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David Farrier

@david-farrier.bsky.social

1.4K followers 240 following 130 posts

Writer. Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils | Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing Planet, shortlisted for the Wainwright Conservation Writing Prize 2025 Professor of Literature & the Environment, University of Edinburgh

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 5

Exciting news!!!!!!
Thanks @wainwrightprize.bsky.social!

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 1d

Still can't quite believe it, but Vanity Fair Italy interviewed me about Nature's Genius
www.vanityfair.it/article/davi...

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 5d

🍾Congratulations!

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Reposted by David Farrier

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 11d

When you consider the *ecocide* alongside the genocide being perpetrated in Gaza, you begin to grasp the totality of the Israeli state’s attempt to eliminate both the Palestinians and their homeland.
My column today.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Israel’s ecocide in Gaza sends this message: even if we stopped dropping bombs, you couldn’t live here | George Monbiot

Consider the annihilation of agricultural land alongside the genocide – and grasp the chilling totality of this attempt to eliminate all life, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 11d

Many species won't survive without our help, but what should that help look like? I wrote about this for @aeon.co
aeon.co/essays/shoul...

Should we intervene in evolution? The ethics of ‘editing’ nature | Aeon Essays

Countless species are dying from human-induced environmental change. Should we use genetic technology to alter and save them?

aeon.co

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 19d

Nature's Genius is published in Italian!!

David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 22d

Oh no! Hope you're out of pain soon.

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 23d

Can't think of a government in my adult life that has failed to meet the moment like this one.

Declan Gaffney @greyskiesthinking.bsky.social · 24d

THIS is the line? www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Scale of ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march shows free speech ‘alive and well’ in UK, says minister – UK politics live

Peter Kyle said he was not ‘disturbed’ by huge Tommy Robinson-organised far-right protest but condemns violence against the police

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by David Farrier

Jeremy Noel-Tod @jntod.bsky.social · 24d

I think about this poem by Ian Duhig — about Jo Cox, the Labour MP assassinated by a man shouting ‘Britain first’ — every day at the moment. No other contemporary poet has looked so clearly at the political reality of the far right as a minority who must always be appeased

Rue

Rue Jo Cox, Députée Britannique, a street sign in Burgundy reads, Assassinée pour ses convictions.

No British road is named after her, I found on returning home, for fear it could have proved controversial.

I remembered in Shakespeare rue even for ruth, called 'herb of grace' because it was used in exorcisms,

by the angel to clean Adam's eyes, and Gulliver back home for his nose against the smell of his countrymen.

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 26d

Does this apply to Oxbridge colleges? 🤔

David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 26d

This has absolutely thrilled me!

David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · 27d

I had an amazing time @wainwrightprize.bsky.social yesterday! So many inspiring writers and extraordinary books. Congratulations to @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, a hugely deserving winner for conservation writing, and fellow @canongate.co.uk writer @chloedalton.bsky.social for book of the year!

Reposted by David Farrier

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · Aug 29

This should be headline news - the implications are horrifying …

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds

Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout

www.theguardian.com

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 27

Concerned too that the loss of habitat and biodiversity is addressed with a bit of shrug

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 27

North Edinburgh people: if you haven't seen it already, the report on a new tram route is here: consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/tram-nor...
Worryingly, it shows a clear preference for Roseburn over Orchard Brae. If you value the Roseburn path, please respond to the consultation!

Trams from Granton to Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Beyond - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in consultations run by City of Edinburgh Council

consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk

David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 23

Maybe when the recording of soft play runs out

Reposted by David Farrier

hannah @hannahkateboast.bsky.social · Aug 21

The UK government will evacuate nine of the 40+ students in Gaza with scholarship at UK universities. My PhD student Shaimaa isn't included. We must now make sure they help the other students - email your MP today. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

UK to evacuate nine Gaza students with university scholarships

Move follows months of pressure from MPs, academics and campaigners, with dozens of other students still stranded

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Farrier

Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · Aug 21

Latest from the Edinburgh Book Festival: Catching up with fellow Edinburgh prof @david-farrier.bsky.social & Alex Riley, both brilliant nature writers, both with new books that celebrate the resiliency and adaptability of nature.

Check out: Nature's Genius & Super Natural! @edbookfest.bsky.social

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 20

Can't wait to speak with Alex Riley and @calflyn.bsky.social tomorrow @edbookfest.bsky.social about all that makes life extraordinary. Come along!

The image shows the Edinburgh book festival page for david farrier and alex riley's event, Unstoppable, on Thursday 21 August

David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 19

I think he also writes at the top of Scottish mountains in winter.

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Reposted by David Farrier

Caspar Henderson @casparhenderson.bsky.social · Aug 15

Necropolitics: “the death-inflicting politics of colonialism…where those in power don’t have to care who lives or dies. The priorities of the colonisers are elsewhere, in land, power and wealth grabs. The colonised are left in conditions where their lives are not even secondary, but irrelevant.”

Prof Julia Steinberger 🌹🌱🌍 #ClimateAction #Fightfascism @jksteinberger.bsky.social · Aug 15

Global warming is a deliberate policy of death for the poor, sick and vulnerable. A global necropolitics.

jksteinberger.medium.com/climate-necr...

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 14

It was such a thrill to be on stage @edbookfest.bsky.social last night with the next Future Library author, Amitav Ghosh(@amitav.bsky.social)! No other writer is so alert to the living forest and the way forgotten lives endure in the archive. And as gracious in person as you could hope for.

David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 5

Exciting news!!!!!!
Thanks @wainwrightprize.bsky.social!

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David Farrier @david-farrier.bsky.social · Aug 1

Reposted by David Farrier

Fraser MacDonald @frasermacdonald.bsky.social · Jul 29

Update: no one can identify a single person as belonging to a group that The Times says has 130 academic staff.

Totally unnamed and likely fictitious academics being quoted by the Daily Express, The Times, the BBC & the Times Higher.

hannah @hannahkateboast.bsky.social · Jul 29

I'm a member of the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Working Group, and haven't heard anything about this group. Seems like this group is muddying the waters somewhat with an official university body.

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Reposted by David Farrier

Fraser MacDonald @frasermacdonald.bsky.social · Jul 27

Every strand of this Edinburgh University report could be its own front page.

Yes, some of it will be familiar to historians, but this kind of frank public recognition is all too rare.

Incredible work by many different scholars.

Edinburgh University had ‘outsized’ role in creating racist scientific theories, inquiry finds

Investigation finds one of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious universities benefited from transatlantic slavery and was haven for white supremacist theories

www.theguardian.com

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