Hannah Elias
@hannahelias.bsky.social
Historian working on histories of race, faith and culture in Modern Britain. Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London.
📧 enquiries: [email protected]
📧 enquiries: [email protected]
Pinned
Hannah Elias
@hannahelias.bsky.social
· Sep 3
Returning to my favourite institutional home this academic year as an @ihr.bsky.social Research Fellow. Thank you to the wonderful team at the IHR for your ongoing support.
I’m no longer affiliated with Goldsmiths, so please contact me at [email protected] going forwards.
I’m no longer affiliated with Goldsmiths, so please contact me at [email protected] going forwards.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
UK households cut spending at fastest pace in 5 years.
Average real wage stuck at 2008 level.
Energy, water, broadband, rents, grocery, dentist, vets prices rising at more than CPI.
Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Can't rebuild without redistribution.
Average real wage stuck at 2008 level.
Energy, water, broadband, rents, grocery, dentist, vets prices rising at more than CPI.
Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Can't rebuild without redistribution.
UK households cut spending at fastest pace in almost five years, says Barclays
Bank reports 1.1% drop in card spending despite Black Friday boost for retailers
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:29 AM
UK households cut spending at fastest pace in 5 years.
Average real wage stuck at 2008 level.
Energy, water, broadband, rents, grocery, dentist, vets prices rising at more than CPI.
Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Can't rebuild without redistribution.
Average real wage stuck at 2008 level.
Energy, water, broadband, rents, grocery, dentist, vets prices rising at more than CPI.
Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Can't rebuild without redistribution.
Started my new part-time role as an officer of @royalhistsoc.org today!
I’ll be working with the RHS on events, academic engagement and helping deliver the new 2026-8 strategy advocating for the value of history.
Still pursuing my career as a historian of race, faith & culture, writing half-time
I’ll be working with the RHS on events, academic engagement and helping deliver the new 2026-8 strategy advocating for the value of history.
Still pursuing my career as a historian of race, faith & culture, writing half-time
December 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Started my new part-time role as an officer of @royalhistsoc.org today!
I’ll be working with the RHS on events, academic engagement and helping deliver the new 2026-8 strategy advocating for the value of history.
Still pursuing my career as a historian of race, faith & culture, writing half-time
I’ll be working with the RHS on events, academic engagement and helping deliver the new 2026-8 strategy advocating for the value of history.
Still pursuing my career as a historian of race, faith & culture, writing half-time
Reached the end of my @bodleian.ox.ac.uk fellowship, and it was such a generative and creative time. Words were put on pages, and it was brilliant to put research at the forefront of my mind. Glad I got one last early morning walk around Christ Church meadow in today.
December 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reached the end of my @bodleian.ox.ac.uk fellowship, and it was such a generative and creative time. Words were put on pages, and it was brilliant to put research at the forefront of my mind. Glad I got one last early morning walk around Christ Church meadow in today.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
7 minutes in: "But as a moral philosopher and theologian, you would surely agree that Not Being the Nazis shouldn't be the bar"
Here’s the link to watch History Reclaimed’s right wing moral, logical and historical arguments being scrutinised. It’s uncomfortable viewing in places as Biggar’s put on the spot.
The truth about the British Empire: Mehdi Hasan & Nigel Bi... youtu.be/SZvkTmNQSy4?... via @YouTube
The truth about the British Empire: Mehdi Hasan & Nigel Bi... youtu.be/SZvkTmNQSy4?... via @YouTube
December 6, 2025 at 8:38 AM
7 minutes in: "But as a moral philosopher and theologian, you would surely agree that Not Being the Nazis shouldn't be the bar"
Reposted by Hannah Elias
“When participants used ChatGPT to draft essays, brain scans revealed a 47% drop in neural connectivity across regions associated with memory, language, & critical reasoning.
Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.”🧪
Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.”🧪
December 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM
“When participants used ChatGPT to draft essays, brain scans revealed a 47% drop in neural connectivity across regions associated with memory, language, & critical reasoning.
Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.”🧪
Their brains worked less, but they felt just as engaged—a kind of metacognitive mirage.”🧪
Reposted by Hannah Elias
4. You see, the problem is this: History Reclaimed don’t know much about British colonialism. They’re not actually interested in it. They are a private company funded to prevent any truthful examination of the past that might challenge a right wing, white-centred version of the national story.
December 3, 2025 at 8:06 AM
4. You see, the problem is this: History Reclaimed don’t know much about British colonialism. They’re not actually interested in it. They are a private company funded to prevent any truthful examination of the past that might challenge a right wing, white-centred version of the national story.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
Oh my word. Vanished has made it to the Smithsonian’s list of best books of 2025.
My roar reaching further than I ever imagined in its first 180 days in the wide world. Such lovely news on the night of this glorious moon.
My roar reaching further than I ever imagined in its first 180 days in the wide world. Such lovely news on the night of this glorious moon.
An annual tradition, @smithsonianmag.bsky.social asked contributors for their favorite science books of 2025. You can check out all our recommendations (including my own, @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social's Is A River Alive?) here:
The Ten Best Science Books of 2025
From “experimental archaeology” to the mysterious appeal of exploration, the wide-ranging subjects detailed in these titles captivated Smithsonian magazine’s science contributors this year
www.smithsonianmag.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Oh my word. Vanished has made it to the Smithsonian’s list of best books of 2025.
My roar reaching further than I ever imagined in its first 180 days in the wide world. Such lovely news on the night of this glorious moon.
My roar reaching further than I ever imagined in its first 180 days in the wide world. Such lovely news on the night of this glorious moon.
The time in Oxford has been so useful for putting my book project back in the forefront of my mind. I’m thinking in it like a language.
Looking forward to sharing pieces when ready.
Looking forward to sharing pieces when ready.
November 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The time in Oxford has been so useful for putting my book project back in the forefront of my mind. I’m thinking in it like a language.
Looking forward to sharing pieces when ready.
Looking forward to sharing pieces when ready.
Brilliant talk and reflections from @tricksterprince.bsky.social about ‘Songs of Seven Dials’ at the double session of the Oxford Modern British History seminar and the Women’s, Gender and Queer History seminar. Even more excited to read this. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526181954/
Manchester University Press - Songs of Seven Dials
Songs of Seven Dials - Browse and buy the Hardcover edition of Songs of Seven Dials by Matt Houlbrook
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Brilliant talk and reflections from @tricksterprince.bsky.social about ‘Songs of Seven Dials’ at the double session of the Oxford Modern British History seminar and the Women’s, Gender and Queer History seminar. Even more excited to read this. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526181954/
Reposted by Hannah Elias
7 x 3000+ students + 17 smaller institutions must mean 30,000+ affected students. That’s about the same size as Sheffield uni, which employs 8000ish staff. Why is the government tolerating the impending collapse of up to 24 related employers and 8000+ more lost jobs? Where is the sense of crisis?
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
7 x 3000+ students + 17 smaller institutions must mean 30,000+ affected students. That’s about the same size as Sheffield uni, which employs 8000ish staff. Why is the government tolerating the impending collapse of up to 24 related employers and 8000+ more lost jobs? Where is the sense of crisis?
Reposted by Hannah Elias
This thread details the appalling lack of understanding of HE among many people responsible for HE. Utterly shocking disregard for a sector that is as economically significant as it is, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
here's your headline:
They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).
They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This thread details the appalling lack of understanding of HE among many people responsible for HE. Utterly shocking disregard for a sector that is as economically significant as it is, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
😮😮😮
Again: this dismantling and destabilising of UKHE is part of a plan tested first in Australia, then exported via consultants at KPMG & copied elsewhere calling for the ‘end of a golden age of higher education’
Whole thread worth reading, thank you @davehitchcock.bsky.social
Again: this dismantling and destabilising of UKHE is part of a plan tested first in Australia, then exported via consultants at KPMG & copied elsewhere calling for the ‘end of a golden age of higher education’
Whole thread worth reading, thank you @davehitchcock.bsky.social
here's your headline:
They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).
They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).
November 25, 2025 at 11:32 AM
😮😮😮
Again: this dismantling and destabilising of UKHE is part of a plan tested first in Australia, then exported via consultants at KPMG & copied elsewhere calling for the ‘end of a golden age of higher education’
Whole thread worth reading, thank you @davehitchcock.bsky.social
Again: this dismantling and destabilising of UKHE is part of a plan tested first in Australia, then exported via consultants at KPMG & copied elsewhere calling for the ‘end of a golden age of higher education’
Whole thread worth reading, thank you @davehitchcock.bsky.social
Nothing I’ve witnessed in the shrinking and downsizing of higher education screams ‘efficiency.’ Quite the opposite in fact.
"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 11:28 AM
Nothing I’ve witnessed in the shrinking and downsizing of higher education screams ‘efficiency.’ Quite the opposite in fact.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
I can’t say enough how fantastic the programme staff are at the Visiting Scholars Programme @bodleian.ox.ac.uk. If you don’t know about this wonderful programme, read more here: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
Bodleian Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections
www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I can’t say enough how fantastic the programme staff are at the Visiting Scholars Programme @bodleian.ox.ac.uk. If you don’t know about this wonderful programme, read more here: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
Instead of plunging some of the country’s elite learning institutions into financial chaos and ruin, could the Treasury please consider taxing Starbucks more than £7m a year.
(Same applies for all American mega-corporations operating in U.K.)
(Same applies for all American mega-corporations operating in U.K.)
These are HEPI estimates of the 20 institutions affected: I think this illustrates the impact if the tariff is absorbed in full by institutions.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
November 24, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Instead of plunging some of the country’s elite learning institutions into financial chaos and ruin, could the Treasury please consider taxing Starbucks more than £7m a year.
(Same applies for all American mega-corporations operating in U.K.)
(Same applies for all American mega-corporations operating in U.K.)
What a spectacular way to pour petrol on the flames of the UKHE financial crisis.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 AM
What a spectacular way to pour petrol on the flames of the UKHE financial crisis.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
Disinformation platform reveals scale of disinformation operating on site.
X rolled out a new feature overnight showing where accounts are based. This network of “Trump-supporting independent women” that claimed to be “real Americans” are based in Thailand.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
November 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Disinformation platform reveals scale of disinformation operating on site.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
The drive for ‘specialisation’ in what universities are ’good at’ is seldom going to translate in investment in the humanities, isn’t it?
Places that are going everything right & all that’s demanded of them are still being punished. And that alone tells you we need a new (less arbitrary) system.
Places that are going everything right & all that’s demanded of them are still being punished. And that alone tells you we need a new (less arbitrary) system.
This is a pattern that pervades the post REF2021 era. See also for example Kent, or at UoA level History, where the top 4 performing UoAs have all faced significant redundancies after their high results.
What does the White Paper (and DSIT/UKRI) mean by advocating 'specialism' in this context? 2/2
What does the White Paper (and DSIT/UKRI) mean by advocating 'specialism' in this context? 2/2
November 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The drive for ‘specialisation’ in what universities are ’good at’ is seldom going to translate in investment in the humanities, isn’t it?
Places that are going everything right & all that’s demanded of them are still being punished. And that alone tells you we need a new (less arbitrary) system.
Places that are going everything right & all that’s demanded of them are still being punished. And that alone tells you we need a new (less arbitrary) system.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
'It is notable that in the last Research Excellence Framework exercise the Department of American Studies at Nottingham was ranked third in the Area Studies unit of assessment and was one of the top-performing units across the whole of the University of Nottingham.' 1/2
RED ALERT: the University of Nottingham is threatening to close its Department of American Studies, putting all staff at risk of redundancy, and ending any American specialist knowledge in the Faculty of Arts.
Sign the petition here to save jobs:
www.change.org/p/save-ameri...
Sign the petition here to save jobs:
www.change.org/p/save-ameri...
Sign the Petition
SAVE AMERICAN STUDIES TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
www.change.org
November 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
'It is notable that in the last Research Excellence Framework exercise the Department of American Studies at Nottingham was ranked third in the Area Studies unit of assessment and was one of the top-performing units across the whole of the University of Nottingham.' 1/2
(almost) Everybody hates Keir.
📊 NEW | As Labour launches crackdowns on refugees and trans people, Starmer's approval hits new low.
✅ Favourable – 19% (-2)
❌ Unfavourable – 73% (+1)
Via YouGov, 16-17 Nov (+/- vs 14 Oct)
✅ Favourable – 19% (-2)
❌ Unfavourable – 73% (+1)
Via YouGov, 16-17 Nov (+/- vs 14 Oct)
November 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
(almost) Everybody hates Keir.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
What does it mean to write the history of a place as it is being destroyed before our very eyes?
Anne Irfan on the stakes of studying, researching and writing the history of Gaza.
Anne Irfan on the stakes of studying, researching and writing the history of Gaza.
Writing history in a time of genocide
Anne Irfan asks, what does it mean to write the history of a place as it is being destroyed before our very eyes?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 7:24 AM
What does it mean to write the history of a place as it is being destroyed before our very eyes?
Anne Irfan on the stakes of studying, researching and writing the history of Gaza.
Anne Irfan on the stakes of studying, researching and writing the history of Gaza.
Reposted by Hannah Elias
This is one of my favs...
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This is one of my favs...
Reposted by Hannah Elias
This week the Society releases its new Strategy, 2026-2028 bit.ly/43A9tF4
The Strategy outlines five priorities for the Royal Historical Society over the next three years. It comes at a vital time for the health and future of our discipline and profession #Skystorians 1/2
The Strategy outlines five priorities for the Royal Historical Society over the next three years. It comes at a vital time for the health and future of our discipline and profession #Skystorians 1/2
November 19, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This week the Society releases its new Strategy, 2026-2028 bit.ly/43A9tF4
The Strategy outlines five priorities for the Royal Historical Society over the next three years. It comes at a vital time for the health and future of our discipline and profession #Skystorians 1/2
The Strategy outlines five priorities for the Royal Historical Society over the next three years. It comes at a vital time for the health and future of our discipline and profession #Skystorians 1/2
Reposted by Hannah Elias
I don’t know what to say anymore other than to remind those in power that refugees are human beings with equal rights who, along with their children, deserve a safe, stable & integrated life in their communities and that what they’re breaking now with this performative cruelty can’t be fixed later.
The Labour government does not want to rule out deporting somebody once here as a refugee 16-19 years with a British-born 15 year old child
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I don’t know what to say anymore other than to remind those in power that refugees are human beings with equal rights who, along with their children, deserve a safe, stable & integrated life in their communities and that what they’re breaking now with this performative cruelty can’t be fixed later.