Jon Topham
@jontopham.bsky.social
8.7K followers 1.1K following 54 posts
Professor of History of Science, University of Leeds. History of print, science and religion, life and earth sciences, Britain 1790-1840. Award-winning new book: "Reading the Book of Nature" bit.ly/Book-of-Nature ahc.leeds.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/143/
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
jontopham.bsky.social
Science and Religion from the Ground Up

What did fourteen-year old physician’s daughter Ellen Parry think about science and religion as Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837?

Read my latest log post: www.issr.org.uk/blog/may-202...
May 2024 Blog Post
Science and Religion from the Ground Up   What did fourteen-year old physician’s daughter Ellen Parry think about science and religion as Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837?  What was she rea...
www.issr.org.uk
Reposted by Jon Topham
medhistoryman.bsky.social
We're super excited to be hosting Prof. Alison Bashford at @globalaffairslu.bsky.social to hear her talk about her fascinating new book on the history of reading the hand. You can imagine why we'd be interested and we are sure you will be too. Please sign up for free tickets at the link below.
victorianhand.bsky.social
How might hands reveal an inner self – a soul, a character, an identity?

Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.

Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
Reposted by Jon Topham
Reposted by Jon Topham
hpsleeds.bsky.social
Huge congratulations to our own Dr Ellen Clarke on the publication of "The Units of Life: Kinds of Individual in Biology"! academic.oup.com/book/60068
Reposted by Jon Topham
hpsleeds.bsky.social
Our Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine holds some incredible collections. Look out for a complete refresh of our permanent gallery spaces - “Proper #Yorkshire Science” - launching very soon! It explores the connection between science and regional identity #histsci
jontopham.bsky.social
Great to see the latest issue of @bshsnews.bsky.social "Viewpoint" magazine out at www.bshs.org.uk/wp-content/u.... A big shout-out to editor Joe Holloway for including an excerpt from my book "Reading the Book of Nature" in this issue and for organizing to interview me. Thanks, Joe!
www.bshs.org.uk
Reposted by Jon Topham
bshsnews.bsky.social
Join us in Cambridge for Sadiah Qureshi’s public lecture "Vanished" — on extinction, race & the politics of memory.

📅 Wed 9 July, 6–10pm
📍 David Attenborough Building, Cambridge
🎟 Free tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1395979053...
With an introduction by Helen Macdonald!
#BSHS2025 #histSTEM
"Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction" by Sadiah Qureshi
Join us for a fantastic lecture by Prof Sadiah Qureshi with an introduction by Helen MacDonald at the Babbage Lecture Theatre in Cambridge!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Reposted by Jon Topham
zoethomas.bsky.social
Call for Papers, please share! “Power Couples? Collaborations at work and at home, c.1750-1914” workshop to be held at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany 11-13 May 2026. Deadline for expression of interest 1 Sep 2025. Please see more info in the attached & email me if any questions.
Screen shot of word document detailing information about the “power couples” conference. Please email z.thomas@bham.ac.uk for more info.
Reposted by Jon Topham
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'researchers...say that Annie Walker – a Victorian woman who began working at the observatory in 1879, when she was only 15 – ...observed thousands of stars herself....Walker was the first British professional female astronomer...paid a living wage by an observatory in the UK to chart the stars.'
Unsung observatory worker was UK’s first professional female astronomer, experts say
Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy is trying to find a photo of Annie Walker, who died in 1940, to give her star billing
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Jon Topham
royalsociety.org
The APEX Awards, jointly awarded with the @britishacademy.bsky.social and the @raeng.org.uk, are now open for applications, giving independent researchers the opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary research. Applications now close on 09 September: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/apex-...
Reposted by Jon Topham
Reposted by Jon Topham
sadiahqureshi.bsky.social
If you’d like to know more about extinction and empire, some upcoming book events:

18 June, with Gary Younge, KCL
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/vanis...

26 June, Linnean Society, London
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-unnatu...

9 July, with Helen Macdonald, Cambridge
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vanished-a...
Reposted by Jon Topham
hpsleeds.bsky.social
Coming soon: reports from attendees, photos and even a film which capture the @bshsnews.bsky.social Postgraduate Conference hosted by our wonderful PG community last month. We're still basking in the warm glow of this amazing event! pg-conference.bshs.org.uk #histsci #histSTM
BSHS Postgraduate Conference – Postgraduate Conference of the British Society for the History of ScienceBSHS PG Conference 2025 - Draft ProgrammeBSHS PG Conference 2025 - Day 2: Paper Sessions
pg-conference.bshs.org.uk
Reposted by Jon Topham
theulspeccoll.bsky.social
Beautiful botanical details inside & out in this recent acquisition from @quaritch1847.bsky.social: Henrietta Moriarty's 'Viridarium: coloured plates of
greenhouse plants' (London, 1806), produced in part to free her from destitution after the early death of her dissolute husband. CUL 8000.d.1621.
Reposted by Jon Topham
bshsnews.bsky.social
📣 Call for Proposals – BJHS Themes 2026!

We're inviting proposals for the next issue of BJHS Themes, the open-access journal published with @CambridgeUP!

📅 Deadline: 15 July 2025
📘 Details: www.bshs.org.uk/cfp-bjhs-the...

Check out our current Themes issues! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Call for Proposals: BJHS Themes
Dear colleagues, We invite proposals from prospective ‘special editors’ for the next issue of The British Journal for the History of Science - Themes. Deadline for proposals: 15 July 2025. BJHS Them...
www.bshs.org.uk
Reposted by Jon Topham
imems.bsky.social
IMEMS Co-Director Professor Matthew Eddy discusses his new book, winner of the British Society for the History of Science's Pickstone Prize, in an interview with @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social - now live! 🎙️

👉 Listen here: newbooksnetwork.com/media-and-th... @bshsnews.bsky.social
Matthew Daniel Eddy, "Media and the Mind: Art, Science, and Notebooks as Paper Machines, 1700-1830" (U Chicago Press, 2023) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
Reposted by Jon Topham
Reposted by Jon Topham
bshsnews.bsky.social
🗣️ Got a bold idea to bring history of science, tech or medicine to the public?

🧪🎬🧵🎭📚

Apply for a BSHS Outreach & Engagement Grant – up to £500 available!

📅 Deadline: 16 May 2025
🔗 bshs.org.uk/grants/outreach-and-engagement-project-grants
#HistSTM #SciComm #PublicHistory #BSHSGrants #HSTM
Reposted by Jon Topham
womenshistscot.bsky.social
📢 WHS Research Bursary!

Postgrad, early career, or independent researcher in women's/gender history? Apply for up to £500! Open to those in Scotland or researching Scottish themes.

🗓️ Deadline: 31st May

🔗 womenshistoryscotland.org/projects-and...

#WomensHistory #GenderStudies #ResearchFunding
WHS Research Bursary – Women's History Scotland
womenshistoryscotland.org
Reposted by Jon Topham
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
The Lyell Lectures are free! Link here to book online and in person: visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/lyell-lectur...