Rebecca Merkelbach
@beccamerkelbach.bsky.social
Doctor of trollology. Saga fangirl. Assistant Prof of Old Norse at Uni Tü. Lefty nerd💚 Powerlifting yoga teaching harpist. She/sie🏳️🌈 #SkandiRetten
Pinned
Hard Times and Trial Approaches: Old Norse-Icelandic Studies Between Precarity and the Future
Dr Rebecca Merkelbach reflects on her keynote speech at the most recent Saga Conference. Held every three years, Saga Con is the most important meeting of Old Norse scholars, bringing together acad…
difficultmedieval.com
My blog post with the ADAM network has now been published. It's about precarity, the future of small subjects, and communal approaches to academic work. I hope it will resonate with some. #IchBinHanna #KleineFaecher #SkandiRetten
difficultmedieval.com/2025/10/23/h...
difficultmedieval.com/2025/10/23/h...
I absolutely hate having to ask for things (especially when I know people are busy), so assembling the examination committee for my first PhD candidate has been super stressful. But we seem to have the 5 people we need and a tentative date😮💨
February 17, 2026 at 1:55 PM
I absolutely hate having to ask for things (especially when I know people are busy), so assembling the examination committee for my first PhD candidate has been super stressful. But we seem to have the 5 people we need and a tentative date😮💨
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
We are super thrilled that @rachelschine.bsky.social is holding an online lecture on March 4th! DM or email @speriola.bsky.social of you want to join us 🙂 #cims
February 16, 2026 at 8:55 AM
We are super thrilled that @rachelschine.bsky.social is holding an online lecture on March 4th! DM or email @speriola.bsky.social of you want to join us 🙂 #cims
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
Auch an die anwesenden Soziolog:innen nochmal die Bitte, sich stärker an der Wertschöpfung, Produktion und Innovation in Deutschland zu beteiligen
February 16, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Auch an die anwesenden Soziolog:innen nochmal die Bitte, sich stärker an der Wertschöpfung, Produktion und Innovation in Deutschland zu beteiligen
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
Ich freue mich morgen auf die erste PRÜF-Demo in Stuttgart! Wer kommt mit?
February 13, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Ich freue mich morgen auf die erste PRÜF-Demo in Stuttgart! Wer kommt mit?
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
Nichts gibt euch das Recht, uns alle in den Faschismus zu führen.
Ganze Folge von BOSETTI LATE NIGHT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAm97HT7Ctc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp15-qqgArc
#BosettiLateNight #SarahBosetti #FitForFascism
Ganze Folge von BOSETTI LATE NIGHT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAm97HT7Ctc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp15-qqgArc
#BosettiLateNight #SarahBosetti #FitForFascism
Sarah Bosetti: Nichts gibt euch das Recht, uns alle in den Faschismus zu führen | BOSETTI LATE NIGHT
"Nichts gibt euch das Recht, uns alle in den Faschismus zu führen." Ganze Sendung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAm97HT7CtcBuch und Moderation: Sarah Bose...
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Nichts gibt euch das Recht, uns alle in den Faschismus zu führen.
Ganze Folge von BOSETTI LATE NIGHT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAm97HT7Ctc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp15-qqgArc
#BosettiLateNight #SarahBosetti #FitForFascism
Ganze Folge von BOSETTI LATE NIGHT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAm97HT7Ctc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp15-qqgArc
#BosettiLateNight #SarahBosetti #FitForFascism
Anyone, please?
A question for my friends and colleagues working on Middle English literature: can you recommend scholars currently interested in the aesthetics of Middle English texts, their storytelling and worldbuilding, and the sociocultural context in which this happens? I'd love to talk to someone... Thanks!
February 12, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Anyone, please?
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
„Das Europaparlament schränkt mit den Stimmen von Konservativen und Rechtsextremen die Rechte von queeren Geflüchteten massiv ein. Selbst Ländern, die Homosexuelle offen verfolgen oder foltern lassen, wurde das Prädikat "sicher" verliehen.“
#queer #asyl #eu #lgbtq+
#queer #asyl #eu #lgbtq+
Europaparlament: Länder, die Homosexuelle verfolgen oder foltern lassen, sind "sicher"
Das Europaparlament schränkt mit den Stimmen von Konservativen und Rechtsextremen die Rechte von queeren Geflüchteten massiv ein. Selbst Ländern, die Homosexuelle offen verfolgen oder foltern lassen, ...
www.queer.de
February 11, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
„[KI] ist nur dann allgegenwärtig, wenn wir das zulassen“ — this!! Viele Diskussionen gehen von der Prämisse aus, dass wir der Entwicklung ohnmächtig ausgeliefert sind & jetzt alle KI nutzen müssen. Das ist 1 Bankrotterklärung an die Selbstwirksamkeit der Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft. We can do better!
2 Erstens: die #KI ist erstens keine Intelligenz, sie simuliert und gibt statistisch und algorhythmisch geformte Antworten. Sie ist nur dann allgegenwärtig, wenn wir das zulassen - auf individueller Ebene und auf struktureller! Nichts davon ist ein natürlicher Prozess!
February 12, 2026 at 7:12 AM
„[KI] ist nur dann allgegenwärtig, wenn wir das zulassen“ — this!! Viele Diskussionen gehen von der Prämisse aus, dass wir der Entwicklung ohnmächtig ausgeliefert sind & jetzt alle KI nutzen müssen. Das ist 1 Bankrotterklärung an die Selbstwirksamkeit der Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft. We can do better!
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
A question for my friends and colleagues working on Middle English literature: can you recommend scholars currently interested in the aesthetics of Middle English texts, their storytelling and worldbuilding, and the sociocultural context in which this happens? I'd love to talk to someone... Thanks!
February 11, 2026 at 8:35 AM
A question for my friends and colleagues working on Middle English literature: can you recommend scholars currently interested in the aesthetics of Middle English texts, their storytelling and worldbuilding, and the sociocultural context in which this happens? I'd love to talk to someone... Thanks!
Post a banger not in English
Oof there are so many Icelandic bands which I love, but this probably most accurately reflects my current mood
kaelanmikla.bandcamp.com/track/andvaka
Oof there are so many Icelandic bands which I love, but this probably most accurately reflects my current mood
kaelanmikla.bandcamp.com/track/andvaka
February 11, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Post a banger not in English
Oof there are so many Icelandic bands which I love, but this probably most accurately reflects my current mood
kaelanmikla.bandcamp.com/track/andvaka
Oof there are so many Icelandic bands which I love, but this probably most accurately reflects my current mood
kaelanmikla.bandcamp.com/track/andvaka
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
A question for my friends and colleagues working on Middle English literature: can you recommend scholars currently interested in the aesthetics of Middle English texts, their storytelling and worldbuilding, and the sociocultural context in which this happens? I'd love to talk to someone... Thanks!
February 11, 2026 at 8:35 AM
A question for my friends and colleagues working on Middle English literature: can you recommend scholars currently interested in the aesthetics of Middle English texts, their storytelling and worldbuilding, and the sociocultural context in which this happens? I'd love to talk to someone... Thanks!
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
They're Coming for Our Daughters
The conservative plan to shrink girls’ futures
jessica.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
Available Oslo PhD positions – heritage conservation, archaeological & paleoenvironmental geochemistry, & on the POLYCHROME project (concerning historical sources on changing attitudes to medieval objects after the Reformations in the Scandinavian countries) #jobfairy
www.hf.uio.no/iakh/english...
www.hf.uio.no/iakh/english...
Vacancies - Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History
Read this story on the University of Oslo's website.
www.hf.uio.no
February 10, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Available Oslo PhD positions – heritage conservation, archaeological & paleoenvironmental geochemistry, & on the POLYCHROME project (concerning historical sources on changing attitudes to medieval objects after the Reformations in the Scandinavian countries) #jobfairy
www.hf.uio.no/iakh/english...
www.hf.uio.no/iakh/english...
Time to actually work on this review (and read some fun sagas in the process!)
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Time to actually work on this review (and read some fun sagas in the process!)
God I'm so tired.
February 9, 2026 at 12:38 PM
God I'm so tired.
Heute ist mediävistischer Studientag des untoten Zentrums vormodernes Europa, und ich lerne Dinge über Candelabra, Burgen, Traumbücher und Verlusterzählungen.
February 6, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Heute ist mediävistischer Studientag des untoten Zentrums vormodernes Europa, und ich lerne Dinge über Candelabra, Burgen, Traumbücher und Verlusterzählungen.
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
Kurz gesagt:
Es gibt für die Arten "KI", die wir heute sehen, keine "linke" oder "menschliche" Perspektive. Sie sind ein Tool der Ausbeutung und Unterdrückung. Strukturell und aufgrund der Ideologie der Leute, die sie betreiben und finanzieren.
Es gibt für die Arten "KI", die wir heute sehen, keine "linke" oder "menschliche" Perspektive. Sie sind ein Tool der Ausbeutung und Unterdrückung. Strukturell und aufgrund der Ideologie der Leute, die sie betreiben und finanzieren.
February 4, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Kurz gesagt:
Es gibt für die Arten "KI", die wir heute sehen, keine "linke" oder "menschliche" Perspektive. Sie sind ein Tool der Ausbeutung und Unterdrückung. Strukturell und aufgrund der Ideologie der Leute, die sie betreiben und finanzieren.
Es gibt für die Arten "KI", die wir heute sehen, keine "linke" oder "menschliche" Perspektive. Sie sind ein Tool der Ausbeutung und Unterdrückung. Strukturell und aufgrund der Ideologie der Leute, die sie betreiben und finanzieren.
Finished teaching for the winter😌My absolute highlight was the seminar on kaleidoscopic narration, and I'm glad the students enjoyed it too. Very grateful for their positive and appreciative feedback! Now I'm almost ready to write the introduction for our volume on the topic – almost...
February 5, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Finished teaching for the winter😌My absolute highlight was the seminar on kaleidoscopic narration, and I'm glad the students enjoyed it too. Very grateful for their positive and appreciative feedback! Now I'm almost ready to write the introduction for our volume on the topic – almost...
I never ask for anything, no matter what. But today I did, in a professional context no less, and received a positive response, and now I'm not only relieved but also very proud of myself.
February 4, 2026 at 10:24 AM
I never ask for anything, no matter what. But today I did, in a professional context no less, and received a positive response, and now I'm not only relieved but also very proud of myself.
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
Call for Papers, please circulate!
Ethics of queer in/visibility
Heidelberg, September 30 - October 2, 2026
queer-in-visibility.de
Keynote speakers:
J Calder
(Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder)
Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social
(History, University of Warwick)
Ethics of queer in/visibility
Heidelberg, September 30 - October 2, 2026
queer-in-visibility.de
Keynote speakers:
J Calder
(Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder)
Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social
(History, University of Warwick)
February 3, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Call for Papers, please circulate!
Ethics of queer in/visibility
Heidelberg, September 30 - October 2, 2026
queer-in-visibility.de
Keynote speakers:
J Calder
(Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder)
Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social
(History, University of Warwick)
Ethics of queer in/visibility
Heidelberg, September 30 - October 2, 2026
queer-in-visibility.de
Keynote speakers:
J Calder
(Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder)
Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social
(History, University of Warwick)
Ich habe gerade eine Email mit dem Betreff "Lust auf Grettis saga?" verschickt und hoffe, dass sie nicht vom Spamfilter geblockt wird.
February 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Ich habe gerade eine Email mit dem Betreff "Lust auf Grettis saga?" verschickt und hoffe, dass sie nicht vom Spamfilter geblockt wird.
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
Ich hab den Eindruck, ein Teil dieser Diskussionen darüber, wie denn "KI"-Chatbots im Studium einzusetzen sein sollen, ließen sich schon damit von allein damit erledigen, indem man etwas studiert, wofür man sich tatsächlich interessiert, aber na ja. 🫠
February 3, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Ich hab den Eindruck, ein Teil dieser Diskussionen darüber, wie denn "KI"-Chatbots im Studium einzusetzen sein sollen, ließen sich schon damit von allein damit erledigen, indem man etwas studiert, wofür man sich tatsächlich interessiert, aber na ja. 🫠
Reposted by Rebecca Merkelbach
I try to have/spread fun on here, but fuck this guy, the horse he rode in on, and the guy who sold him the horse
You’ve probably forgotten you’re following him because he’s been mercifully silent, but he’s trying to come back, so this may be a good time to unfollow (or just block him)
You’ve probably forgotten you’re following him because he’s been mercifully silent, but he’s trying to come back, so this may be a good time to unfollow (or just block him)
apropos of nothing in particular, @lilashapiro.bsky.social gave us a tremendous piece of journalism last year, and it's always a great time to revisit it and thank her for the work she did in bringing these stories to light.
There Is No Safe Word
How the best-selling fantasy author Neil Gaiman hid the darkest parts of himself for decades.
www.vulture.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:52 AM
I try to have/spread fun on here, but fuck this guy, the horse he rode in on, and the guy who sold him the horse
You’ve probably forgotten you’re following him because he’s been mercifully silent, but he’s trying to come back, so this may be a good time to unfollow (or just block him)
You’ve probably forgotten you’re following him because he’s been mercifully silent, but he’s trying to come back, so this may be a good time to unfollow (or just block him)