John Sabapathy
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social
Professor of history @uclhistory.bsky.social + co-convenor @anthropoceneucl.bsky.social. Editor at @enghistrev.bsky.social.
Institutions, rationalities, environments, mostly medieval.
https://tinyurl.com/2p8r9yeh + https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropocene/.
Institutions, rationalities, environments, mostly medieval.
https://tinyurl.com/2p8r9yeh + https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropocene/.
Pinned
John Sabapathy
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social
· Oct 16
Anthropocene Vernaculars: Crawford Lake
An experimental piece of writing tracing the histories of Crawford Lake, Ontario which was nominated as a global example of the Anthropocene.
thinkpieces-review.co.uk
An 'experimental' piece of writing by me @ucl-ias.bsky.social on Crawford Lake, the site proposed for the Anthropocene's location c.1950.
(Publication was delayed—it was written before the Subcommission for Quaternary Stratigraphy's rejection of the Anthropocene as an epoch).
#Anthropocene
(Publication was delayed—it was written before the Subcommission for Quaternary Stratigraphy's rejection of the Anthropocene as an epoch).
#Anthropocene
Reposted by John Sabapathy
i'm sorry to share that the great medievalist David Burr, scholar of the Spiritual Franciscans and fellow of @medievalacademy.bsky.social passed away in December #medievalsky
www.mccoyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/d...
www.mccoyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/d...
David Dwight Burr - View Obituary & Service Information
Share Memories and Support the Family.
www.mccoyfuneralhome.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:23 PM
i'm sorry to share that the great medievalist David Burr, scholar of the Spiritual Franciscans and fellow of @medievalacademy.bsky.social passed away in December #medievalsky
www.mccoyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/d...
www.mccoyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/d...
Reposted by John Sabapathy
The death of Dr Paul Ayris is huge loss to UCL, to @uclpress.bsky.social and to the open access/scholarly communications community more broadly.
His open access Thomas Cranmer’s Register
A record of archiepiscopal administration in diocese and province is published by the Press in January. 1/2
His open access Thomas Cranmer’s Register
A record of archiepiscopal administration in diocese and province is published by the Press in January. 1/2
Thomas Cranmer’s Register
Discover Thomas Cranmer’s Register (1533–1553), a pivotal Reformation document revealing England’s break from Rome and the rise of Protestantism. This open access book offers unprecedented access with...
uclpress.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The death of Dr Paul Ayris is huge loss to UCL, to @uclpress.bsky.social and to the open access/scholarly communications community more broadly.
His open access Thomas Cranmer’s Register
A record of archiepiscopal administration in diocese and province is published by the Press in January. 1/2
His open access Thomas Cranmer’s Register
A record of archiepiscopal administration in diocese and province is published by the Press in January. 1/2
Reposted by John Sabapathy
I had an interesting exchange with the chatbot issued to students by my university about the advisability of using it—at a university. It thought this was a terrible idea.
December 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I had an interesting exchange with the chatbot issued to students by my university about the advisability of using it—at a university. It thought this was a terrible idea.
A problem with much SEND analysis is the tendency to assume that ‘mild’ vs ‘severe’ ASD is a fixed quantity, rather than (in many cases) responding to support & treatment: ASD symptoms can improve/deteriorate accordingly.
How redefining special needs rocked education
Broadened criteria are benefiting the better-off, harming those facing greatest difficulty and straining the system
giftarticle.ft.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
A problem with much SEND analysis is the tendency to assume that ‘mild’ vs ‘severe’ ASD is a fixed quantity, rather than (in many cases) responding to support & treatment: ASD symptoms can improve/deteriorate accordingly.
Looking forward to taking child #2 to see Dune’s crazy worms in January’s BFI Lynch season.
Sick of CGI? The puppet maestro of ET and Alien knew the secret to true movie magic
Three-time Oscar-winning artist Carlo Rambaldi’s beloved and nightmarish animatronics receive a centennial tribute at MoMA
giftarticle.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Looking forward to taking child #2 to see Dune’s crazy worms in January’s BFI Lynch season.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Dans quelques jours, j'aurai le grand plaisir d'intervenir lors des journées annuelles des collègues brésiliens du LATHIMM (Laboratório de Teoria e História das Mídias Medievais - UFRJ/USP). Merci à eux pour cette belle invitation.
December 12, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Dans quelques jours, j'aurai le grand plaisir d'intervenir lors des journées annuelles des collègues brésiliens du LATHIMM (Laboratório de Teoria e História das Mídias Medievais - UFRJ/USP). Merci à eux pour cette belle invitation.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
When will this crisis get any attention whatsoever!? A THOUSAND ACADEMIC STAFF AT ONE INSTITUTION SERVED REDUNDANCY RISK NOTICES! And that's not counting what's surely being visited on professional services staff too. This is an economic catastrophe, to say nothing of the intellectual catastrophe!
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
When will this crisis get any attention whatsoever!? A THOUSAND ACADEMIC STAFF AT ONE INSTITUTION SERVED REDUNDANCY RISK NOTICES! And that's not counting what's surely being visited on professional services staff too. This is an economic catastrophe, to say nothing of the intellectual catastrophe!
Reposted by John Sabapathy
And we're off! UUK's Research & Innovation conference with panels on REF2029 are now underway, as pause transitions into the forward march toward November 2028, and beyond. 1/n
December 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM
And we're off! UUK's Research & Innovation conference with panels on REF2029 are now underway, as pause transitions into the forward march toward November 2028, and beyond. 1/n
Reposted by John Sabapathy
REF 2029: research culture metric overhauled.
Research culture element of the next Research Excellence Framework has been scaled back as part of changes that will shift the exercise back towards its 2021 model.
What we know so far (free to read):
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Research culture element of the next Research Excellence Framework has been scaled back as part of changes that will shift the exercise back towards its 2021 model.
What we know so far (free to read):
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
REF 2029: research culture metric overhauled - Research Professional News
Research Excellence Framework reworked “to reduce burden”, with elements of 2021 exercise reinstated
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
REF 2029: research culture metric overhauled.
Research culture element of the next Research Excellence Framework has been scaled back as part of changes that will shift the exercise back towards its 2021 model.
What we know so far (free to read):
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Research culture element of the next Research Excellence Framework has been scaled back as part of changes that will shift the exercise back towards its 2021 model.
What we know so far (free to read):
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
A monumental achievement, the medieval volume of which is co-edited by my wonderful colleague @uclhistory.bsky.social Patrick Lantschner.
This looks like a super discussion.
This looks like a super discussion.
Several talented young scholars in the field of urban history will share their insights on this work from the perspective of their own research.
See the flyer below for more information about the programme.
See the flyer below for more information about the programme.
December 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
A monumental achievement, the medieval volume of which is co-edited by my wonderful colleague @uclhistory.bsky.social Patrick Lantschner.
This looks like a super discussion.
This looks like a super discussion.
Some hilarious disappointments here that verge on the rejuvenating.
Travel writers’ discoveries — and disappointments — of 2025
From a riverboat adventure in Amazonia to an ancient Welsh castle (via pickpockets in Barcelona and a chewy beef tartare . . . )
giftarticle.ft.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Some hilarious disappointments here that verge on the rejuvenating.
A fascinating interview with @tristanperich.bsky.social discussing his transcendent Infinity Gradient.
December 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
A fascinating interview with @tristanperich.bsky.social discussing his transcendent Infinity Gradient.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
This is a good note to end the week. The plight of @britishlibrary.bsky.social has been picked up in @nature.com’s influential daily briefing. Thanks everyone (including @floragraham.bsky.social)
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
This is a good note to end the week. The plight of @britishlibrary.bsky.social has been picked up in @nature.com’s influential daily briefing. Thanks everyone (including @floragraham.bsky.social)
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
Talk about delayed gratification…but at least the BL's catalogue is live!
December 4, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Talk about delayed gratification…but at least the BL's catalogue is live!
Reposted by John Sabapathy
The Nature of Gothic: Reflecting the Natural World in Historic and Contemporary Artistic Practice.
Inspired by John Ruskin’s phrase “the nature of gothic”, this exhibition explores how artists across centuries have represented the natural world.
📅 On until Saturday 13th December 2025.
Inspired by John Ruskin’s phrase “the nature of gothic”, this exhibition explores how artists across centuries have represented the natural world.
📅 On until Saturday 13th December 2025.
October 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The Nature of Gothic: Reflecting the Natural World in Historic and Contemporary Artistic Practice.
Inspired by John Ruskin’s phrase “the nature of gothic”, this exhibition explores how artists across centuries have represented the natural world.
📅 On until Saturday 13th December 2025.
Inspired by John Ruskin’s phrase “the nature of gothic”, this exhibition explores how artists across centuries have represented the natural world.
📅 On until Saturday 13th December 2025.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
If it were steel works we would have a government bailout plan, yet losing thousands of jobs at unis is met with a shrug. & unlike steelworks universities were profitable when they had foreign students.
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
Every sympathy for University of Essex (and pressures facing them) but this is very bad news for Southend.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Roles to be lost are part of wave of redundancy programmes across UK’s higher education sector
giftarticle.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
If it were steel works we would have a government bailout plan, yet losing thousands of jobs at unis is met with a shrug. & unlike steelworks universities were profitable when they had foreign students.
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
It's a terrible—logical—irony that BL staff will strike again just as the post-hack catalogue goes live. The contrast between the ground being cleared behind the BL for the new building and the internal dysfunction of the current one scarcely needs underlining.
'I am less inclined to call on the Government for a solution to the British Library’s ongoing issues since, despite repeated calls for action, the UK Government has largely ignored the similar crisis within UK Higher Education.' 1/3
Don’t rely on government to save the British Library - Impact of Social Sciences
Following a catastrophic hack British Library remains in crisis. Can it recover by refocusing on the people, skills and systems that enable it to function?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:53 AM
It's a terrible—logical—irony that BL staff will strike again just as the post-hack catalogue goes live. The contrast between the ground being cleared behind the BL for the new building and the internal dysfunction of the current one scarcely needs underlining.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
When's the last time you heard a VC whose university has financial woes speak openly & eloquently about why what his/her/their institution does really matters & merits investment? Why can't/won't university leaders work to change the conversation? With this profile, this VC should be able to. 2/2
Professor Peter Edwards | The University of Aberdeen
www.abdn.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 AM
When's the last time you heard a VC whose university has financial woes speak openly & eloquently about why what his/her/their institution does really matters & merits investment? Why can't/won't university leaders work to change the conversation? With this profile, this VC should be able to. 2/2
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Graduate of the American Studies programme that the University of Nottingham wishes to close wins 2025 Wolfson History Prize for Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
The Wolfson History Prize - Celebrating Outstanding History
The Wolfson History Prize is awarded annually to promote and recognise outstanding history written for a general audience.
www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Graduate of the American Studies programme that the University of Nottingham wishes to close wins 2025 Wolfson History Prize for Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
📚 [COMPLEMENT] 116 nouveaux volumes mis en ligne au sein de la collection de l'EFR (2010 à 2015).
➡️ https://www.persee.fr/collection/efr
🤝 Merci à nos partenaires de l'@ef-rome.bsky.social pour leur contribution à la diffusion des savoirs en #OpenAccess !
#PublicationScientifique #ScienceOuverte
➡️ https://www.persee.fr/collection/efr
🤝 Merci à nos partenaires de l'@ef-rome.bsky.social pour leur contribution à la diffusion des savoirs en #OpenAccess !
#PublicationScientifique #ScienceOuverte
October 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
📚 [COMPLEMENT] 116 nouveaux volumes mis en ligne au sein de la collection de l'EFR (2010 à 2015).
➡️ https://www.persee.fr/collection/efr
🤝 Merci à nos partenaires de l'@ef-rome.bsky.social pour leur contribution à la diffusion des savoirs en #OpenAccess !
#PublicationScientifique #ScienceOuverte
➡️ https://www.persee.fr/collection/efr
🤝 Merci à nos partenaires de l'@ef-rome.bsky.social pour leur contribution à la diffusion des savoirs en #OpenAccess !
#PublicationScientifique #ScienceOuverte
Reposted by John Sabapathy
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by John Sabapathy
The back cover of the new issue of @mediumaevum.bsky.social features my predecessor, the late great Nigel Palmer, with an appeal for the travel fund being established in his name. For more on that, visit mediumaevum.org.uk/donate/palme... .
December 2, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The back cover of the new issue of @mediumaevum.bsky.social features my predecessor, the late great Nigel Palmer, with an appeal for the travel fund being established in his name. For more on that, visit mediumaevum.org.uk/donate/palme... .
Reposted by John Sabapathy
I should also say back when I was young my wonderful colleague Kate Cooper sat down with me and explained how to read peer review and how to craft a response. I think we should all do this with our mentees; it does wonders for building a less antagonistic academic culture.
Because peer reviewer complains are making the rounds (again): I do a lot of peer review & also receive peer review; just now (in sum) about 7 pages of tightly argued and detailed comments. Yes, some of it will be impossible to apply, but omg - I feel privileged people are reading my work so closely
December 2, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I should also say back when I was young my wonderful colleague Kate Cooper sat down with me and explained how to read peer review and how to craft a response. I think we should all do this with our mentees; it does wonders for building a less antagonistic academic culture.
Reposted by John Sabapathy
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Breaking: British Library staff reject improved pay offer after strike.
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
British Library staff reject improved pay offer after strike - Research Professional News
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Breaking: British Library staff reject improved pay offer after strike.
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Union members unanimously dismiss 3.8 per cent pay increase and threaten to escalate industrial action.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...