known to preferentially award larger amounts of money to white men. What could possibly go wrong?
UKRI exploring use of AI in grant review - this will prompt debate but interested to know if people think it’d encourage novelty or the opposite? www.chemistryworld.com/news/ukri-op...
UKRI opens up grant proposal data to explore using AI to smooth peer review
Surging applications has led the UK's main funder to look at ways to reduce the burden on reviewers
www.chemistryworld.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This article suggests the possibility of training AI on pre-existing proposals and their review reports, scores and related decisions. I.e. training them on a system which is known to preferentially award larger amounts of money to white men. What could possibly go wrong?
Reposted by David Roberts
Very much looking forward to next week’s @royalarchinst.bsky.social lecture @antiquaries.bsky.social by Dr Al Oswald - ALL WELCOME!
#Neolithic
#Neolithic
December 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Very much looking forward to next week’s @royalarchinst.bsky.social lecture @antiquaries.bsky.social by Dr Al Oswald - ALL WELCOME!
#Neolithic
#Neolithic
Lots of good stuff in this new Wessex Arch book, including (briefly) a nice little Roman building.. but I'm mainly there for a nostalgic return to / interesting new evidence in the landscape of, my earlier work on Neolithic pits with the excellent AVT, Pete M, Ruth P, et al!
My dear hubby and @leivers.bsky.social have just published this book, which I'm sure is of interest to many of you. Also, free to download! Happy Christmas! ☺️
The Archaeology of the Stonehenge Visitor Centre
wessexarchaeologylibrary.org
December 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Lots of good stuff in this new Wessex Arch book, including (briefly) a nice little Roman building.. but I'm mainly there for a nostalgic return to / interesting new evidence in the landscape of, my earlier work on Neolithic pits with the excellent AVT, Pete M, Ruth P, et al!
Reposted by David Roberts
Please share!
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Study of Religion (289814) | University of Bergen
Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Study of Religion (289814), Employer: University of Bergen, Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
www.jobbnorge.no
December 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Please share!
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Reposted by David Roberts
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
December 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Reposted by David Roberts
Labour lied to voters when they said they would protect peatland in their manifesto. For over a year Labour has actively harmed peatland by delaying the ban on peat compost, which was good to go.
In the Environmental Improvement Plan, Gov. has sidestepped its obligations and flunked defining a firm plan to deliver legislation to end peat sales.
Our full response:
peatfreepartnership.org.uk/peat-free-pa...
@marycreagh.bsky.social #climate #nature #peatfree #environment
Our full response:
peatfreepartnership.org.uk/peat-free-pa...
@marycreagh.bsky.social #climate #nature #peatfree #environment
Peat-free Partnership response to the Environmental Improvement Plan - Peat Free Partnership
Today the UK Government published their revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The Government has sidestepped its obligations and flunked defining a firm plan to deliver legislation to end peat...
peatfreepartnership.org.uk
December 1, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Labour lied to voters when they said they would protect peatland in their manifesto. For over a year Labour has actively harmed peatland by delaying the ban on peat compost, which was good to go.
Reposted by David Roberts
This Roman kiln is one of many incredible finds the #OCAArchTeam are discovering on site @sizewellc.bsky.social that build up the story of Suffolk's past - want to learn more? Dig in here: oxfordcotswoldarchaeology.org.uk/project/sizewell/
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
November 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This Roman kiln is one of many incredible finds the #OCAArchTeam are discovering on site @sizewellc.bsky.social that build up the story of Suffolk's past - want to learn more? Dig in here: oxfordcotswoldarchaeology.org.uk/project/sizewell/
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
Reposted by David Roberts
Are you interested in doing a PhD about what humans infer about animal minds?
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Bridging the Species Divide: Animal minds and the human-animal relationship (Ref: RDF26/HW/PSY/RENNER) at Northumbria University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Bridging the Species Divide: Animal minds and the human-animal relationship (Ref: RDF26/HW/PSY/RENNER) at Northumbria University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Are you interested in doing a PhD about what humans infer about animal minds?
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Just reposting this, as I've got the CIfA bulletin and seen a Community Collections officer at £24462, and an EH assistant interpretation curator at £25906. Both fractionally fewer hours than the 40 used to calculate MW rate below, but still. Dire pay for roles requiring complex specialist work.
Just a reminder to the museums sector, UK national minimum wage for over 21 years old is £12.21 per hour, or at 40hrs per week, £25396...
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Just reposting this, as I've got the CIfA bulletin and seen a Community Collections officer at £24462, and an EH assistant interpretation curator at £25906. Both fractionally fewer hours than the 40 used to calculate MW rate below, but still. Dire pay for roles requiring complex specialist work.
Reposted by David Roberts
'In a survey of almost 400 academics and professional services staff conducted as part of the study, the majority of respondents strongly disagreed with all aspects of using AI in the REF.'
Access report here, 2/3
Access report here, 2/3
Research: REF-AI project | Centre for Higher Education Transformations
chet.bristol.ac.uk
December 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
'In a survey of almost 400 academics and professional services staff conducted as part of the study, the majority of respondents strongly disagreed with all aspects of using AI in the REF.'
Access report here, 2/3
Access report here, 2/3
Reposted by David Roberts
🎉 EXCELLENT NEWS!
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
Greek and Roman Studies | Faculty of Arts
Discover all the good reasons to choose uOttawa. From programs made for you, co-op opportunities and more.
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
🎉 EXCELLENT NEWS!
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
Reposted by David Roberts
If you have the means I highly recommend the cause of supporting a fellow scholar
The @royalhistsoc.org is running a charitable donation campaign to fund the research of historians who lack support. The number of applications we're seeing is way up. I've been very lucky to have a career as a historian, I've donated, and I think this Christmas you should too. Pay it forward.
royalhistoricalsociety2.beaconforms.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If you have the means I highly recommend the cause of supporting a fellow scholar
Reposted by David Roberts
Holy fuck, holy fuck, holy fuck. How on earth did that AI slob actually got published by @nature.com?
Please have a look, @retractionwatch.com @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Please have a look, @retractionwatch.com @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Hey @nature.com, have you got an explanation for how the hell THIS happened? & especially why you accepted a paper with such a bizarre piece of genAI slop in it?!
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 28, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Holy fuck, holy fuck, holy fuck. How on earth did that AI slob actually got published by @nature.com?
Please have a look, @retractionwatch.com @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Please have a look, @retractionwatch.com @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Reposted by David Roberts
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 10:06 AM
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
Reposted by David Roberts
This is what happens when the Centre Left follow far right policies on immigration. Is Labour watching? Those Danish immigration policies still looking attractive?
Danish Social democrats suffered a massive defeat in Copenhagen last night. They incurred similar defeats across the country and there will be a general election in the next year. In Copenhagen the far-left Enhedslisten (the unity list) won the most mandates followed by the socialist people's party.
November 19, 2025 at 7:57 AM
This is what happens when the Centre Left follow far right policies on immigration. Is Labour watching? Those Danish immigration policies still looking attractive?
Reposted by David Roberts
We’re delighted to announce that our Honorary Fellows elected by the Fellowship for 2025 are Dr Ross Austin Burns and Professor David Olusoga OBE!
www.sal.org.uk/2025/11/hon-...
www.sal.org.uk/2025/11/hon-...
November 18, 2025 at 3:18 PM
We’re delighted to announce that our Honorary Fellows elected by the Fellowship for 2025 are Dr Ross Austin Burns and Professor David Olusoga OBE!
www.sal.org.uk/2025/11/hon-...
www.sal.org.uk/2025/11/hon-...
Why Ashes series are every bit as epic as The Odyssey and The Iliad www.theguardian.com/sport/the-ni...
Why Ashes series are every bit as epic as The Odyssey and The Iliad
Why wait for Christopher Nolan’s film of The Odyssey? England and Australia are about to create their own version
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Why Ashes series are every bit as epic as The Odyssey and The Iliad www.theguardian.com/sport/the-ni...
Reposted by David Roberts
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by David Roberts
“While the AI industry claims its models can “think,” “reason,” and “learn,” their supposed achievements rest on marketing hype and stolen intellectual labor. In reality, AI erodes academic freedom, weakens critical reading, and subordinates the pursuit of knowledge to corporate interests.”
AI Is Hollowing Out Higher Education
Olivia Guest & Iris van Rooij urge teachers and scholars to reject tools that commodify learning, deskill students, and promote illiteracy.
www.project-syndicate.org
November 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
“While the AI industry claims its models can “think,” “reason,” and “learn,” their supposed achievements rest on marketing hype and stolen intellectual labor. In reality, AI erodes academic freedom, weakens critical reading, and subordinates the pursuit of knowledge to corporate interests.”