Thomas Cheney
@thomascheney.bsky.social
Academic, (outer) Space Governance at Northumbria University. Legal geography and environmental humanities of space governance (space resources, planetary protection, astrobiology, settlement etc). Working on project 'Life the Ultimate Frontier'. He/him.
Pinned
Thomas Cheney
@thomascheney.bsky.social
· Jan 24
Now that I've signed the contract and its properly official, very excited to announce that I'm writing a book for Bloomsbury Academic titled: Space, the Final Resource Frontier? The Governance of Planetary and Extraplanetary Natural Resources which should be published sometime in 2028 (ish)
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Since 2011 fuel duty freeze has cost the Treasury a whopping £133bn and added to yet more climate emissions. Freezing it yet again is reckless & irresponsible #budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Since 2011 fuel duty freeze has cost the Treasury a whopping £133bn and added to yet more climate emissions. Freezing it yet again is reckless & irresponsible #budget2025
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
How on earth is the Office for Students still allowed to lord it over the sector, by the way? It's not as if they've in any way provided any evidence of improvements since parliament deemded them not fit for purpose and failing to anticipate the looming crisis in September 2023? #UKHE
November 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
How on earth is the Office for Students still allowed to lord it over the sector, by the way? It's not as if they've in any way provided any evidence of improvements since parliament deemded them not fit for purpose and failing to anticipate the looming crisis in September 2023? #UKHE
the problem with letting my archive SD card fill up with over 7,000 images is that when I need to clear it for my next trip it does take a while to transfer them... especially as there's so many that windows explorer keeps crashing... will I learn from this, no, no I wont
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
the problem with letting my archive SD card fill up with over 7,000 images is that when I need to clear it for my next trip it does take a while to transfer them... especially as there's so many that windows explorer keeps crashing... will I learn from this, no, no I wont
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Want to hold a major academic conference in the humanities and social sciences? We offer up to £20k (and sometimes £25k) for a conference on any topic to be held between April 27/March 28. Apply by 29 Jan 2026.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
British Academy Conferences funding for UK-based researchers
An exceptional opportunity for UK-based scholars to run a landmark event featuring leading-edge research as part of the British Academy’s events programme.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Want to hold a major academic conference in the humanities and social sciences? We offer up to £20k (and sometimes £25k) for a conference on any topic to be held between April 27/March 28. Apply by 29 Jan 2026.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
holy fuck that is a big change
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
holy fuck that is a big change
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
wait maybe the argument to win over the government is to highlight how killing universities harms landlords
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
wait maybe the argument to win over the government is to highlight how killing universities harms landlords
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
It's not *just* academics and students (two groups that Starmer's Labour despise and see as undesirable) who populate universities. They employ vast work forces! There are administrators, cleaners, cafeteria staff, gardeners, post workers, builders all dependent on their university remaining open.
November 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
It's not *just* academics and students (two groups that Starmer's Labour despise and see as undesirable) who populate universities. They employ vast work forces! There are administrators, cleaners, cafeteria staff, gardeners, post workers, builders all dependent on their university remaining open.
one of the things that truly pisses me off about Uk public transport is the lying - out service was terminated early and we were told the next one was 'right behind' us, 10 mins later were still waiting
November 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
one of the things that truly pisses me off about Uk public transport is the lying - out service was terminated early and we were told the next one was 'right behind' us, 10 mins later were still waiting
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
big question to Lapworth (OfS) about near term risks of closure. She absolutely softballs it, suggesting they don't expect a hard closure in this academic year. That is patently obvious, because that's not how universities close really. You need to be Dundee levels of bad to risk that.
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
big question to Lapworth (OfS) about near term risks of closure. She absolutely softballs it, suggesting they don't expect a hard closure in this academic year. That is patently obvious, because that's not how universities close really. You need to be Dundee levels of bad to risk that.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
"this government has now given certainty to the universities about their funding"
NO YOU HAVEN'T, you are LITERALLY raiding the international fees income TOMORROW
NO YOU HAVEN'T, you are LITERALLY raiding the international fees income TOMORROW
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
"this government has now given certainty to the universities about their funding"
NO YOU HAVEN'T, you are LITERALLY raiding the international fees income TOMORROW
NO YOU HAVEN'T, you are LITERALLY raiding the international fees income TOMORROW
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
q: would the government consider intervening ala Dundee?
a: J.E. gives an absolutely pabulum non-answer and pivots to a. smaller institutions (not the q) and b. says there would be a specific point (protecting taxpayers).
so they'd let it go under
a: J.E. gives an absolutely pabulum non-answer and pivots to a. smaller institutions (not the q) and b. says there would be a specific point (protecting taxpayers).
so they'd let it go under
November 25, 2025 at 10:09 AM
q: would the government consider intervening ala Dundee?
a: J.E. gives an absolutely pabulum non-answer and pivots to a. smaller institutions (not the q) and b. says there would be a specific point (protecting taxpayers).
so they'd let it go under
a: J.E. gives an absolutely pabulum non-answer and pivots to a. smaller institutions (not the q) and b. says there would be a specific point (protecting taxpayers).
so they'd let it go under
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
putting it quite simply: universities already specialise in various ways. They organically develop strengths, deeper benches of talent in some areas over others, etc.
the only reason to mouth these sorts of generalities in the direction of MPs is to signal you're not content with that arrangement.
the only reason to mouth these sorts of generalities in the direction of MPs is to signal you're not content with that arrangement.
November 25, 2025 at 10:07 AM
putting it quite simply: universities already specialise in various ways. They organically develop strengths, deeper benches of talent in some areas over others, etc.
the only reason to mouth these sorts of generalities in the direction of MPs is to signal you're not content with that arrangement.
the only reason to mouth these sorts of generalities in the direction of MPs is to signal you're not content with that arrangement.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
"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 Thomas Cheney
Today and tomorrow, PROBabLE Futures is hosting the workshop:
“Under Investigation: Large Language Models for Policing”.
“Under Investigation: Large Language Models for Policing”.
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Today and tomorrow, PROBabLE Futures is hosting the workshop:
“Under Investigation: Large Language Models for Policing”.
“Under Investigation: Large Language Models for Policing”.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
🎉 Exciting announcement to kick off the week! 🎉
The @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is pleased to announce that the 2026 National Astronomy Meeting will be held by the University of Birmingham from 20-24 July. 🔭🪐💫
And even better, the call for session-proposal submissions is now OPEN! 🥳⤵️
The @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is pleased to announce that the 2026 National Astronomy Meeting will be held by the University of Birmingham from 20-24 July. 🔭🪐💫
And even better, the call for session-proposal submissions is now OPEN! 🥳⤵️
November 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
🎉 Exciting announcement to kick off the week! 🎉
The @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is pleased to announce that the 2026 National Astronomy Meeting will be held by the University of Birmingham from 20-24 July. 🔭🪐💫
And even better, the call for session-proposal submissions is now OPEN! 🥳⤵️
The @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is pleased to announce that the 2026 National Astronomy Meeting will be held by the University of Birmingham from 20-24 July. 🔭🪐💫
And even better, the call for session-proposal submissions is now OPEN! 🥳⤵️
its not the only reason im opposed to Labours immigration policy but i do think it worth saying for solidarity if nothing else, but ive been an illegal immigrant, my parents overstayed our visas by about six years, we dont all look like youd think and the reasons for it arent clear cut
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
its not the only reason im opposed to Labours immigration policy but i do think it worth saying for solidarity if nothing else, but ive been an illegal immigrant, my parents overstayed our visas by about six years, we dont all look like youd think and the reasons for it arent clear cut
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Yeah the pre-emptive nihilism people display is *very obviously* a self-fulfilling prophesy and extremely in fact part of shifting our cultural norms in exactly the direction Farage et al would prefer. Care, care simply because it matters, and it matters to you. Say as much publicly.
All the supposedly progressive people saying 'Nigel Farage's racism doesn't matter. His fans love it'.
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Yeah the pre-emptive nihilism people display is *very obviously* a self-fulfilling prophesy and extremely in fact part of shifting our cultural norms in exactly the direction Farage et al would prefer. Care, care simply because it matters, and it matters to you. Say as much publicly.
why stop there why not just bring back capital controls for everyone, keep British money in Britain!
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 PM
why stop there why not just bring back capital controls for everyone, keep British money in Britain!
and think of all the science and state capacity it has destroyed, thats not nothing!
hey don't be so hard on yourselves; it delivered oceans of sensitive government and citizen data to billionaires
Musk’s DOGE Quietly Killed Off After Delivering Almost Nothing
The agency disbanded eight months ahead of schedule.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
and think of all the science and state capacity it has destroyed, thats not nothing!
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
![[Scene is JESUS sat behind a boss’s desk in his office on a cloud in HEAVEN]
1
JESUS [speaking into intercom]
Hi can you send in Saint Nicholas please
2
SANTA [entering in full Santa garb]:
Hi boss
JESUS:
Hi Nick
3
JESUS:
Listen - about this ‘my birthday’ thing...
SANTA:
Ohh not this again boss
4
JESUS:
Nick, it’s out of hand. *You’ve* got out of hand.
5
JESUS:
I mean when I hired you, you was all humble, hiding under windows, lobbing in dowries…
And now you’re like…
6
JESUS [gesturing disdainfully at Santa’s clothing]:
I mean - what’s this.
7
SANTA:
This is my get up! I’ve had this since the Coca Cola deal in the 30s
JESUS:
*That’s what I mean.*
8
JESUS:
You’ve just gone too -
SANTA:
Oh no, oh no -
9
SANTA:
Sorry boss but waaay back in the Reformation, right, Martin Luther said: “why don’t we have Jesus delivering the presents?”. And when he prayed to ask you, do you remember what you said? Eh?
10
SANTA:
You said: “I ain’t going back there”
11
SANTA:
If you wanna take over -
JESUS:
Oh yeah! Kids coming downstairs to find me resurrected in their living room going "I got you an Xbox"...
12
SANTA:
You’re just feeling threatened cos I’m doing a bloody good -
JESUS:
*WATCH IT NICK*.
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayhglimve4fbwilzyfjedpa56xwmjq4oriqqs62atkospprs6x5y@jpeg)
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Posters have appeared around the building. They suggest that geography, geology, & environment staff might be a bit angry at proposed redundancies, reorganisations & closures. Rightly so.
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Posters have appeared around the building. They suggest that geography, geology, & environment staff might be a bit angry at proposed redundancies, reorganisations & closures. Rightly so.
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Are you looking to read read a new book over the winter break?! (and then send me a review afterwards? 😀) Check out this amazing list of books that I have available to review for H-Environment! #envhist #envhum #ecocrit #aghist #landscape #conservation #anthropocene
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Books Available to review for H-Environment
Books Available for Review for H-Environment Below are the books currently available for review for H-Environment. Interested in reviewing one? Please email me at [email protected]. If we haven’t met,...
docs.google.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Are you looking to read read a new book over the winter break?! (and then send me a review afterwards? 😀) Check out this amazing list of books that I have available to review for H-Environment! #envhist #envhum #ecocrit #aghist #landscape #conservation #anthropocene
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
its an excellent book, highly recommend it
1st in my #onehourreads is ##BetweenTwoRivers by Doc @moudhy.bsky.social and this is a delightful way to start a morning where we are on the 7th morning of puppy sitting. Im beat lol.
Let's retreat into #AncientMesopotamia for a break.
#onehourread
Let's retreat into #AncientMesopotamia for a break.
#onehourread
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
its an excellent book, highly recommend it
yep, if you dont know everyone in a chatgroup then assume its a public forum and then theres the old saying that in a gathering of more than 2 activists at least one of them is a cop
This story doesn’t in any way indicate that Signal is broken. This was a big signal group with open membership. Reading between the lines of the story this was 99% chance a snitch or undercover agent or cellebrite (1% chance someone’s phone got compromised)
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM
yep, if you dont know everyone in a chatgroup then assume its a public forum and then theres the old saying that in a gathering of more than 2 activists at least one of them is a cop