Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · 23d

Incredible piece of journalism (and beautifully written) by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/7068...

The crumbling seaside palaces at the centre of Britain’s asylum crisis

How one hotelier built an empire from beloved community assets — and a government struggling to cope with a surge in migration

www.ft.com

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · 26d

The steadfast determination to destroy one of the few things the UK still excels at is baffling and depressing.

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 26d

Ministers ‘want to shift funds away from low-quality research’ .

Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Ministers ‘want to shift funds away from low-quality research’ - Research Professional News

Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · 27d

Looks like an excellent book - another for the list! - and a fabulous panel!

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · 29d

A special moment for me to see this huge announcement made on my very final day as Head of SRI. There truly is incredible work going on here that it has been a privilege to support.

UCL Social Research Institute @sriucl.bsky.social · 29d

A very significant day for us as our new birth cohort study is announced, the first for quarter of a century. Big congratulations to colleagues in our @clscohorts.bsky.social for all their hard work in getting this off the ground!

News from UK Research and Innovation @news.ukri.org · 29d

UKRI announces first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years #ESRC #AcademicSky

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Sep 8

The first lecture was given by @jennywoodmanucl.bsky.social and describes her incredible research journey so far. Bookmark the page as there will be more fantastic lectures to come!

UCL Social Research Institute @sriucl.bsky.social · Sep 8

As part of the celebrations of our 10th anniversary as a UCL Department, we have launched an inaugural lecture series. You can watch the first here and there will be more to come this academic year! www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/departme...

SRI Inaugural Lectures

Inaugural lectures hosted by the UCL Social Research Institute.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Sep 4

Testament not only to the brilliance of Katherine and Yang but also the incredible critical mass of sociology scholars we have at SRI.

UCL Social Research Institute @sriucl.bsky.social · Sep 4

Delighted that we have not one but two colleagues on the Sociology sub-panel for REF2029! Congratulations @ktwamley.bsky.social and @yanghu.co.uk!

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Sep 1

Five years ago today, I joined UCL and the unique academic powerhouse that is the UCL Social Research Institute. It’s been a fantastic and enriching experience and I look forward to many more years here! @sriucl.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Aug 21

Looks fantastic, John. Congrats!

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Reposted by Toby Seddon

UCL Social Research Institute @sriucl.bsky.social · Aug 8

Applications are still open for our exciting new taught MSc in Sociology, being offered for the first time in September!

Take a look here...

www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...

a man is sitting at a desk in front of a computer and smiling .

ALT: a man is sitting at a desk in front of a computer and smiling .

media.tenor.com

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Aug 5

Exhibit A: drugs.

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · Aug 5

Prohibitions are not spells.

Law is not magic.

When you prohibit a thing, all that means is the thing may be attended by different legal consequences than before.

The thing is not extinguished by a mere prohibition: it can continue but in a different way with different (and unforeseen) effects.

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Aug 5

Quite the take on what’s happening in the sector. Being (very) generous, I could say that not *all* of it is wrong…

Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · Aug 5

Opinion: A systemic realignment is under way that, while painful, could lead to more efficient and adaptable HE provision in the UK, say Jonathan Barton and Mike Boxall

#AcademicSky #EduSky

The UK funding crisis may just see the emergence of a stronger sector

A systemic realignment is under way that, while painful, could lead to more efficient and adaptable provision, say Jonathan Barton and Mike Boxall

www.timeshighereducation.com

Reposted by Toby Seddon

UCL Social Research Institute @sriucl.bsky.social · Jul 31

A fantastic opportunity in our amazing department! Come and join us as Director of our Centre for Longitudinal Studies www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

UCL – University College London

UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jul 31

Fantastic, Henry! A major step forward and absolutely delighted to see it is fully Open Access.

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jul 30

Excited to read a new paper – based on the title and the authors – then…. finding out it seems unaware of swathes of relevant literature and consequently claims novelty for ideas that have been discussed for decades. Not exactly a good advert for that journal’s peer review and editorial processes.

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jul 30

Great lineup, Kari!

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jul 14

A year ago, I wrote this Policy Brief on tackling the public health crisis of drug-related deaths. The need for action is even more acute 12 months later. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

A joined-up. public health approach can help reduce drug-related deaths and support communities in building a better future. Toby Seddon for the Policy Thinking series.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jun 27

Fascinating story of psychedelic capitalism outpacing idealism at a canter

Intelligencer @intelligencer.com · Jun 19

Inside the race to turn 5-MeO-DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelic drugs in the world into a pharmaceutical.

Who Will Own the ‘God Molecule’?

Inside the race to turn 5-MeO-DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelic drugs in the world into a pharmaceutical.

nymag.com

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Reposted by Toby Seddon

Peder Clark @pederclark.bsky.social · Jun 26

late to this but easily the best thing that's been written on the history of ketamine to date. i dream of visiting john lilly's archive at stanford...

Mike Jay @mikejay.bsky.social · Jun 7

Some thoughts on ketamine
www.newstatesman.com/politics/hea...

How Britain fell into the K-hole

Silicon Valley’s favourite drug is also the UK’s.

www.newstatesman.com

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Reposted by Toby Seddon

Ros Taylor @rostaylor.bsky.social · Jun 22

Episode 5: Cannabis starts in the Paramount dancehall and ends with True Romance. Featuring @tobyseddon.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social.

morejamtomorrow.com

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Reposted by Toby Seddon

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · Jun 19

I am finally reunited on a podcast with @rostaylor.bsky.social, where I basically just gibber away about what it's like to get stoned and lose decades of your life

morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...

Cannabis

Cannabis. It’s illegal in the UK without a prescription – and despite decriminalisation abroad, it’s likely to stay that way. When did people start smoking...

morejamtomorrow.com

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jun 19

It was a pleasure to contribute to this episode! Have a listen if you're interested in learning more about #cannabis and its regulation.

Ros Taylor @rostaylor.bsky.social · Jun 19

More Jam Tomorrow ep 5 is out!

I talk to UCL prof @tobyseddon.bsky.social and former stoner @iandunt.bsky.social about how it got to Britain, why it’s banned and whether it should be legalised.

Also feat @seththevoz.bsky.social as a very worried Jim Callaghan.

morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...

Cannabis

Cannabis. It’s illegal in the UK without a prescription – and despite decriminalisation abroad, it’s likely to stay that way. When did people start smoking...

morejamtomorrow.com

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jun 11

New word learned today: hortatory (intended to urge/encourage someone to do something). Every day's a school day!

Reposted by Toby Seddon

Release: Drugs, The Law & Your Rights @releasedrugs.bsky.social · Jun 7

Simon Jenkins hit it on the head.

"The reality is that the divide in Britain is not between those “in favour” of cannabis and those against. It is between those who care about the impact of criminalisation and those who don’t"

Cannabis change is needed NOW

Sadiq Khan is right: Britain must decriminalise cannabis – or remain in the dark ages | Simon Jenkins

Criminalising drugs ruins lives and wastes police resources. Many other countries have realised this – so when will UK politicians, asks Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Toby Seddon

Sandy Oliver @profsandyoliver.bsky.social · Jun 6

Many of our students already have an established career in research or policy. So there’s learning for teachers as well as for students during our discussions about evidence for decision-making. If this sounds interesting, see our MSc Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...

Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) MSc

The Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) MSc has a specialist focus on advanced methods for evidence synthesis and the systematic review of research. You will also study social policy and the place of r...

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Toby Seddon @tobyseddon.bsky.social · Jun 5

Finished writing my presentation, titled 'Drugs and the Anthropocene'! Looking forward to discussion and sharing ideas in Manchester next week. #ISSDP2025 #drugs #drugpolicy

ISSDP @issdrugpolicy.bsky.social · May 13

The #ISSDP2025 Conference in Manchester, UK is fast approaching, featuring:
• Keynote speeches from 1) Dr. Kojo Koram, leading expert in drug laws, race & inequalities; 2) Mat Southwell, first generation of harm reduction workers;
• #HumanRights & #DrugPolicy Panel from 🇨🇭🇮🇪🇵🇭🇬🇧

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