Jon Topham
@jontopham.bsky.social
Professor of History of Science, University of Leeds. History of print, science and religion, life and earth sciences, Britain 1790-1840. Award-winning new book: "Reading the Book of Nature" bit.ly/Book-of-Nature
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/143/
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/philosophy/staff/143/
Pinned
Jon Topham
@jontopham.bsky.social
· May 16
May 2024 Blog Post
Science and Religion from the Ground Up
What did fourteen-year old physician’s daughter Ellen Parry think about science and religion as Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837? What was she rea...
www.issr.org.uk
Science and Religion from the Ground Up
What did fourteen-year old physician’s daughter Ellen Parry think about science and religion as Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837?
Read my latest log post: www.issr.org.uk/blog/may-202...
What did fourteen-year old physician’s daughter Ellen Parry think about science and religion as Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837?
Read my latest log post: www.issr.org.uk/blog/may-202...
Oh what a beautiful morning!
November 21, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Oh what a beautiful morning!
So, our concrete jungle may be deemed architecturally significant, but I definitely get more out of the heron.
November 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
So, our concrete jungle may be deemed architecturally significant, but I definitely get more out of the heron.
Reposted by Jon Topham
Nominations are open for the BSHS Pickstone Prize 2026, recognising the best scholarly English-language book in the history of science.
📆 Deadline: 31 Jan 2026.
Anyone may nominate (self-nominations welcome).
Submit via our online form on the BSHS website www.bshs.org.uk/the-bshs-pic...
📆 Deadline: 31 Jan 2026.
Anyone may nominate (self-nominations welcome).
Submit via our online form on the BSHS website www.bshs.org.uk/the-bshs-pic...
November 19, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Nominations are open for the BSHS Pickstone Prize 2026, recognising the best scholarly English-language book in the history of science.
📆 Deadline: 31 Jan 2026.
Anyone may nominate (self-nominations welcome).
Submit via our online form on the BSHS website www.bshs.org.uk/the-bshs-pic...
📆 Deadline: 31 Jan 2026.
Anyone may nominate (self-nominations welcome).
Submit via our online form on the BSHS website www.bshs.org.uk/the-bshs-pic...
Don't miss out on this super talk about scientific printing by our own @edwinrose.bsky.social later today - join us either online or in person.
November 19, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Don't miss out on this super talk about scientific printing by our own @edwinrose.bsky.social later today - join us either online or in person.
Reposted by Jon Topham
Bradford University to benefit from JB Priestley royalties. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University of Bradford to benefit from JB Priestley royalties
The author of An Inspector Calls and other plays and novels was born in Manningham in Bradford.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Bradford University to benefit from JB Priestley royalties. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Jon Topham
Born #OnThisDay in 1914 was actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. As well as acting in 30 films, during the Second World War she co-developed a frequency-hopping guidance system for American torpedoes, the principles of which are used in Bluetooth and WiFi technologies today. #WomenInSTEM
November 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Born #OnThisDay in 1914 was actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. As well as acting in 30 films, during the Second World War she co-developed a frequency-hopping guidance system for American torpedoes, the principles of which are used in Bluetooth and WiFi technologies today. #WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Jon Topham
ARCHIVAL FUNDING: Ann Ball Bodley Visiting Fellowship in Women’s History, to use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period. Deadline 28th Nov. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
Bodleian Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections
www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
ARCHIVAL FUNDING: Ann Ball Bodley Visiting Fellowship in Women’s History, to use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period. Deadline 28th Nov. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
Reposted by Jon Topham
New book review:
Cornish on Rose, Edwin D.: _Reading the World: British Practice of Natural History, 1760-1820_. University of Pittsburgh Press, 2025. Published by H-Sci-Med-Tech.
Read here: networks.h-net.org/node/20129660
Cornish on Rose, Edwin D.: _Reading the World: British Practice of Natural History, 1760-1820_. University of Pittsburgh Press, 2025. Published by H-Sci-Med-Tech.
Read here: networks.h-net.org/node/20129660
Rose, Edwin D.. Reading the World: British Practice of Natural History, 1760-1820. : University of Pittsburgh Press, 2025. xii + 395 pp. $65.00 (cloth), ISBN 9780822948513.$45.00 (paper), ISBN 9780822967705. Reviewed by Nathan Cornish (University of Southampton, Exeter University, Kew Gardens) Published on H-Sci-Med-Tech (October, 2025) Commissioned by Penelope K. Hardy (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse)
networks.h-net.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
New book review:
Cornish on Rose, Edwin D.: _Reading the World: British Practice of Natural History, 1760-1820_. University of Pittsburgh Press, 2025. Published by H-Sci-Med-Tech.
Read here: networks.h-net.org/node/20129660
Cornish on Rose, Edwin D.: _Reading the World: British Practice of Natural History, 1760-1820_. University of Pittsburgh Press, 2025. Published by H-Sci-Med-Tech.
Read here: networks.h-net.org/node/20129660
Reposted by Jon Topham
It’s lovely to see our BAVS CFP out. If you research/teach any aspect of the Victorian period (broadly defined) do consider joining us! You can submit a paper, roundtable, creative workshops/ pedagogical paper. We really are open to a wide range of talks! victorianist.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/c...
CFP: BAVS 2026 Conference Liverpool
BAVS Liverpool 202627 – 29 July 2026 Keynote Speakers: Dr Alison Chapman (University of Victoria, BC), others to be confirmed. The Centre for Modern and Contemporary History (CMCH) at Liverpool Joh…
victorianist.wordpress.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
It’s lovely to see our BAVS CFP out. If you research/teach any aspect of the Victorian period (broadly defined) do consider joining us! You can submit a paper, roundtable, creative workshops/ pedagogical paper. We really are open to a wide range of talks! victorianist.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/c...
Reposted by Jon Topham
History of the Human Sciences announces its 2025-26 ECR Prize. All details (including previous winners) on our para-site histhum.com. Deadline: 30 January 2026.
Also! Follow the journal on Bluesky at @histhum.bsky.social www.histhum.com/early-career...
Also! Follow the journal on Bluesky at @histhum.bsky.social www.histhum.com/early-career...
October 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
History of the Human Sciences announces its 2025-26 ECR Prize. All details (including previous winners) on our para-site histhum.com. Deadline: 30 January 2026.
Also! Follow the journal on Bluesky at @histhum.bsky.social www.histhum.com/early-career...
Also! Follow the journal on Bluesky at @histhum.bsky.social www.histhum.com/early-career...
Reposted by Jon Topham
The official CFP is a few days off, but I can't wait that long to announce that #BAVS2026 will be held in Liverpool, 27-29 July. We hope that some of the @rs4vp.org crowd will be able to make the trip over from #RSVP2026 and join @bavs-uk.bsky.social for more Victorian stuff. Details to follow.
October 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
The official CFP is a few days off, but I can't wait that long to announce that #BAVS2026 will be held in Liverpool, 27-29 July. We hope that some of the @rs4vp.org crowd will be able to make the trip over from #RSVP2026 and join @bavs-uk.bsky.social for more Victorian stuff. Details to follow.
Reposted by Jon Topham
Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumberland, photo by Sarah Howard, landscape photographer.
October 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumberland, photo by Sarah Howard, landscape photographer.
Who knew that the British JAIL for History of Science was in the Leeds School of Philosophy? We'll keep you on the historiographical straight and narrow!
October 18, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Who knew that the British JAIL for History of Science was in the Leeds School of Philosophy? We'll keep you on the historiographical straight and narrow!
Reposted by Jon Topham
We are awarding our President's Medal to 'In Our Time' as it has done so much to showcase humanities & social sciences. We'd decided this before the news of Melvyn Bragg stepping down, but glad we got our timing right & had a chance to celebrate with him!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
Renowned BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time receives prestigious British Academy President’s Medal for 2025
The British Academy has awarded its prestigious President’s Medal to the long-running and beloved BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time. Recognising its outstanding contribution to humanities and social s...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
We are awarding our President's Medal to 'In Our Time' as it has done so much to showcase humanities & social sciences. We'd decided this before the news of Melvyn Bragg stepping down, but glad we got our timing right & had a chance to celebrate with him!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
Reposted by Jon Topham
We're super excited to be hosting Prof. Alison Bashford at @globalaffairslu.bsky.social to hear her talk about her fascinating new book on the history of reading the hand. You can imagine why we'd be interested and we are sure you will be too. Please sign up for free tickets at the link below.
How might hands reveal an inner self – a soul, a character, an identity?
Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.
Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.
Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
October 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We're super excited to be hosting Prof. Alison Bashford at @globalaffairslu.bsky.social to hear her talk about her fascinating new book on the history of reading the hand. You can imagine why we'd be interested and we are sure you will be too. Please sign up for free tickets at the link below.
Reposted by Jon Topham
Thanks to the generosity of the Bibliographical Society we still have two subsidised tickets for postgraduate attendance at the forthcoming Print Networks conference. Don't let the opportunity pass. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/print-netw...
Print Networks Annual Conference: From ‘Provincial’ to ‘Regional’
Highlighting the connections of people, trade and distribution within and across regions and nations. In memory of Peter Issac & John Hinks.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
July 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Thanks to the generosity of the Bibliographical Society we still have two subsidised tickets for postgraduate attendance at the forthcoming Print Networks conference. Don't let the opportunity pass. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/print-netw...
Reposted by Jon Topham
Huge congratulations to our own Dr Ellen Clarke on the publication of "The Units of Life: Kinds of Individual in Biology"! academic.oup.com/book/60068
July 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Huge congratulations to our own Dr Ellen Clarke on the publication of "The Units of Life: Kinds of Individual in Biology"! academic.oup.com/book/60068
Reposted by Jon Topham
Our Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine holds some incredible collections. Look out for a complete refresh of our permanent gallery spaces - “Proper #Yorkshire Science” - launching very soon! It explores the connection between science and regional identity #histsci
July 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Our Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine holds some incredible collections. Look out for a complete refresh of our permanent gallery spaces - “Proper #Yorkshire Science” - launching very soon! It explores the connection between science and regional identity #histsci
Reposted by Jon Topham
Great to see the latest issue of @bshsnews.bsky.social "Viewpoint" magazine out at www.bshs.org.uk/wp-content/u.... A big shout-out to editor Joe Holloway for including an excerpt from my book "Reading the Book of Nature" in this issue and for organizing to interview me. Thanks, Joe!
www.bshs.org.uk
July 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Great to see the latest issue of @bshsnews.bsky.social "Viewpoint" magazine out at www.bshs.org.uk/wp-content/u.... A big shout-out to editor Joe Holloway for including an excerpt from my book "Reading the Book of Nature" in this issue and for organizing to interview me. Thanks, Joe!
Reposted by Jon Topham
Join us in Cambridge for Sadiah Qureshi’s public lecture "Vanished" — on extinction, race & the politics of memory.
📅 Wed 9 July, 6–10pm
📍 David Attenborough Building, Cambridge
🎟 Free tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1395979053...
With an introduction by Helen Macdonald!
#BSHS2025 #histSTEM
📅 Wed 9 July, 6–10pm
📍 David Attenborough Building, Cambridge
🎟 Free tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1395979053...
With an introduction by Helen Macdonald!
#BSHS2025 #histSTEM
"Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction" by Sadiah Qureshi
Join us for a fantastic lecture by Prof Sadiah Qureshi with an introduction by Helen MacDonald at the Babbage Lecture Theatre in Cambridge!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
June 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Join us in Cambridge for Sadiah Qureshi’s public lecture "Vanished" — on extinction, race & the politics of memory.
📅 Wed 9 July, 6–10pm
📍 David Attenborough Building, Cambridge
🎟 Free tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1395979053...
With an introduction by Helen Macdonald!
#BSHS2025 #histSTEM
📅 Wed 9 July, 6–10pm
📍 David Attenborough Building, Cambridge
🎟 Free tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1395979053...
With an introduction by Helen Macdonald!
#BSHS2025 #histSTEM
Reposted by Jon Topham
'researchers...say that Annie Walker – a Victorian woman who began working at the observatory in 1879, when she was only 15 – ...observed thousands of stars herself....Walker was the first British professional female astronomer...paid a living wage by an observatory in the UK to chart the stars.'
Unsung observatory worker was UK’s first professional female astronomer, experts say
Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy is trying to find a photo of Annie Walker, who died in 1940, to give her star billing
www.theguardian.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:38 AM
'researchers...say that Annie Walker – a Victorian woman who began working at the observatory in 1879, when she was only 15 – ...observed thousands of stars herself....Walker was the first British professional female astronomer...paid a living wage by an observatory in the UK to chart the stars.'
Reposted by Jon Topham
The APEX Awards, jointly awarded with the @britishacademy.bsky.social and the @raeng.org.uk, are now open for applications, giving independent researchers the opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary research. Applications now close on 09 September: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/apex-...
June 26, 2025 at 9:16 AM
The APEX Awards, jointly awarded with the @britishacademy.bsky.social and the @raeng.org.uk, are now open for applications, giving independent researchers the opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary research. Applications now close on 09 September: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/apex-...
Reposted by Jon Topham
