Ulla Rajala
@ullamr.bsky.social
An archaeologist who loves Eurovision and popular tv. Sharing content on heritage, politics and entertainment.
She/her
My opinions are my own.
She/her
My opinions are my own.
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Very useful analysis here for those who are pro universities, setting out the areas which lead to less public/political support for HE. Worth considering how the sector will strategically respond to its critics (even if it thinks some of their views are misplaced)
With the debate on student loans raging, why did England fall out of love with universities?
1. High fees and crushing debt.
2. Mass over-expansion
3. Culture wars: free speech, antisemitism, 'decolonisation'.
4. Quality concerns and grade inflation.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/how-did-en...
1. High fees and crushing debt.
2. Mass over-expansion
3. Culture wars: free speech, antisemitism, 'decolonisation'.
4. Quality concerns and grade inflation.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/how-did-en...
How Did England Fall Out of Love with Universities?
The Four Horsemen of Fees, Culture, Expansion and Quality
www.edrith.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Very useful analysis here for those who are pro universities, setting out the areas which lead to less public/political support for HE. Worth considering how the sector will strategically respond to its critics (even if it thinks some of their views are misplaced)
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Student loans show that hard policy choices will only get harder ft.trib.al/yHPoWrB | opinion
Student loans show that hard policy choices will only get harder
The debate over university funding is a good example of the intractable challenges facing the UK government
ft.trib.al
February 16, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Student loans show that hard policy choices will only get harder ft.trib.al/yHPoWrB | opinion
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
‘The goal has been to demystify’: how a colonial Nairobi library was restored and given back to the people
‘The goal has been to demystify’: how a colonial Nairobi library was restored and given back to the people
Once a whites-only enclave, the grand McMillan Memorial library is one of three in the Kenyan capital that have been transformed for the community
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:24 AM
‘The goal has been to demystify’: how a colonial Nairobi library was restored and given back to the people
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Archaeologists study how people lived in the past by digging into the ground and examining the artifacts they left behind. A team of researchers has now applied that same logic to the International Space Station. The results offer a revealing look at how humans adapt to life beyond Earth.
🧪 🏺
🧪 🏺
Archaeology conducted in space
Archaeology conducted in space - Earth.com
www.earth.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Archaeologists study how people lived in the past by digging into the ground and examining the artifacts they left behind. A team of researchers has now applied that same logic to the International Space Station. The results offer a revealing look at how humans adapt to life beyond Earth.
🧪 🏺
🧪 🏺
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
· #AcademicSky ·
When asked to draw a scientist, school-age kids in the United States are increasingly sketching women. That's the main conclusion of a new study that compiled information about 20,860 pictures drawn by students age 5 to 18 over 5 decades.
When asked to draw a scientist, school-age kids in the United States are increasingly sketching women. That's the main conclusion of a new study that compiled information about 20,860 pictures drawn by students age 5 to 18 over 5 decades.
What does a scientist look like? Children are drawing women more than ever before
Study is based on 20,860 sketches drawn by children over 5 decades
www.science.org
February 13, 2026 at 12:57 PM
· #AcademicSky ·
When asked to draw a scientist, school-age kids in the United States are increasingly sketching women. That's the main conclusion of a new study that compiled information about 20,860 pictures drawn by students age 5 to 18 over 5 decades.
When asked to draw a scientist, school-age kids in the United States are increasingly sketching women. That's the main conclusion of a new study that compiled information about 20,860 pictures drawn by students age 5 to 18 over 5 decades.
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
A Trump administration official said Moderna might have more luck with its vaccine application if it resubmitted with a little “humility”
Does that sound like the “gold-standard science” RFK Jr. promised?
Or a mob boss threat?
www.thebulwark.com/p/this-is-wh...
Does that sound like the “gold-standard science” RFK Jr. promised?
Or a mob boss threat?
www.thebulwark.com/p/this-is-wh...
This Is What Destroying the Vaccine Market Looks Like
A shocking move by RFK Jr.’s team has the industry spooked—for good reason.
www.thebulwark.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:39 PM
A Trump administration official said Moderna might have more luck with its vaccine application if it resubmitted with a little “humility”
Does that sound like the “gold-standard science” RFK Jr. promised?
Or a mob boss threat?
www.thebulwark.com/p/this-is-wh...
Does that sound like the “gold-standard science” RFK Jr. promised?
Or a mob boss threat?
www.thebulwark.com/p/this-is-wh...
Ulysses and the Sirens, from The Odyssey by Homer, a Roman mosaic from 3rd century AD Dougga. Now in Musee du Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia. #MosaicMonday
February 16, 2026 at 5:36 AM
Ulysses and the Sirens, from The Odyssey by Homer, a Roman mosaic from 3rd century AD Dougga. Now in Musee du Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia. #MosaicMonday
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Here's the real reason the government keeps freezing the student loan threshold
The part of the loan that's repaid is classed as an asset on Treasury spreadsheets. But when plan 2 student loans started to be repaid, the percentage received back was less than expected...
1/4
The part of the loan that's repaid is classed as an asset on Treasury spreadsheets. But when plan 2 student loans started to be repaid, the percentage received back was less than expected...
1/4
February 15, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Here's the real reason the government keeps freezing the student loan threshold
The part of the loan that's repaid is classed as an asset on Treasury spreadsheets. But when plan 2 student loans started to be repaid, the percentage received back was less than expected...
1/4
The part of the loan that's repaid is classed as an asset on Treasury spreadsheets. But when plan 2 student loans started to be repaid, the percentage received back was less than expected...
1/4
This afternoon I took part in Leicestershire Fieldworkers desktop study training. It was very good. #Archaeology
February 15, 2026 at 5:38 PM
This afternoon I took part in Leicestershire Fieldworkers desktop study training. It was very good. #Archaeology
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
The Vaughan Exhibition Visitors will visit the Leicester Society of Artists Annual Exhibition in the New Walk Museum on MARCH 13. We will meet in the foyer at 2pm. Pre-exhibition meet at 1.30pm in the Soft Touch cafeteria. Photo: Phillips Strand, Upton, Bude (Aerial) by Deborah Bird.
February 15, 2026 at 2:21 AM
The Vaughan Exhibition Visitors will visit the Leicester Society of Artists Annual Exhibition in the New Walk Museum on MARCH 13. We will meet in the foyer at 2pm. Pre-exhibition meet at 1.30pm in the Soft Touch cafeteria. Photo: Phillips Strand, Upton, Bude (Aerial) by Deborah Bird.
Yes!!! Israel not the leader anymore! FINLAND leads the #Eurovision odds.
February 15, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Yes!!! Israel not the leader anymore! FINLAND leads the #Eurovision odds.
Next to the tennis courts in the southern part of Båstad in Skåne, Sweden, stand two standing stones. They are at the bottom of a gravel path and with a large tree between them both. The two stones are believed to be from the Iron Age and placed over burials from that period. #StandingStoneSunday
February 15, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Next to the tennis courts in the southern part of Båstad in Skåne, Sweden, stand two standing stones. They are at the bottom of a gravel path and with a large tree between them both. The two stones are believed to be from the Iron Age and placed over burials from that period. #StandingStoneSunday
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
@simelius.bsky.social This is for you 😁
Exciting news! I'm the incoming Executive Editor for 'World Archaeology' and here is my first CfP!
Call for Papers for ‘World Archaeology’: Debates and Emerging Issues in Archaeology
howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/14/c...
Direct link here: think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
Call for Papers for ‘World Archaeology’: Debates and Emerging Issues in Archaeology
howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/14/c...
Direct link here: think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...
February 14, 2026 at 5:33 PM
@simelius.bsky.social This is for you 😁
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Gonna be viewing Eesti Laul, DMGP and Benidorm Fest today. There's quite a few from each NF I wouldn't mind, so today will likely turn out fine for me 😁
February 14, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Gonna be viewing Eesti Laul, DMGP and Benidorm Fest today. There's quite a few from each NF I wouldn't mind, so today will likely turn out fine for me 😁
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
🧪🏺 Update - authors have new paper showing how useless gen- #AI is for archaeological illustration.
All 400 images were multiply inaccurate (physically, socially, technologically, environmentally), even with improved prompts.
JUST USE HUMAN EXPERTS & ARTISTS
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
All 400 images were multiply inaccurate (physically, socially, technologically, environmentally), even with improved prompts.
JUST USE HUMAN EXPERTS & ARTISTS
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
February 13, 2026 at 6:09 PM
🧪🏺 Update - authors have new paper showing how useless gen- #AI is for archaeological illustration.
All 400 images were multiply inaccurate (physically, socially, technologically, environmentally), even with improved prompts.
JUST USE HUMAN EXPERTS & ARTISTS
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
All 400 images were multiply inaccurate (physically, socially, technologically, environmentally), even with improved prompts.
JUST USE HUMAN EXPERTS & ARTISTS
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
The volume on the iconography of Göbekli Tepe‘s pillars is finally out. Although the site is not unique any more, it still represents the largest corpus of Early Neolithic (9th/10th millennium BC) imagery. This is largely due to the work of Klaus Schmidt, who passed away far too early in 2014.
January 13, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The volume on the iconography of Göbekli Tepe‘s pillars is finally out. Although the site is not unique any more, it still represents the largest corpus of Early Neolithic (9th/10th millennium BC) imagery. This is largely due to the work of Klaus Schmidt, who passed away far too early in 2014.
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Olympic curling
February 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Olympic curling
#Eurovision odds have changed! Finland is now Number 1 ❤️
February 14, 2026 at 12:36 PM
#Eurovision odds have changed! Finland is now Number 1 ❤️
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
OK. So after the farce of last year, the solution is to think up an even more crackpot badly thought through idea.
I have some rather unprintable thoughts on entry to Britain being made hard or near-impossible for people *because* they are British Citizens.
I have some rather unprintable thoughts on entry to Britain being made hard or near-impossible for people *because* they are British Citizens.
February 14, 2026 at 8:36 AM
OK. So after the farce of last year, the solution is to think up an even more crackpot badly thought through idea.
I have some rather unprintable thoughts on entry to Britain being made hard or near-impossible for people *because* they are British Citizens.
I have some rather unprintable thoughts on entry to Britain being made hard or near-impossible for people *because* they are British Citizens.
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
The Digital Medievalist Postgraduate Committee invites you to Coding Codices Live: Medieval March - a series of beginner-friendly workshops to help you start using digital methods with medieval sources.
Open to MA students, PhDs & early-career researchers.
🗓️ Register by Feb 23
🔗 lnkd.in/dbJS2YhE
Open to MA students, PhDs & early-career researchers.
🗓️ Register by Feb 23
🔗 lnkd.in/dbJS2YhE
February 13, 2026 at 1:48 PM
The Digital Medievalist Postgraduate Committee invites you to Coding Codices Live: Medieval March - a series of beginner-friendly workshops to help you start using digital methods with medieval sources.
Open to MA students, PhDs & early-career researchers.
🗓️ Register by Feb 23
🔗 lnkd.in/dbJS2YhE
Open to MA students, PhDs & early-career researchers.
🗓️ Register by Feb 23
🔗 lnkd.in/dbJS2YhE
Why do editors do this? Put the more critical and much longer review of an article as Review 2 😂
February 14, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Why do editors do this? Put the more critical and much longer review of an article as Review 2 😂
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
"Art is to me, now, probably one of the last good things we’ve got left as human beings. There’s something about making something from ourselves which is beautiful and otherworldly as well. ....
Tracy Emin
Tracy Emin
February 14, 2026 at 10:21 AM
"Art is to me, now, probably one of the last good things we’ve got left as human beings. There’s something about making something from ourselves which is beautiful and otherworldly as well. ....
Tracy Emin
Tracy Emin
Reposted by Ulla Rajala
Good historical long read from @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Mark Mazower on the ups and downs of the US/UN relationship and some optimism on why the UN will survive the current nadir
www.ft.com/content/1828...
www.ft.com/content/1828...
What America forgets about the UN
The organisation faces a potential rival in Donald Trump’s fledgling ‘Board of Peace’. But as a forum for US power, it would be a hard act to follow
www.ft.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Good historical long read from @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Mark Mazower on the ups and downs of the US/UN relationship and some optimism on why the UN will survive the current nadir
www.ft.com/content/1828...
www.ft.com/content/1828...