Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 9h

Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.

Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.

My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow

270 390 1.6K

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Scottish Universities Press @scotunipress.bsky.social · 1d

Calling library and professional services staff! Do you want to learn more about open research and how it impacts on your role?

Join us during #OAWeek for 'A Practical Guide to Open Research'!

Find out more and register: www.sup.ac.uk/news/upcomin...

@scurlscottish.bsky.social

An advert for the Scottish Universities Press webinar 'A practical guide to open research'.
Date: Wednesday 22 October
Time: 09:30am to 12:30pm
Register: https://bit.ly/4q6n2pl

3 2

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · 6d

It's #NationalPoetryDay! The perfect opportunity to share Robert Fergusson's translation of Horace's ode on the importance of seizing the day. In rich Scots, Fergusson gives us the keys to a good life: staying in the moment and surrounding ourselves with friends and conviviality.
#RobertFergusson

Ne'er fash your thumb what gods decree
To be the weird o' you or me,
Nor deal in cantrip's kittle cunning
To spier how fast your days are running,
But patient lippen for the best,
Nor be in dowie thought oppressed,
Whether we see mair winters come,
Than this that spits wi canker'd foam.

Now moisten weel your geyzen'd was
Wi couthy friends and hearty blaws;
Ne'er lat your hope owrgang your days,
For eild and thraldom never stays;
The day looks gash, toot aff your horn,
Nor care yae strae about the morn.

A close-up of the statue of Robert Fergusson outside Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk, which can be seen in part in the background. The bronze sculpture shows Fergusson, with 18thC hair and dress, looking ahead while holding a book in his right hand.

2 7

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · 7d

Good luck to @wilcocksonamy.bsky.social as she starts a new post at Queen Mary University of London, where she'll work as a Research Assistant on the Shelley Letters project. It has been a massive pleasure to work with Amy as RA on the @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social project, and there's more to come!

1 11

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Prof. Elaine Chalus @profelainechalus.bsky.social · 11d

For anyone who is #teaching #18thcentury politics and/or electoral culture, or is doing #localhistory or #familyhistory, do check out our ECPPEC web resource : it's chock-full of short informative essays, polling data, and artefacts #skystorians ecppec.ncl.ac.uk

Eighteenth-Century Political Participation & Electoral Culture

18th-century Britain is notorious for corrupt and restrictive politics, when few could vote, bribery and debauchery were commonplace. But it was also an age when modern democracy was being shaped.

ecppec.ncl.ac.uk

1 51 110

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Robert Fergusson (1750-74) @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks to all who read at and attended yesterday's online launch - what a fantastic event!

Our final launch (for now!) is in Edinburgh on 15 October
at Golden Hare Books with Scotland's Makar Pàdraig MacAoidh | Peter Mackay
and a range of lovely poets!
Get your tickets ⤵️
shorturl.at/Xg3XC

1 6 11

Reposted by Rhona Brown

International Association for the Study of Scottish Literatures @iassl.bsky.social · 12d

Congratulations to IASSL members @rhonabrown.bsky.social and @wilcocksonamy.bsky.social on their new edited publication: '‘O’er a’ my labours sey your skill’: Poetic Responses to Robert Fergusson' (Taproot Press), published as part of the @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social project.

Robert Fergusson (1750-74) @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social · Aug 8

We're thrilled to announce 'O'er a' my labours sey your skill: Poetic Responses to Robert Fergusson.
Across Scots, English and Gaelic, a wealth of contemporary poets respond to Fergusson's work, proving that, 250 years since his death, his song immortal lives!
taprootpressuk.co.uk/product/oer-...

1 2 2

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you, friends @iassl.bsky.social! 🎉

International Association for the Study of Scottish Literatures (@iassl.bsky.social)

https://scotlit-iassl.org | Promoting Scottish literatures globally

iassl.bsky.social

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Tommy Mackay @tommyreckless.bsky.social · 12d

Took part in a fabulous online launch last night for 'O'er a' my labours sey your skill' with a bunch of other poets. Many thanks to @rhonabrown.bsky.social and @wilcocksonamy.bsky.social for organising. I did a Scots version of this song from the book which I've also provided a link to. #BowieBard

Robert Fergusson | Daily Reckless

Wake up ya dunderheids Smell the flowers not the weeds Put another barb in your books for me I'll make my own kind of poetry I look out my window, what do I see? A crack in the sky and a hand reaching...

www.dailyreckless.com

3 2

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Leverhulme Trust @leverhulme.ac.uk · 16d

The Leverhulme Trust has teamed up with @britishacademy.bsky.social to produce Confessions of an Early Career Researcher, a new podcast by ECRs for ECRs. Tune in now: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/audio-video/...

Read more about this collaboration: www.leverhulme.ac.uk/news/confess...

White text on magenta background: Confessions of an Early Career Researcher. leverhulme.ac.uk/news
"We are excited to be collaborating with the British Academy on this new podcast to help early career researchers navigate every stage of their career journey."

17 30

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Paul Malgrati @paulmalgrati.bsky.social · 18d

Pleased to receive @rhonabrown.bsky.social and @wilcocksonamy.bsky.social’s brilliant collection of poems responding to Robert Fergusson, the bard of ‘Auld Reekie’. I’m also glad to have a wee Franco-Scots piece in there (riffing on Fergusson’s Jacobite/apocalyptical eclogue, ‘The Ghaists’). 🇫🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

4 9

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Robert Fergusson (1750-74) @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social · 25d

🎆It's out!🎆
'O'er a' my labours sey your skill': Poetic Responses to Robert Fergusson is out NOW!
Check out our blog post for more info about the publication, about our wonderful Glasgow launch on Wednesday and for the link to buy your own copy!
robert-fergusson.glasgow.ac.uk/publication-...

6 8

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 22d

“I mean, your society’s broken, so who should we blame? Should we blame the rich, powerful people who caused it? No let’s blame the people with no power & no money & these immigrants who don’t even have the vote, yeah it must be their fucking fault.”

—Iain Banks
www.theguardian.com/books/2013/j...

Iain Banks: the final interview

Iain Banks died last Sunday, just before the publication of his final novel The Quarry. Last month he talked to Stuart Kelly about writing, politics and all the things still left to do . . .

www.theguardian.com

11 380 870

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Agenda des médiévistes @rmblf.bsky.social · 22d

Conférence – Inauguration du programme EURETES « Consommations, marchés, cultures matérielles. Ve-XVIIIe siècles »

rmblf.be/2025/09/16/c...

Conférence – Inauguration du programme EURETES « Consommations, marchés, cultures matérielles. Ve-XVIIIe siècles »

8 octobre 2025Bruxelles, Palais des Académies Que consomme-t-on, avec quelle intensité et de quelle façon ? Quelles valeurs, économiques ou symboliques, confère-t-on aux objets ? Et comme…

rmblf.be

1 7 12

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Duille @duille.com · Sep 7

A detail from: “The White Rose and the Red Rose” the 1902 panel by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.

A beautiful print to be enjoyed always: duille.com/whiteroseturin

5 10

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 22d

“Marion Bernstein has a good claim to being the greatest Scottish feminist we’ve never heard of”

🎂 Happy birthday Marion Bernstein (1846–1906), born #OTD, 16 Sept. Discover her life & work in A SONG OF GLASGOW TOWN (ASL, 2013)
#C19th #WomenWriters #poetry
1/2
asls.org.uk/publications...

Annual Volume 42 (2012)

Edited by Edward H. Cohen, Anne R. Fertig and Linda Fleming Hardback, 324 pages ASLS, Glasgow, June 2013 Price: £12.50 ISBN 9781906841133 Order from our bookshop “Marion Bernstein has a good claim to…

asls.org.uk

1 3 6

Reposted by Rhona Brown

International Association for the Study of Scottish Literatures @iassl.bsky.social · 27d

The call for submissions & nominations for the 2025 Jack Medal is open until 30 November. We welcome articles & chapters on subjects related to Reception or Diaspora in Scottish Literatures (including Scots, English, Gaelic, and Latin). scotlit-iassl.org/awards/the-j...

4 10

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · 27d

This event was such a joy. An array of brilliant poets responding to the poet’s poet, Robert Fergusson. More launches are on the way, so join us to hear some great new poetry and remember Fergusson. You can order a copy from Taproot Press by following the link 👇
#ScottishLiterature #18thC 📖

Robert Fergusson (1750-74) @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social · Sep 5

🪶We'll be celebrating Fergusson next Wednesday in Glasgow at our SOLD OUT book launch for 'O'er a' my labours sey your skill': Contemporary Responses to Robert Fergusson.🪶

Free tickets are still available for the online launch on Thursday 25 September @ 6pm. ⤵️ www.eventbrite.com/e/online-boo...

3 14

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Robert Fergusson (1750-74) @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social · Sep 5

Happy Birthday to Robert Fergusson, born #OTD 275 years ago!

For more info on what we've been up to on Project Fergusson as the official end of the project approaches, see our website: robert-fergusson.glasgow.ac.uk

We've got online exhibitions, other resources, project updates and much more!

8 12

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · Sep 5

Thanks for this, Jennie - it's appreciated! I hope some of these things will be useful for your students. Happy new term!

1

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · Sep 5

Poet Robert Fergusson was born #OTD in 1750. At #ProjectFergusson, we're working on a new edition of his works. You'll find an online exhibition, details of a poetry collection responding to Fergusson's life, works and legacies and much more besides on our website!
robert-fergusson.glasgow.ac.uk

A close-up of the bronze sculpture of Robert Fergusson by David Annand, at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. We can see Fergusson's head and torso. He is dressed in eighteenth-century garb, with a coat with lapels and large cuffs, a shirt with sleeves flowing under his jacket cuffs, a waistcoat and large bow at his neck. He is carrying a book in his right hand. His hair is curled on either side of his head and is tied back. He looks upwards, his expression reflective.

4 11

Rhona Brown @rhonabrown.bsky.social · Sep 2

We’re really pleased that our Robert Fergusson exhibition, initially held at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library last year, is now available online. If you weren’t able to visit last year, click along and remember Robert Fergusson with us 👇

Robert Fergusson (1750-74) @rfergussonpoet.bsky.social · Sep 2

We're very excited to announce that our wonderful exhibition 'Celebrating the Scottish Poet, Robert Fergusson (1750-1774)' with the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, has been turned into an online exhibition!

Check it out at the link below: robert-fergusson.glasgow.ac.uk/online-exhib...

5 8

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Scottish Historical Review @scottishhistreview.bsky.social · Aug 29

OOOOOOOOH, news of our third Jenny Wormald Lecture has dropped just in time for the weekend. Are you excited? See more information below:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-h...

Scottish Historical Review Trust: The 3rd Annual Jenny Wormald Lecture

Professor Elizabeth Ewan (University Of Guelph): 'Feuding in the Streets? Gender, Crime, and Conflict in Scottish Towns, c. 1500-1600'

www.eventbrite.co.uk

1 8 10

Reposted by Rhona Brown

The Alasdair Gray Archive @agrayarchive.bsky.social · Jul 30

Timeline 28: 1982 - Following the breakout success of Lanark Alasdair joined with Liz Lochhead & Tom Leonard to perform a review for the Edinburgh Fringe. Lanark wins the Frederick Niven Award. The prize money was substantial, but Alasdair donated it all to the miners’ strike 💪🏽

1 7 21

Reposted by Rhona Brown

Linda Andersson Burnett @lindaaburnett.bsky.social · Aug 19

Publication Day! How was race taught to students during the Enlightenment? Our book traces how Edinburgh-trained students carried their education into colonial contexts and forged race as a central category of Enlightenment thought. #History #Enlightenment #Colonialism #YaleUniversityPress

Race and the Scottish Enlightenment

How colonialism shaped the Scottish Enlightenment’s conception of race and humanity In the decades after 1750, an increasing number of former medical st...

yalebooks.yale.edu

7 40 99