Geth Rees
@gethrees.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Newcastle University. Interested in understanding the intersection of medicine and criminal justice, but also likely to be talking about Japanese Roleplaying Games (JRPGs), running and Star Wars.
Read on, AI is the solution apparently!
February 10, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Read on, AI is the solution apparently!
Never thought in a million years that I'd be defending REF, but if the alternative is an AI based assessment, REF me up!
“I have serious questions about the…usefulness of the REF,” Ivison also said, pointing to the fact that Australia scrapped its equivalent programme after a 2020 review'.
Such a role model for UK HE, Australian HE. So very flourishing. 1/2
Such a role model for UK HE, Australian HE. So very flourishing. 1/2
Scrapping REF should be “serious’ option”, says Manchester VC.
Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
February 10, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Never thought in a million years that I'd be defending REF, but if the alternative is an AI based assessment, REF me up!
Not been discussing Star Wars much but this video emphasising the similarities between Bad Bunny's half-time show and Star Wars messaging is a good place to begin.
February 9, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Not been discussing Star Wars much but this video emphasising the similarities between Bad Bunny's half-time show and Star Wars messaging is a good place to begin.
Thanks very much (good editing and coauthors!!!).
February 5, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Thanks very much (good editing and coauthors!!!).
Have a chapter in this wonderful collection on the case of Jade Blue who was raped and the accused stated that Jade was in a sleepwalking state at the time (and had sex with him). The chapter shows the limits to burden of proof and expert evidence. Looking forward to it being out. Well done editors.
Delighted that this edited collection, which I co-edited with colleagues Emma Yapp and Adeline Moussion Esteve during my postdoc at @bbkhistorical.bsky.social will be published in April in Palgrave's Genders and Sexualities in History series
link.springer.com/book/9783032...
link.springer.com/book/9783032...
Sexual Violence in Medicine and Psychiatry
This book explores how medical and psychiatric knowledge, practitioners, and practices respond to sexual violence.
link.springer.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Have a chapter in this wonderful collection on the case of Jade Blue who was raped and the accused stated that Jade was in a sleepwalking state at the time (and had sex with him). The chapter shows the limits to burden of proof and expert evidence. Looking forward to it being out. Well done editors.
Congratulations, great work from Emma, Adeline and yourself. Very excited to see this out in the world!!!
February 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Congratulations, great work from Emma, Adeline and yourself. Very excited to see this out in the world!!!
Plenty of other homegrown data management services. Don't need to sell NHS data to an enormous military body.
February 5, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Plenty of other homegrown data management services. Don't need to sell NHS data to an enormous military body.
Remember when Labour focused on "Education, Education, Education", happy days. Now, with a miniscule proportion of university budgets being provided by the public purse, we will see what's happening in Southend-on-Sea repeated across the country. Shameful.
Incandescent. One of the best pieces I've read about what university means to people and their communities - and what will happen to a city and people after one closes. The *Labour* government and Jaqui Smith in particular should be ashamed of themselves and shamed into doing something. Deplorable.
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Remember when Labour focused on "Education, Education, Education", happy days. Now, with a miniscule proportion of university budgets being provided by the public purse, we will see what's happening in Southend-on-Sea repeated across the country. Shameful.
Reposted by Geth Rees
Incandescent. One of the best pieces I've read about what university means to people and their communities - and what will happen to a city and people after one closes. The *Labour* government and Jaqui Smith in particular should be ashamed of themselves and shamed into doing something. Deplorable.
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Incandescent. One of the best pieces I've read about what university means to people and their communities - and what will happen to a city and people after one closes. The *Labour* government and Jaqui Smith in particular should be ashamed of themselves and shamed into doing something. Deplorable.
But yet actively reducing the number of grants their providing, go figure. Well, I guess the new system will be perfect if not gummed up by troubling things like data!
February 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
But yet actively reducing the number of grants their providing, go figure. Well, I guess the new system will be perfect if not gummed up by troubling things like data!
Reposted by Geth Rees
From tomorrow, Friday 30 January, ballot papers will start to arrive by post for VP (HE and FE), and several key positions on our NEC.
We're supporting our own @markpendleton.bsky.social for VP (HE) and independent @suzitoole.bsky.social for VP (FE) & lots of other great people. Please share! #UCU
We're supporting our own @markpendleton.bsky.social for VP (HE) and independent @suzitoole.bsky.social for VP (FE) & lots of other great people. Please share! #UCU
February 1, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Thanks, just found it on the website as well 😄
February 1, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Thanks, just found it on the website as well 😄
Is there a full list of UCU Commons representatives? Was very helpful at last election?
February 1, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Is there a full list of UCU Commons representatives? Was very helpful at last election?
Received the email from ESRC this morning stating that they are continuing with ResearchFish for both the 26 and 27 reporting rounds, so I guess they've bought themselves two years.
January 30, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Received the email from ESRC this morning stating that they are continuing with ResearchFish for both the 26 and 27 reporting rounds, so I guess they've bought themselves two years.
Reposted by Geth Rees
Take part in the essential networking event for Medical Sociology academics and professionals – Call for Papers by 10 April for the BSA Medical Sociology Annual Conference, 8-10 September, Northumbria University tinyurl.com/3d8bbyrb #sociology
January 30, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Take part in the essential networking event for Medical Sociology academics and professionals – Call for Papers by 10 April for the BSA Medical Sociology Annual Conference, 8-10 September, Northumbria University tinyurl.com/3d8bbyrb #sociology
Couple of shoots sprouting through in our back garden. Definitely daffodils and crocuses.
January 28, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Couple of shoots sprouting through in our back garden. Definitely daffodils and crocuses.
Funded places for PhD Students!
@vp-centre.bsky.social will sponsor the attendance fees and accommodation for 16 PhD students to attend LEPH2026 Conference and the Postgraduate Day in Leeds, UK this September.
🔗 Apply by 9 Feb 2026, 17:00 GMT: leph2026.org/funded-places/
@vp-centre.bsky.social will sponsor the attendance fees and accommodation for 16 PhD students to attend LEPH2026 Conference and the Postgraduate Day in Leeds, UK this September.
🔗 Apply by 9 Feb 2026, 17:00 GMT: leph2026.org/funded-places/
January 26, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Reposted by Geth Rees
UK universities aren't dying, they're being murdered... And this article gives a really excellent account of the culprits. It should be a quick read for a ministerial bundle, for the Govt are at the moment a huge part of the problem:
share.google/fye1hr3UB2vh...
share.google/fye1hr3UB2vh...
Why are UK universities failing? - LSE Impact
The HE sector in the UK faces the prospect of a university going into administration. How have universities fallen so low and is change possible?
share.google
January 26, 2026 at 9:07 AM
UK universities aren't dying, they're being murdered... And this article gives a really excellent account of the culprits. It should be a quick read for a ministerial bundle, for the Govt are at the moment a huge part of the problem:
share.google/fye1hr3UB2vh...
share.google/fye1hr3UB2vh...
How many 5 year old sex offenders have you heard of? Horrendous stuff, and for the "journalist" to laugh along. I despair.
January 23, 2026 at 3:49 PM
How many 5 year old sex offenders have you heard of? Horrendous stuff, and for the "journalist" to laugh along. I despair.
This looks brill, going straight into a couple of chapters of our police custody healthcare book where homelessness is clearly a factor in BOTH poor health and criminal justice outcomes.
January 23, 2026 at 2:43 PM
This looks brill, going straight into a couple of chapters of our police custody healthcare book where homelessness is clearly a factor in BOTH poor health and criminal justice outcomes.
Given what we've learnt about persons in detention over the last five years, I cannot begin to explain how dangerous (and downright hateful) this action is. Even more deaths on their hands than what we presently know.
I’ve been writing Popular Information for 8 years, and this is one of the most important stories I’ve ever published. This is a humanitarian crisis that has gone unreported.
ICE has stopped paying for detainee medical treatment
ICE halted payments in October, and the situation will persist for at least several more months
popular.info
January 20, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Given what we've learnt about persons in detention over the last five years, I cannot begin to explain how dangerous (and downright hateful) this action is. Even more deaths on their hands than what we presently know.
Reposted by Geth Rees
Meanwhile, significant voices in the scientific community proclaim that science isn't political and pile onto social science and humanities researchers who suggest otherwise.
We need much more attention to histories and philosophies of science at this crucial juncture, including from policy-makers.
We need much more attention to histories and philosophies of science at this crucial juncture, including from policy-makers.
‘It’s a horrible mess’: How Trump’s first year has changed research.
Policy experts weigh up year of funding cuts, travel bans and threats to academic freedom.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
Policy experts weigh up year of funding cuts, travel bans and threats to academic freedom.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...
‘It’s a horrible mess’: How Trump’s first year has changed research - Research Professional News
Policy experts weigh up year of funding cuts, travel bans and threats to academic freedom
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Meanwhile, significant voices in the scientific community proclaim that science isn't political and pile onto social science and humanities researchers who suggest otherwise.
We need much more attention to histories and philosophies of science at this crucial juncture, including from policy-makers.
We need much more attention to histories and philosophies of science at this crucial juncture, including from policy-makers.
Reposted by Geth Rees
It's almost time! Only one week until our new #podcast series, Sick Society drops! All about the weird and wonderful ways the world around us influences our #health. Catch a preview here. youtu.be/w3SqH5Y8VoE?...
Why Health Misinformation Thrives on Guilt and Uncertainty
YouTube video by Sick Society
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 8:56 PM
It's almost time! Only one week until our new #podcast series, Sick Society drops! All about the weird and wonderful ways the world around us influences our #health. Catch a preview here. youtu.be/w3SqH5Y8VoE?...
I don't think the Feds will be happy with a State investigation and will challenge and intervene every chance they get, but still provides the opportunity.
January 18, 2026 at 6:37 PM
I don't think the Feds will be happy with a State investigation and will challenge and intervene every chance they get, but still provides the opportunity.
If the Federal authorities do not believe a crime has been committed, that leaves space for the State (Minnesota) to investigate for a State offence.
January 18, 2026 at 6:02 PM
If the Federal authorities do not believe a crime has been committed, that leaves space for the State (Minnesota) to investigate for a State offence.