Duncan Wilson
@duncanwilson78.bsky.social
1.2K followers 650 following 140 posts
Historian of ethics, science and medicine at the University of Manchester. Most recent book 'The Making of British Bioethics' (2014); currently writing a book on the history of postwar conservation priorities.
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duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Congratulations! That's excellent news and it sounds like a fantastic project
Reposted by Duncan Wilson
manchesterup.bsky.social
Coming soon💨

How has energy shaped a nation?

Electric Wind by @DudleyMarianna.bsky.social is a cutting-edge history of wind power in Britain, from the industrial revolution to the aftermath of war, through energy crises and the changing politics of the late twentieth century💡

Pre-order now!
Promotional image for Electric wind. Book sits in centre of image. The book cover is a digital drawing of rolling blue and green hills with a purple cloudy sky in the background. Wind turbines and trees can be seen dotted along the hills. Text along bottom of image reveals the book's publication date: October 14th 2025.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Congratulations Matthew, this looks fantastic!
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Were you at the Withington CLP nomination meeting? I meant to go but couldn't make it.
Reposted by Duncan Wilson
monicavasile.bsky.social
Had a really good time at the Planetary Futures conference in Manchester. Big thanks to wonderful organizers @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social, @duncanwilson78.bsky.social and presenters!

Snapshots from talks🧵
@mattholmes.bsky.social
@angecass.bsky.social
#envhist
#envhum
#histsci
Matt Holmes's presentation at the Planetary Futures conference at Manchester Museum Angela Cassidy's presentation at the Planetary Futures conference at Manchester Museum on pests and coypu (aka nutria)
Reposted by Duncan Wilson
rafdebont.bsky.social
On my way back from the "Planetary Futures" conference in Manchester, organized by @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social and @duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Two days of vibrant discussions on how the humanities can help us understand extinction.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Thanks so much for coming Raf, and for giving a great paper. It was nice to finally meet you!
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
I've only just seen this. Thanks for coming Angela!
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
I'm wiped out after the Planetary Futures conference that @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social and I organised over the past two days at the University of Manchester. Huge thanks to everyone who gave papers and attended. I think it all went well!
One of Manchester Museum's two replica dodos that featured in our public event, 'Extinction in the Museum'.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Yes, I'm looking forward to it!
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Only one man can arrest this decline Des
Reposted by Duncan Wilson
apowelllaw.bsky.social
In no sense are universities merging creating a 'super university'. They are institutions grabbing a life raft to stop themselves drowning. The merger of Kent and Greenwich is a sign of a sector that has been criminally neglected, the implications for staff and students could be disastrous.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
I'm so sorry Claire, this must be really stressful. To brief the media without informing staff first is shocking.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Not sure if she's published anything yet, but Noortje Jacobs at Rotterdam is working on something along these lines...
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
I was a bit indifferent to start with, but it definitely got better as the series progressed. The last two episodes were brilliant.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Happy birthday Claire! 🎉
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
I like Rayner a lot, and have found this whole episode unedifying for lots of reasons (not least the hypocrisy of many people who have it in for her). I remember that she was one of the few politicians who bothered to turn up and show her support during the UCU pension strikes.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
Since Melvyn Bragg is in the news, here's a clip from the amazing profile of Francis Bacon on the South Bank Show, where the two of them have a good old booze up at The Colony Room Club among other haunts. 'Cheerio!'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yefq...
francis bacon documentary part 5.mov
YouTube video by theartroom1
www.youtube.com
Reposted by Duncan Wilson
sadiahqureshi.bsky.social
Absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar medal by the @royalsociety.org for my research on science, race, and empire, including my book Vanished. An enormous thanks to everybody who made this possible, especially the Royal Society.
royalsociety.org/medals-and-p...
Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture | Royal Society
This prize lecture is given on a subject relating to the history of science, philosophy of science or the social function of science.
royalsociety.org
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
One of his recent hangouts was a load of new 3G pitches near where I live in Manchester, always watching young lads playing football. Grim.
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
This is amazing news, and well deserved! Congratulations Sadiah!
duncanwilson78.bsky.social
I think it's great because it's so on the money, in terms of extinction credits and the idea that a billionaire would 'rescue' endangered species just to shoot them. I recommended it to a friend, and his wife, who's a trained biologist, had to stop reading because it was all too plausible!