John Sabapathy
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social
Professor of history @uclhistory.bsky.social + co-convenor @anthropoceneucl.bsky.social. Editor at @enghistrev.bsky.social.
Institutions, rationalities, environments, mostly medieval.
https://tinyurl.com/2p8r9yeh + https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropocene/.
Institutions, rationalities, environments, mostly medieval.
https://tinyurl.com/2p8r9yeh + https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropocene/.
Pinned
John Sabapathy
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social
· Oct 16
Anthropocene Vernaculars: Crawford Lake
An experimental piece of writing tracing the histories of Crawford Lake, Ontario which was nominated as a global example of the Anthropocene.
thinkpieces-review.co.uk
An 'experimental' piece of writing by me @ucl-ias.bsky.social on Crawford Lake, the site proposed for the Anthropocene's location c.1950.
(Publication was delayed—it was written before the Subcommission for Quaternary Stratigraphy's rejection of the Anthropocene as an epoch).
#Anthropocene
(Publication was delayed—it was written before the Subcommission for Quaternary Stratigraphy's rejection of the Anthropocene as an epoch).
#Anthropocene
Reposted by John Sabapathy
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Breaking: British Library staff reject improved pay offer after strike.
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
British Library staff reject improved pay offer after strike - Research Professional News
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Breaking: British Library staff reject improved pay offer after strike.
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Reposted by John Sabapathy
'More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.' 1/2
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:57 AM
'More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.' 1/2
Reposted by John Sabapathy
The Humboldtian research university ideal, as a child of centrist liberals redrafting of the early modern four faculties towards disciplinary specialization, is over.
A product of liberalism as dominant it could not survive liberalism's collapse, even as a revenant.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
1/
A product of liberalism as dominant it could not survive liberalism's collapse, even as a revenant.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
1/
"Wealthy people are shaping higher education…to tilt campuses rightward. The president and his allies have pursued an aggressive campaign to realize their vision. The campaign is accelerating”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Wealthy People Have Always Shaped Universities. This Time Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The Humboldtian research university ideal, as a child of centrist liberals redrafting of the early modern four faculties towards disciplinary specialization, is over.
A product of liberalism as dominant it could not survive liberalism's collapse, even as a revenant.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
1/
A product of liberalism as dominant it could not survive liberalism's collapse, even as a revenant.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
1/
Reposted by John Sabapathy
A 6% levy on international student fees was proposed in the Immigration White Paper. The impact is about £600 million, though very unevenly spread across institutions.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
A 6% levy on international student fees was proposed in the Immigration White Paper. The impact is about £600 million, though very unevenly spread across institutions.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
"‘Which is the best university in the world?’ is not a useful question. ‘Which university might be best for me, given that I care about X and Y?’ is a better question — but one for which current measures are unlikely to provide a good answer"
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
To reform universities, first tackle global rankings
Universities are in thrall to a rankings system that prioritizes narrow aspects of academic life. Three changes would give institutions the freedom to explore fresh ways of working.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
"‘Which is the best university in the world?’ is not a useful question. ‘Which university might be best for me, given that I care about X and Y?’ is a better question — but one for which current measures are unlikely to provide a good answer"
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Sniff, sniff’!
St John is my favourite restaurant, I always keep my ravaged paper menu as a memoir. Oddly we’re going tonight for our anniversary when a fergroni or two will need to be raised in thanks….🍸
(gift link)
St John is my favourite restaurant, I always keep my ravaged paper menu as a memoir. Oddly we’re going tonight for our anniversary when a fergroni or two will need to be raised in thanks….🍸
(gift link)
St John’s founders are stepping back. What comes next for the trailblazing nose-to-tail restaurant?
Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver are retiring from day-to-day operations after 31 years
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:57 AM
‘Sniff, sniff’!
St John is my favourite restaurant, I always keep my ravaged paper menu as a memoir. Oddly we’re going tonight for our anniversary when a fergroni or two will need to be raised in thanks….🍸
(gift link)
St John is my favourite restaurant, I always keep my ravaged paper menu as a memoir. Oddly we’re going tonight for our anniversary when a fergroni or two will need to be raised in thanks….🍸
(gift link)
It is vital to speak out against the attempt to portray autism as something bad, something that should be cured or prevented. At the same times…some forms of autism are accompanied by co-occurring medical conditions that do cause suffering and distress…where cures would be welcome.
The new politics of autism
As contentious claims over rising diagnoses get a presidential platform, Simon Baron-Cohen explains where talk of an ‘epidemic’ goes wrong — and why we need more recognition that autism comes in diffe...
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:31 AM
It is vital to speak out against the attempt to portray autism as something bad, something that should be cured or prevented. At the same times…some forms of autism are accompanied by co-occurring medical conditions that do cause suffering and distress…where cures would be welcome.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Review copy just landed!
"Becoming Arab: The Formation of Arab Identity in the Medieval Middle East"
by Yossef Rapoport
@princetonupress.bsky.social
"Becoming Arab: The Formation of Arab Identity in the Medieval Middle East"
by Yossef Rapoport
@princetonupress.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Review copy just landed!
"Becoming Arab: The Formation of Arab Identity in the Medieval Middle East"
by Yossef Rapoport
@princetonupress.bsky.social
"Becoming Arab: The Formation of Arab Identity in the Medieval Middle East"
by Yossef Rapoport
@princetonupress.bsky.social
Yes this is a v good article @telegraph.co.uk, esp on neglect of @britishlibrary.bsky.social’s core function and cross-party uninterest. Students per se not the prob tho’ & have always been able to use them BL—indeed ANYONE, rightly, has, you simply needed to show what it was you wanted to look at.
Seems like more people are finally taking notice of what is happening at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social
A good piece which includes this nice line 'staff – all of whom were praised by everyone I spoke to for this article'
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/news/b...
A good piece which includes this nice line 'staff – all of whom were praised by everyone I spoke to for this article'
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/news/b...
Why nothing is being done about the scandalous state of the British Library
The institution is still reeling from the devastating 2023 cyberattack, leaving staff and researchers deeply frustrated
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Yes this is a v good article @telegraph.co.uk, esp on neglect of @britishlibrary.bsky.social’s core function and cross-party uninterest. Students per se not the prob tho’ & have always been able to use them BL—indeed ANYONE, rightly, has, you simply needed to show what it was you wanted to look at.
An amazing concert @wigmore-hall.org.uk last night with unnerving ai ‘slop’ music from @jenniferwalshe.bsky.social, but 🎩 off to George Barton for utterly stunning🥁🥁 performing Hanne Darboven’s Opus 17a newly arranged.
London Contemporary Music Festival: The Artist Is Not Present
London Contemporary Music Festival: The Artist Is Not Present LCMF x Wigmore Hall
www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
An amazing concert @wigmore-hall.org.uk last night with unnerving ai ‘slop’ music from @jenniferwalshe.bsky.social, but 🎩 off to George Barton for utterly stunning🥁🥁 performing Hanne Darboven’s Opus 17a newly arranged.
This is utterly glorious new music by @tristanperich.bsky.social for James McVinnie on the king of instruments.
Infinity Gradient by Tristan Perich & James McVinnie on Apple Music
Album · 2025 · 8 Songs
music.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
This is utterly glorious new music by @tristanperich.bsky.social for James McVinnie on the king of instruments.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Call for papers!
We invite proposals for a special issue addressing historical animal geographies, co-edited by Karen M. Morin & Alice J. Hovorka.
Abstract deadline 15 Jan
Accepted submission deadline 15 Jun
Details here: sciencedirect.com/special-issue/327592/historical-animal-geographies
We invite proposals for a special issue addressing historical animal geographies, co-edited by Karen M. Morin & Alice J. Hovorka.
Abstract deadline 15 Jan
Accepted submission deadline 15 Jun
Details here: sciencedirect.com/special-issue/327592/historical-animal-geographies
November 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Call for papers!
We invite proposals for a special issue addressing historical animal geographies, co-edited by Karen M. Morin & Alice J. Hovorka.
Abstract deadline 15 Jan
Accepted submission deadline 15 Jun
Details here: sciencedirect.com/special-issue/327592/historical-animal-geographies
We invite proposals for a special issue addressing historical animal geographies, co-edited by Karen M. Morin & Alice J. Hovorka.
Abstract deadline 15 Jan
Accepted submission deadline 15 Jun
Details here: sciencedirect.com/special-issue/327592/historical-animal-geographies
Reposted by John Sabapathy
The first volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is now out! It features 4 new articles on 4 commodities in global economic history - salt, ivory, raw cotton, and finished cotton goods - all open access. It was a great experience editing this volume!
Vol. 34 No. 95 (2025) of @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is out! The first instalment of New Perspectives in Global Economic History, edited by @alkaraman.bsky.social, shows how commodity based economic history reveals global interconnections and rethinks long-term development. revistes.ub.edu/index.php/Hi...
November 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The first volume of the Special Issue on Global Economic History @rhi-ihr.bsky.social is now out! It features 4 new articles on 4 commodities in global economic history - salt, ivory, raw cotton, and finished cotton goods - all open access. It was a great experience editing this volume!
This is an important article.
It's impossible that this would have remained so neglected a crisis had it been the National Gallery or Natural History Museum.
It's also strange that London universities seemingly haven't kicked up the fuss they might have, given its impact on their students.
It's impossible that this would have remained so neglected a crisis had it been the National Gallery or Natural History Museum.
It's also strange that London universities seemingly haven't kicked up the fuss they might have, given its impact on their students.
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 9:28 AM
This is an important article.
It's impossible that this would have remained so neglected a crisis had it been the National Gallery or Natural History Museum.
It's also strange that London universities seemingly haven't kicked up the fuss they might have, given its impact on their students.
It's impossible that this would have remained so neglected a crisis had it been the National Gallery or Natural History Museum.
It's also strange that London universities seemingly haven't kicked up the fuss they might have, given its impact on their students.
'Of course, the situation is hopeless'.
Fascinating reflection on Alasdair McIntyre's storytelling by Raymond Geuss in NLR's Sidecar blog from June.
But what does one responsibly /do/ if no prospective hope is available to you, religious or terrestrial?
Fascinating reflection on Alasdair McIntyre's storytelling by Raymond Geuss in NLR's Sidecar blog from June.
But what does one responsibly /do/ if no prospective hope is available to you, religious or terrestrial?
Raymond Geuss, Storyteller — Sidecar
Alasdair MacIntyre (1929-2025).
newleftreview.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
'Of course, the situation is hopeless'.
Fascinating reflection on Alasdair McIntyre's storytelling by Raymond Geuss in NLR's Sidecar blog from June.
But what does one responsibly /do/ if no prospective hope is available to you, religious or terrestrial?
Fascinating reflection on Alasdair McIntyre's storytelling by Raymond Geuss in NLR's Sidecar blog from June.
But what does one responsibly /do/ if no prospective hope is available to you, religious or terrestrial?
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Marking the anniversary of the Miners' Strike of 1984/5, Keith Gildart reflects on a selection of recent titles in a new Review Article: 'Which Side Are You On Boys? Revisiting the History of British Coal Miners and the Strike of 1984/5'
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
#MinersStrike
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
#MinersStrike
Which Side Are You On Boys? Revisiting the History of British Coal Miners and the Strike of 1984/5
The year 2025 marks the fortieth anniversary of the end of the bitter twelve-month miners’ strike of 1984/5. The dominance of coal in British energy produc
academic.oup.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Marking the anniversary of the Miners' Strike of 1984/5, Keith Gildart reflects on a selection of recent titles in a new Review Article: 'Which Side Are You On Boys? Revisiting the History of British Coal Miners and the Strike of 1984/5'
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
#MinersStrike
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
#MinersStrike
Good question & critique.
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith
The dispute over pay at this great national institution gets to the heart of our misplaced priorities, says novelist Zadie Smith
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Good question & critique.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
How aware is/are your MP(s) of what your local universities deliver beyond taught programmes? Little in political debate or media suggests that their understanding is high. Perhaps it's time to add tutorials with worked examples to the mix, before it's too late. ICSs offer easy starting points. 8/8
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
How aware is/are your MP(s) of what your local universities deliver beyond taught programmes? Little in political debate or media suggests that their understanding is high. Perhaps it's time to add tutorials with worked examples to the mix, before it's too late. ICSs offer easy starting points. 8/8
This is an excellent🧵—and a sign of how threadbare & impoverished UK non-stem discourse is that,again and again, such cases need to be mounted in these terms in an affluent & supposedly mature polity.
What's lost when we lose staff, departments, programmes and faculties in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and what's that got to do with organ donation?
Amid the looming losses faced by Cardiff, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Leicester and Nottingham (among many others), here's a worked example. 1/8
Amid the looming losses faced by Cardiff, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Leicester and Nottingham (among many others), here's a worked example. 1/8
The organ donation ‘opt-out’ has been a fatal failure | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is an excellent🧵—and a sign of how threadbare & impoverished UK non-stem discourse is that,again and again, such cases need to be mounted in these terms in an affluent & supposedly mature polity.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Many thanks to the Centre for Apocalyptic & Postapocalyptic Studies (CAPAS) @uniheidelberg.bsky.social for welcoming @fmussgnug.bsky.social, @jwwsabapathy.bsky.social & Emily Baker to talk about emergence and emergencies last week—we look forward to our discussions in Bloomsbury next spring!
November 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Many thanks to the Centre for Apocalyptic & Postapocalyptic Studies (CAPAS) @uniheidelberg.bsky.social for welcoming @fmussgnug.bsky.social, @jwwsabapathy.bsky.social & Emily Baker to talk about emergence and emergencies last week—we look forward to our discussions in Bloomsbury next spring!
Reposted by John Sabapathy
‘The recommendation to abandon the English Baccalaureate at GCSE would eliminate one of the few remaining safeguards for language provision in England’s schools and risk narrowing education for the next generation.’
Our response to the curriculum review
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-uks...
Our response to the curriculum review
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-uks...
The UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, The British Academy responds to the final report of the curriculum and assessment review
The final report of the Curriculum and Assessment review, released today, raises important questions about how we maintain a balanced and effective education system that works for all. The UK’s nation...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
‘The recommendation to abandon the English Baccalaureate at GCSE would eliminate one of the few remaining safeguards for language provision in England’s schools and risk narrowing education for the next generation.’
Our response to the curriculum review
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-uks...
Our response to the curriculum review
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-uks...
This is an amazing collaboration. I’ve heard McVinnie on the RFH organ, extraordinary—also a lovely & generous man who sent me a rough cut of him playing Hanne Darboven just because I complained on the other place about how hard it is to hear her work.
Add to playlist: Tristan Perich and James McVinnie’s piece for organ and 100 loudspeakers, plus the week’s best new tracks
Perich’s work, performed with McVinnie at Royal Festival Hall, is the latest addition to today’s canon of boundary-pushing pipe organ music
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:52 AM
This is an amazing collaboration. I’ve heard McVinnie on the RFH organ, extraordinary—also a lovely & generous man who sent me a rough cut of him playing Hanne Darboven just because I complained on the other place about how hard it is to hear her work.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
🌍 New from Anthropocene Vernaculars:
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social's 'Koutarcano: An Exercise in the Historic Present' explores Wendat history, language, and the Anthropocene at Crawford Lake.
🔗 shorturl.at/6UyCn
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social's 'Koutarcano: An Exercise in the Historic Present' explores Wendat history, language, and the Anthropocene at Crawford Lake.
🔗 shorturl.at/6UyCn
Anthropocene Vernaculars: Crawford Lake
An experimental piece of writing tracing the histories of Crawford Lake, Ontario which was nominated as a global example of the Anthropocene.
shorturl.at
November 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
🌍 New from Anthropocene Vernaculars:
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social's 'Koutarcano: An Exercise in the Historic Present' explores Wendat history, language, and the Anthropocene at Crawford Lake.
🔗 shorturl.at/6UyCn
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social's 'Koutarcano: An Exercise in the Historic Present' explores Wendat history, language, and the Anthropocene at Crawford Lake.
🔗 shorturl.at/6UyCn
Reposted by John Sabapathy
British Academy Early Career Network: Writing Retreat
28 Nov, 9am-5pm @britishacademy.bsky.social
If you are an early career researcher looking to finish (or start) that piece of writing/lecture/grant application/proposal, this event might be for you!
www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-of...
28 Nov, 9am-5pm @britishacademy.bsky.social
If you are an early career researcher looking to finish (or start) that piece of writing/lecture/grant application/proposal, this event might be for you!
www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-of...
Early Career Network: Writing Retreat
If you are an early career researcher looking to finish (or start) that piece of writing/lecture/grant application/proposal, this event might be for you!
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
British Academy Early Career Network: Writing Retreat
28 Nov, 9am-5pm @britishacademy.bsky.social
If you are an early career researcher looking to finish (or start) that piece of writing/lecture/grant application/proposal, this event might be for you!
www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-of...
28 Nov, 9am-5pm @britishacademy.bsky.social
If you are an early career researcher looking to finish (or start) that piece of writing/lecture/grant application/proposal, this event might be for you!
www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-of...