Nic Baker-Brian
@bluntnorthener.bsky.social
Prof. Late Antiquity, Wales
Pinned
Cardiff University reorganisation plans: LSW Statement - The Learned Society of Wales
As Wales’ National Academy, the Learned Society of Wales has been increasingly concerned that Welsh universities are operating within a difficult financial context. Economic strain, the impacts of imm...
www.learnedsociety.wales
‘Any reduction to these degree subjects would undermine economic potential and social cohesion for the whole of Wales’
www.learnedsociety.wales/cardiff-univ...
www.learnedsociety.wales/cardiff-univ...
Please consider signing this petition to preserve the study of the ancient world at uOttawa. There’s a rich legacy of scholarship and teaching here which we can’t afford to lose.
The petition is LIVE! uOttawa suspended Greek & Roman Studies without consultation ending advanced ancient languages teaching and Ontario's only ancient languages programme in French. Please sign, share widely and follow for updates. buff.ly/hjj4J7u #SOSClassicsUO #SaveHigherEd #ONfr #Ottawa
Sign the Petition
Save Greek and Latin at the University of Ottawa!
buff.ly
October 29, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Please consider signing this petition to preserve the study of the ancient world at uOttawa. There’s a rich legacy of scholarship and teaching here which we can’t afford to lose.
Robert Redford… I mean, no, really!?! Come on …
September 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Robert Redford… I mean, no, really!?! Come on …
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Upcoming #Carthage book events:
Sept. 5th @londonpodfest live with @ancientstristan (tickets shop.kingsplace.co.uk/31650/31654)
Sept. 10th @nomad_books 781 Fulham Road, London 6.30-8.30pm
Oct 2nd in conversation @maimusie at @waterstones Gower St at 6.30pm
(www.waterstones.com/events/searc...)
Sept. 5th @londonpodfest live with @ancientstristan (tickets shop.kingsplace.co.uk/31650/31654)
Sept. 10th @nomad_books 781 Fulham Road, London 6.30-8.30pm
Oct 2nd in conversation @maimusie at @waterstones Gower St at 6.30pm
(www.waterstones.com/events/searc...)
August 28, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Upcoming #Carthage book events:
Sept. 5th @londonpodfest live with @ancientstristan (tickets shop.kingsplace.co.uk/31650/31654)
Sept. 10th @nomad_books 781 Fulham Road, London 6.30-8.30pm
Oct 2nd in conversation @maimusie at @waterstones Gower St at 6.30pm
(www.waterstones.com/events/searc...)
Sept. 5th @londonpodfest live with @ancientstristan (tickets shop.kingsplace.co.uk/31650/31654)
Sept. 10th @nomad_books 781 Fulham Road, London 6.30-8.30pm
Oct 2nd in conversation @maimusie at @waterstones Gower St at 6.30pm
(www.waterstones.com/events/searc...)
La France profonde
August 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
La France profonde
At least two Cardiff University ‘in scope’ historians boiling in the Cypriot heat.
June 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
At least two Cardiff University ‘in scope’ historians boiling in the Cypriot heat.
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Notes from a highly charged and devastating meeting show not a single member of Cardiff University’s senate body backed the latest cuts plans ✍️ Martin Shipton
Inside account of meeting at which not a single member of Cardiff University's Senate backed cuts plan
Martin Shipton A member of Cardiff University’s Senate has provided Nation.Cymru with notes of a highly charged and – for the university – devastating meeting at which not a single member of the body ...
wp.me
June 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Notes from a highly charged and devastating meeting show not a single member of Cardiff University’s senate body backed the latest cuts plans ✍️ Martin Shipton
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Peter Oakes and I have written about our Coptic Manuscripts & Community pilot project @thejohnrylands.bsky.social, where we share initial insights on how the manuscripts came to be in Manchester & how we might connect these ancient artefacts with folks today. rylandscollections.com/2025/06/13/f...
Rylands BlogFar from Being in the ‘Most Useless’ Place: Linking John Rylands Coptic Manuscripts with the Coptic Community
Dr Sarah Parkhouse and Professor Peter Oakes write about their pilot project exploring the treasure trove of Coptic manuscripts at the John Rylands Library.
rylandscollections.com
June 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Peter Oakes and I have written about our Coptic Manuscripts & Community pilot project @thejohnrylands.bsky.social, where we share initial insights on how the manuscripts came to be in Manchester & how we might connect these ancient artefacts with folks today. rylandscollections.com/2025/06/13/f...
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Latest news, announced yesterday: Music and *some* Modern Languages provision to continue, while Ancient History, Religion and Theology still for the chopping board with no evidence to support the decision shown to staff. 1/6
Cardiff University backtracks on plans to cut music and languages
Music and modern languages will still be offered at Cardiff University, the vice chancellor says.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Latest news, announced yesterday: Music and *some* Modern Languages provision to continue, while Ancient History, Religion and Theology still for the chopping board with no evidence to support the decision shown to staff. 1/6
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Because reading and writing have lways been my way to cope, here are some musings: ancientrecipes.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/t...
The House of Sleep
Yesterday, the management of my university announced that it ‘would not revisit’ its proposals to cease offering degrees in Ancient History and in Religion and Theology. While this was …
ancientrecipes.wordpress.com
May 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Because reading and writing have lways been my way to cope, here are some musings: ancientrecipes.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/t...
Cardiff University’s group of teachers in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies recently established a new series, Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity, with Routledge. Proposals are welcome on a variety of topics about which see below
www.routledge.com/Critical-Deb...
www.routledge.com/Critical-Deb...
Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity - Book Series - Routledge & CRC Press
Routledge & CRC Press Series: The series presents critical surveys of key debates in Late Antique studies (c. 250 CE – c. 800 CE), a discipline defined by its transcultural focus on the pe
www.routledge.com
May 15, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Cardiff University’s group of teachers in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies recently established a new series, Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity, with Routledge. Proposals are welcome on a variety of topics about which see below
www.routledge.com/Critical-Deb...
www.routledge.com/Critical-Deb...
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
It's final paper season.
May 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
It's final paper season.
Don’t usually post personal stuff but wanted to note a momentous day. My son is now a school leaver, finishing secondary school. He’s coped with Covid, lockdowns and his mum going through cancer (x2). He is very irritating sometimes but also very loveable and I am very proud of him today.
May 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Don’t usually post personal stuff but wanted to note a momentous day. My son is now a school leaver, finishing secondary school. He’s coped with Covid, lockdowns and his mum going through cancer (x2). He is very irritating sometimes but also very loveable and I am very proud of him today.
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
What many students don’t understand is humanities profs don’t assign writing to get the product. We are extending invitations to know yourself. If you conjure AI, it doesn’t impact us. You cheat only yourself. And knowing yourself today is the best defense you’ve got against fascism.
April 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
What many students don’t understand is humanities profs don’t assign writing to get the product. We are extending invitations to know yourself. If you conjure AI, it doesn’t impact us. You cheat only yourself. And knowing yourself today is the best defense you’ve got against fascism.
Specifically for my Gospel of Mary student
April 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Specifically for my Gospel of Mary student
The existential threat to the study of Theology in a secular Welsh university context is a major issue and one which Cardiff has yet to address. Wales should not have to rely on English institutions for this provision.
“There will be no serious study of theology in Wales if Cardiff University goes ahead with its plans. Theology will have come to an end here. This is a watershed moment”
Gethin Rhys, Cytûn’s policy officer.
#CardiffUniversity #Cuts #Theology
#Wales
religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/wales-i...
Gethin Rhys, Cytûn’s policy officer.
#CardiffUniversity #Cuts #Theology
#Wales
religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/wales-i...
Wales ‘in danger of losing its religious identity’ - Religion Media Centre
The study of religion is ini danger of being erased in Wales, with the Cardiff University Religion and Theology department facing closure and a new school curriculum 'diluting' the place of religion w...
religionmediacentre.org.uk
April 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The existential threat to the study of Theology in a secular Welsh university context is a major issue and one which Cardiff has yet to address. Wales should not have to rely on English institutions for this provision.
April 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Catching up with the excellent work by my Cardiff colleague @rklwood.bsky.social
March 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Catching up with the excellent work by my Cardiff colleague @rklwood.bsky.social
**Job Klaxon Deadline 31 March ‘25
www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2025/03...
www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2025/03...
Fully-funded PhD Late Antiquity
Cardiff University (Wales, UK) is offering a fully funded full-time PhD on the theme of Health and Healing in Late Antiquity.
www.archaeology.wiki
March 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
**Job Klaxon Deadline 31 March ‘25
www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2025/03...
www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2025/03...
New book by Cardiff University’s Susanna Towers #religion #ancienthistory #lateantiquity #manichaeism
March 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
New book by Cardiff University’s Susanna Towers #religion #ancienthistory #lateantiquity #manichaeism
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Open letter to the Cardiff Uni VC Larner from the three most senior officials of united churches org Cytun says proposed cuts to religious studies & the Humanities more broadly will be “disastrous” for Wales.
nation.cymru/news/churche...
nation.cymru/news/churche...
Churches condemn 'tragic' cuts to religious studies
Martin Shipton The umbrella organisation representing Wales’ churches has deplored the “tragic” demise of theology departments at Welsh universities. In an open letter to vice chancellors and Cabinet ...
nation.cymru
March 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Open letter to the Cardiff Uni VC Larner from the three most senior officials of united churches org Cytun says proposed cuts to religious studies & the Humanities more broadly will be “disastrous” for Wales.
nation.cymru/news/churche...
nation.cymru/news/churche...
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Joey Molland, guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for 1970s hits like No Matter What and Day After Day, has died aged 77
Joey Molland, guitarist with 1970s Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger, dies aged 77
Joey Molland, guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for 1970s hits like No Matter What and Day After Day, has died aged 77. Molland was the last to join and had been the last...
wp.me
March 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Joey Molland, guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for 1970s hits like No Matter What and Day After Day, has died aged 77
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
This is the original column written as a homage to the great @timothysnyder.bsky.social's 'On Tyranny'. It keeps going endlessly viral which makes me think there is an appetite for a pro-democracy, anti-broligarchy media & movement.
6/
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
bsky.app/profile/caro...
6/
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
bsky.app/profile/caro...
February 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is the original column written as a homage to the great @timothysnyder.bsky.social's 'On Tyranny'. It keeps going endlessly viral which makes me think there is an appetite for a pro-democracy, anti-broligarchy media & movement.
6/
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
bsky.app/profile/caro...
6/
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
bsky.app/profile/caro...
Reposted by Nic Baker-Brian
Vance was right on just one thing: Europe lacks a clear positive vision of what it wants to defend.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
February 15, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Vance was right on just one thing: Europe lacks a clear positive vision of what it wants to defend.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action.
It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
Mani. The first religious globalist?
New podcast with Cardiff’s Nic Baker-Brian
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
New podcast with Cardiff’s Nic Baker-Brian
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
S2E3: Mani and Manichaeism in Sasanian Iran and Roman Empire
Podcast Episode · Scholars Unravel Middle East · 13/02/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
February 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Mani. The first religious globalist?
New podcast with Cardiff’s Nic Baker-Brian
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
New podcast with Cardiff’s Nic Baker-Brian
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
‘These subjects play a central role in fostering a sense of global citizenship and nurturing respect for cultural diversities.’
www.change.org/p/save-our-r...
www.change.org/p/save-our-r...
Sign the Petition
Save Our Religion And Theology Degree!
www.change.org
February 15, 2025 at 8:54 AM
‘These subjects play a central role in fostering a sense of global citizenship and nurturing respect for cultural diversities.’
www.change.org/p/save-our-r...
www.change.org/p/save-our-r...