Margot Finn
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eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn
@eicathomefinn.bsky.social
17K followers 4.5K following 10K posts

Historian of Britain and colonialism, material culture, the EIC. Also works on equalities, museums, open access & research policy. Download the EIC @ Home open access volume here: https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/88277 (or individual chapters via JSTOR) .. more

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Margot C. Finn is a British historian and academic who specialises in Britain and the British colonial world during the long nineteenth century. She has been Professor of Modern British History at the University College, London (UCL) since 2012. Finn was previously the President of the Royal Historical Society and a trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum. .. more

Political science 31%
Economics 26%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Susan J. Smith

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h
“A lot of these models are actually very good at STEM. But I think this idea that there are things that make us uniquely human—understanding ourselves, understanding history, understanding what makes us tick—I think that will always be really, really important." (Daniela Amodei)
Anthropic cofounder says studying the humanities will be 'more important than ever' and reveals what the AI company looks for when hiring | Fortune
"The things that make us human will become much more important instead of much less important."
fortune.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16h
Actually a very apt Freudian snip (sic)

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 17h
Salary £54,931-£64,644. UCL Institute of Archaeology.

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

rachelking.bsky.social
Rachel King @rachelking.bsky.social · 17h
Come work with us! We’re advertising a one-year full-time post to cover teaching in #MuseumStudies 🏺🗃️ 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

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 20h
Depending on how many people died or ended up with long Covid... Never forget the U Birmingham Eastwood video....

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21h
'However, the deal now appears to have opened the way for large-scale legal action against the university sector, which is being brought under consumer law.' 2/2

Reposted by Charles West

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21h
'UCL has not admitted any liability in its case and the details of the settlement remain confidential, with neither the institution nor lawyers for the students able to discuss it.' 1/2
Students begin Covid compensation claim against 36 more universities
It comes after University College London settled a claim from students there over lost learning in the pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21h
Available open access, Gareth Knapman's 'Sovereignty and Treaties as Colonial Instruments: The British Occupation of Java 1811-1815', Jnl of Imp & Commonwealth Hist. #Skystorians
Sovereignty and Treaties as Colonial Instruments: The British Occupation of Java 1811–1815
This article examines how sovereignty and treaties functioned as colonial instruments during the British occupation of Java (1811–1815). The British East India Company imposed the language of sover...
www.tandfonline.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 22h
'A broader approach is needed, which I outline here. Scientists need to carefully examine the public’s understanding of how the scientific enterprise operates and how its institutions work, as well as the contexts in which people experience science, both positively and negatively.' 2/2

Reposted by Karin Wulf

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 22h
'Scientists and researchers who study public understanding should reckon with their own role in this cultural disconnect. In particular, they need to reimagine the ways in which scientific literacy and trust have long been conceptualized and measured.' 1/2
Why we don’t really know what the public thinks about science
Measuring trust isn’t enough. Furthering knowledge about the institutions and norms of science is the best way to build credibility.
www.nature.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23h
The internal logic of their eugenicism will eventually lead them to laboratory conceived, grown and delivered infants.

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23h
'Under the S2O scheme, article processing charges for publishing open access in the society’s eight subscription journals will be removed. [The past 10 years of content will also be open under this agreement]. Fees will remain for the two Royal Society journals that are already open access.' 2/2

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23h
'The Royal Society has confirmed that it has secured support from enough libraries for it to make its eight subscription journals open access throughout 2026.' (What happens in 2027 or thereafter if there are insufficient subscribers is not addressed in the article). 1/2

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
Couching this issue in terms of personal academic reputations and reluctant publishing practices surely misses the wider structural issues at play, from increased pressure to/rewards for over-publishing to the new generative AI tools that are transforming that landscape. 2/2

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'Removing these papers from the ecosystem – or at least highlighting their questionable citations – is vital because, without their retraction, future researchers risk using unsound results and techniques'.

Not a single mention of impact of AI literature review tools in this context. 1/2
‘Retract papers based on flawed citations’, urges integrity tsar
Authors must put aside personal pride and seek retractions when their literature proves unreliable, says sleuth
www.timeshighereducation.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
Or it could reflect both rupture and continuation, because history is not invariably binary?
The deep history of AI began 3,000 years ago
AI is not a rupture in history, but a continuation of intelligence emerging where information becomes systematically arranged.
bigthink.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'The Creative HE Strategy aims to provide a clear and ambitious roadmap for the future, ensuring that creative higher education continues to play a vital role in economic growth, skills development, research excellence, civic engagement, and the UK’s international standing.'
Sector leaders unite as GuildHE sets ambitious vision for the future of creative higher education
GuildHE has today convened the first meeting of its national Creative Higher Education (HE) Strategy Taskforce, marking a significant milestone in the development of a new sector-wide strategy for cre...
guildhe.ac.uk

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 1d
Library support enables Royal Society open access shift.

Eight subscription journals go fully OA during 2026 through subscribe to open model.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Library support enables Royal Society open access shift - Research Professional News
Eight subscription journals go fully OA during 2026 through subscribe to open model
www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

jimdickinson.bsky.social
Jim Dickinson @jimdickinson.bsky.social · 1d
In my little bit of the policy world I note with interest that most European systems either appoint an HE expert as HE minister, or have an advisory council, or both. DfE has... neither. Not a lot of evidence of producer capture either.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
He probably also disapproves of men who have fewer than 2.2 children, while also being one. Logic long ago left this room.

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
It varied a lot across the sector. Some universities very much privileged students over staff: the unreasonable expectations placed on many HoDs were, well, unreasonable. But agree the overall response was impressive. (This is not to suggest that students didn't suffer too: it was a pandemic).

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
Presumably after having repealed or substantially revised the Equality Act 2010.

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

bylines.scot
Bylines Scotland @bylines.scot · 1d
Reform.
A photo of Reform candidate, Matthew Goodwin... with the quotes "Reform will give incentives to women who have more children and will penalise those who don't. Change is coming."

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'The university said it admitted no liability and had "worked diligently to deliver teaching and student support in unprecedented circumstances".

A lawyer representing the students said he was "delighted" & would "continue to represent tens of thousands of students who were at other universities".
UCL and students settle dispute over Covid teaching
A confidential settlement has been reached after legal action over online and cancelled teaching.
www.bbc.co.uk

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'Science Europe’s suggestions build on its previously expressed concern that, rather than focusing on “short-term economic priorities” in pursuit of increased EU competitiveness, the programme must provide “long-term, sustainable benefits to all aspects of society”.'
clanicholson.bsky.social Craig Nicholson @clanicholson.bsky.social · 3d
Free to read: Next EU R&I programme must fund full range of research, says Science Europe

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'In England and Wales the only constraints on the growth and decline of providers is the demand among prospective students. There is no strategic design behind changes to the shape of the sector beyond about 2012, and what we see now is the result of the absence of that strategy.'
The sector has changed size and shape over the last decade
David Kernohan tracks the changes in the subject and provider spread of student numbers over ten eventful years in UK higher education
wonkhe.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'Currently, policy instruments to drive research across the UK are too blunt, with funding mechanisms focused on inputs and mode of delivery, rather than outputs and outcomes tied to purpose. National research policy ignores regional distinctions and place-based assets.' 3/3

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'In conjunction with University College London, Policy.Partners, a new collaboration between Counterculture and Wonkhe, is launching the commission on research for better economic growth.' 2/3

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Rebecca Sear

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'The majority of the UK’s publicly-funded research is carried out in universities, who now spend over £15bn annually delivering research.

Universities are the UK’s single best collective asset for economic and social prosperity'. 1/3
Introducing the commission on research for better economic growth
James Coe and Sarah Chaytor launch the brand new commission on research for better economic growth
wonkhe.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d
'Last week Medr published the final report of its subject review...which aimed to assess demand for and distribution of provision across the sector amid concerns that universities were responding to the financial crisis by closing courses and creating cold spots.' 2/2
Medr/2026/04: Subjects of study – demand, provision and distribution of subject areas across higher education in Wales - Medr
www.medr.cymru