Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
@emilywebz.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in the History and Philosophy of Health and Medicine at
Durham University. #Epidemics #Environment #Health past and present.
Durham University. #Epidemics #Environment #Health past and present.
Stages of article revision: “I have written trash, the reviewer has seen through me, how can I possibly make anything of this…oh wait, that wasn’t so hard, cool!”
February 5, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Stages of article revision: “I have written trash, the reviewer has seen through me, how can I possibly make anything of this…oh wait, that wasn’t so hard, cool!”
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
One week left to enter @sshmedicine.bsky.social Roy Porter Essay Prize 2025/6
Deadline: Sunday 1 February
#histmed #histSTM #medhumanities
Deadline: Sunday 1 February
#histmed #histSTM #medhumanities
SSHM invites submissions to its 2025/6 Roy Porter Essay Prize for the best original and unpublished essay in #histmed
🏆£500 first prize
Open to all students (registered at the deadline for entries or were awarded their degree in 2025).
For the entry form and rules and eligibility see👇
#histmed
🏆£500 first prize
Open to all students (registered at the deadline for entries or were awarded their degree in 2025).
For the entry form and rules and eligibility see👇
#histmed
Roy Porter Prize 2025-2026
Deadline for entries is 1 February 2026. Rules and Entry Form The Society for the Social History of Medicine invites submissions to its 2025/6 Roy Porter Student Essay Prize Competition. Downl…
sshm.org
January 26, 2026 at 2:18 PM
One week left to enter @sshmedicine.bsky.social Roy Porter Essay Prize 2025/6
Deadline: Sunday 1 February
#histmed #histSTM #medhumanities
Deadline: Sunday 1 February
#histmed #histSTM #medhumanities
This term, Durham’s IAS is sponsoring myself, Hannah Brown, Francis Massé, and Justin Willis to run a project, “Interest in Cattle: Value, Risk, and Security in Eastern and Southern Africa,” alongside a great group of fellows from the Universities of Zambia, Cape Town, and Reading.
January 27, 2026 at 9:13 AM
This term, Durham’s IAS is sponsoring myself, Hannah Brown, Francis Massé, and Justin Willis to run a project, “Interest in Cattle: Value, Risk, and Security in Eastern and Southern Africa,” alongside a great group of fellows from the Universities of Zambia, Cape Town, and Reading.
Life in Durham improved substantially when I realized I could get a really solid cup of vegan chai at basically any time of day
January 21, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Life in Durham improved substantially when I realized I could get a really solid cup of vegan chai at basically any time of day
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in multiple ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:06 PM
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
When your D&D group is made up of a bunch of historians and history buffs, you naturally do age of sail homages @robertsuits.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 11:56 PM
When your D&D group is made up of a bunch of historians and history buffs, you naturally do age of sail homages @robertsuits.bsky.social
The world is pretty crappy right now, but at least I managed to make a perfect vegan grilled cheese for lunch today (no picture because that’s how fast I ate it).
January 14, 2026 at 12:54 PM
The world is pretty crappy right now, but at least I managed to make a perfect vegan grilled cheese for lunch today (no picture because that’s how fast I ate it).
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
I'm hiring 2 postdocs on my Wellcome project "How Did Infectious Diseases Become Wild?: Plague, Yellow Fever, and Disease Ecology in the Brazilian Hinterland (1920-1975)"
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
King's College
3 years 01/10/26- 30/09/29
Deadline: 01/02/26
shorturl.at/KZ6Vh
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
King's College
3 years 01/10/26- 30/09/29
Deadline: 01/02/26
shorturl.at/KZ6Vh
Postdoctoral Research Associate | King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 5:22 PM
I'm hiring 2 postdocs on my Wellcome project "How Did Infectious Diseases Become Wild?: Plague, Yellow Fever, and Disease Ecology in the Brazilian Hinterland (1920-1975)"
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
King's College
3 years 01/10/26- 30/09/29
Deadline: 01/02/26
shorturl.at/KZ6Vh
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
King's College
3 years 01/10/26- 30/09/29
Deadline: 01/02/26
shorturl.at/KZ6Vh
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
#CFP: "Cattle Commodification in Global History: Capitalism, Science and Empire". International Workshop, Ghent University, 3-5 June 2026.
Deadline for abstracts: 23 January 2026
Info: cattlefrontiers.eu/workshop-cat...
#envhum #envhist #agriculture #environment #hstm #histsci
Deadline for abstracts: 23 January 2026
Info: cattlefrontiers.eu/workshop-cat...
#envhum #envhist #agriculture #environment #hstm #histsci
Cattle Commodification in Global History - International Workshop
Call for Papers - CATTLEFRONTIERS International Workshop, 3-5 June, Ghent University
cattlefrontiers.eu
December 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
#CFP: "Cattle Commodification in Global History: Capitalism, Science and Empire". International Workshop, Ghent University, 3-5 June 2026.
Deadline for abstracts: 23 January 2026
Info: cattlefrontiers.eu/workshop-cat...
#envhum #envhist #agriculture #environment #hstm #histsci
Deadline for abstracts: 23 January 2026
Info: cattlefrontiers.eu/workshop-cat...
#envhum #envhist #agriculture #environment #hstm #histsci
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
More than 250 people who were exposed to measles, including dozens of unvaccinated school-aged children, are quarantining in South Carolina as the state wrestles to contain an outbreak that has sickened more than 110 people.
Hundreds Quarantined in South Carolina as Measles Outbreak Shows No Sign of Slowing
The outbreak shows no signs of slowing, likely because of the affected area’s “lower-than-hoped-for vaccination coverage,” a state health official said.
nyti.ms
December 12, 2025 at 3:20 AM
More than 250 people who were exposed to measles, including dozens of unvaccinated school-aged children, are quarantining in South Carolina as the state wrestles to contain an outbreak that has sickened more than 110 people.
Had such an excellent couple of days thinking and speaking about Planetary Health with some brilliant people (and some of my academic role models!). Merci à tous! :)
December 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Had such an excellent couple of days thinking and speaking about Planetary Health with some brilliant people (and some of my academic role models!). Merci à tous! :)
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
Interested or know someone interested in doing a PhD on environmental histories/materialities of zoonotic or infectious animal disease as part of Transformative Humanities @durham.ac.uk Then please get in touch by Dec 8th! @pollenetwork.bsky.social @emilywebz.bsky.social @rgs-agwg.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Interested or know someone interested in doing a PhD on environmental histories/materialities of zoonotic or infectious animal disease as part of Transformative Humanities @durham.ac.uk Then please get in touch by Dec 8th! @pollenetwork.bsky.social @emilywebz.bsky.social @rgs-agwg.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
Amazing History of Medicine PhD scholarship opportunity at the University of Newcastle (Australia), part of Prof Cathy Coleborne's ARC grant on Australian experiences of polio: www.newcastle.edu.au/study/resear...
A Social History of Polio Vaccination in Australia, 1950s to 1970s
www.newcastle.edu.au
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Amazing History of Medicine PhD scholarship opportunity at the University of Newcastle (Australia), part of Prof Cathy Coleborne's ARC grant on Australian experiences of polio: www.newcastle.edu.au/study/resear...
Hi all - I’m running the London Marathon this year for the Institute for Cancer Research. Those who know me know that this is a deeply personal cause to me. Please consider donating if you can!
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/emily-web...
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/emily-web...
Emily's page
This is a cause that is deeply personal to me - in more ways than one. I was 27 years old when, just days after I graduated from my PhD program, a routine medical scan uncovered a large tumor in my ap
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Hi all - I’m running the London Marathon this year for the Institute for Cancer Research. Those who know me know that this is a deeply personal cause to me. Please consider donating if you can!
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/emily-web...
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/emily-web...
Anyone interested in joining a panel proposal on Health in Civil Rights movements for the AAHM this year? DM me or comment if so!
October 11, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Anyone interested in joining a panel proposal on Health in Civil Rights movements for the AAHM this year? DM me or comment if so!
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
Your weekly reminder that voter "concern" with immigration doesn't correspond to actual immigration levels.
It corresponds to the amount of coverage the media gives immigration.
This an entirely self-fulfilling mess, and it is entirely pointless.
It corresponds to the amount of coverage the media gives immigration.
This an entirely self-fulfilling mess, and it is entirely pointless.
September 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Your weekly reminder that voter "concern" with immigration doesn't correspond to actual immigration levels.
It corresponds to the amount of coverage the media gives immigration.
This an entirely self-fulfilling mess, and it is entirely pointless.
It corresponds to the amount of coverage the media gives immigration.
This an entirely self-fulfilling mess, and it is entirely pointless.
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
RFK Jr. rolled out that old chestnut again about how healthy Americans were in the 60’s, so here’s a fact check.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
September 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
RFK Jr. rolled out that old chestnut again about how healthy Americans were in the 60’s, so here’s a fact check.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
In 1965:
-42% of American adults smoked; it’s 11% now.
-The infant morality rate was 24.7/1000; it’s 5.6/1000 now.
-Overall life expectancy was 70 years; it's about 77 years now.
Me, trying to fit in in Berlin: ein Kaffee mit hafermilch, bitte
Barista (in a heavy Irish accent): you want that regular or large?
Barista (in a heavy Irish accent): you want that regular or large?
August 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Me, trying to fit in in Berlin: ein Kaffee mit hafermilch, bitte
Barista (in a heavy Irish accent): you want that regular or large?
Barista (in a heavy Irish accent): you want that regular or large?
Up early and off to #EAHMH2025! So excited to attend some fascinating talks and to present on sentinel animals in environmental health history alongside @kirchhelle.bsky.social! A big shoutout to @robertsuits.bsky.social for driving me to the airport at 4 AM so I could make it to morning panels ❤️
August 27, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Up early and off to #EAHMH2025! So excited to attend some fascinating talks and to present on sentinel animals in environmental health history alongside @kirchhelle.bsky.social! A big shoutout to @robertsuits.bsky.social for driving me to the airport at 4 AM so I could make it to morning panels ❤️
There is a group of seniors who meets in the cafe where I’m currently writing a conference paper, and they are laughing so hard they’re crying. It’s a real day-brightener, especially when we seem to hear overwhelmingly stories of isolation among those in their later years.
August 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
There is a group of seniors who meets in the cafe where I’m currently writing a conference paper, and they are laughing so hard they’re crying. It’s a real day-brightener, especially when we seem to hear overwhelmingly stories of isolation among those in their later years.
Hopping on the early morning Eurostar on my way to Basel for a very exciting workshop!! I hope the novelty of being able to travel without planes never wears off.
August 13, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Hopping on the early morning Eurostar on my way to Basel for a very exciting workshop!! I hope the novelty of being able to travel without planes never wears off.
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
My cartoon for this week’s Books pages in @theguardian.com
July 27, 2025 at 11:31 AM
My cartoon for this week’s Books pages in @theguardian.com
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
Some of the media want to portray the thousand people protesting on asylum as being a proxy for general public opinion.
They wouldn't want to say that about the much larger trans rights + allies protest of up to 100 thousand people
www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/26/l...
They wouldn't want to say that about the much larger trans rights + allies protest of up to 100 thousand people
www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/26/l...
Tens of thousands protest UK transphobia as London Trans Pride returns
Tens of thousands took to the streets of the UK's capital today (26 July) to spread LGBTQ+ solidarity as part of London Trans Pride 2025.
www.thepinknews.com
July 26, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Some of the media want to portray the thousand people protesting on asylum as being a proxy for general public opinion.
They wouldn't want to say that about the much larger trans rights + allies protest of up to 100 thousand people
www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/26/l...
They wouldn't want to say that about the much larger trans rights + allies protest of up to 100 thousand people
www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/26/l...
It’s remarkable to me how much running has become an active part of my writing process over the last six years. Not only do they stretch the same muscle (showing up, consistency, endurance), but the calm energy is unlike anything else. I’m so grateful 25 year old Emily decided to give it a go.
July 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
It’s remarkable to me how much running has become an active part of my writing process over the last six years. Not only do they stretch the same muscle (showing up, consistency, endurance), but the calm energy is unlike anything else. I’m so grateful 25 year old Emily decided to give it a go.
Reposted by Emily Webster, PhD, MSc
Decades of mechanistic talk about university degrees as if they were bundles of 'skills' and 'prep' are about to be proved completely wrong (obviously). Want to get a real boost? Do History or English.
July 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Decades of mechanistic talk about university degrees as if they were bundles of 'skills' and 'prep' are about to be proved completely wrong (obviously). Want to get a real boost? Do History or English.