Rob Dale
@robdale.bsky.social
Historian of Russia and the Soviet Union. Cyclist, marathon runner, train traveller. Based in Newcastle and York.
A deeply moving piece.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong
The long read: I knew he was running away from something. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered the truth
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 AM
A deeply moving piece.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
If only educational institutions weren't embracing AI, and ripping up tried and tested ways of dealing with information.
Minds over AI: To tackle disinformation, look to education www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/minds-...
Minds over AI: To tackle disinformation, look to education
Nov 10, 2025 // As AI makes misinformation and disinformation faster, cheaper, and more convincing, we need the tools to tell veracity from virality. The foundational pillar of those tools must be edu...
www.diplomaticourier.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:50 PM
If only educational institutions weren't embracing AI, and ripping up tried and tested ways of dealing with information.
I am old enough to remember the scandal surrounding an episode of Frozen Planet that involved footage from a zoo. That was in 2011. I remember relatives vowing to never watch the BBC again.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/enterta...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/enterta...
Frozen Planet: BBC denies misleading fans
The BBC denies misleading viewers with footage of newborn polar bear cubs filmed in an animal park, rather than in the wild.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I am old enough to remember the scandal surrounding an episode of Frozen Planet that involved footage from a zoo. That was in 2011. I remember relatives vowing to never watch the BBC again.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/enterta...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/enterta...
Apologies for an unpopular opinion, but the "podcastification" of BBC Radio really annoys me. It was great when you could just listen again to radio, but now almost everything is reduced to a very informal chit chat. Less and less long form serious discussion.
November 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Apologies for an unpopular opinion, but the "podcastification" of BBC Radio really annoys me. It was great when you could just listen again to radio, but now almost everything is reduced to a very informal chit chat. Less and less long form serious discussion.
Just saw Steve Harmison at Newcastle Central Station.
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Just saw Steve Harmison at Newcastle Central Station.
One thing about academic life I've never reconciled is the contradiction between (a) please use your research and platform to challenge powerful autocracies, influence policy, shape the world etc (b) please don't speak up within your own institution to injustices, your expertise isn't relevant here.
November 8, 2025 at 12:03 PM
One thing about academic life I've never reconciled is the contradiction between (a) please use your research and platform to challenge powerful autocracies, influence policy, shape the world etc (b) please don't speak up within your own institution to injustices, your expertise isn't relevant here.
Motorists if you are going to shout abuse at cyclists, it really is a dreadful self own to do so in a van with your name and telephone number on the side.
November 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Motorists if you are going to shout abuse at cyclists, it really is a dreadful self own to do so in a van with your name and telephone number on the side.
What a privilege to be part of such fantastic discussions over the past two days. Taking away a lot to think about. Thanks to everyone #milwelfhist p.s. Someone with Japanese should translate Eri Nakamura's book. What an honour to speak alongside such a great presentation.
A selection of great papers by Robert Dale, Eri Nakamura and Owen Rees on day 1 of this symposium. The second event in the @wellcometrust.bsky.social -funded (via @sshmedicine.bsky.social) 'Military Communities’ Medical Welfare and Care History Conference Series‘. More tomorrow #milwelfhist
November 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
What a privilege to be part of such fantastic discussions over the past two days. Taking away a lot to think about. Thanks to everyone #milwelfhist p.s. Someone with Japanese should translate Eri Nakamura's book. What an honour to speak alongside such a great presentation.
The perfect photo to challenge narratives of progress.
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The perfect photo to challenge narratives of progress.
What a great afternoon today was. Nice to see familiar faces, and meet new people. Even better to get stuck into some methodological challenges.
Co-convenor Michael Robinson has just kicked off our @milwelfhist.bsky.social @sshmedicine.bsky.social symposium at Birmingham on war, trauma and emotional injury. Some excellent papers and discussion to come this afternoon and into tomorrow #milwelfhist
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 PM
What a great afternoon today was. Nice to see familiar faces, and meet new people. Even better to get stuck into some methodological challenges.
I gave a paper in Warwick last year, and whilst waiting outside before my paper I got shat by a bird. Today I'm in Birmingham enjoying some fresh air ahead of a paper later on. I've just been shat on by another bird.
November 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I gave a paper in Warwick last year, and whilst waiting outside before my paper I got shat by a bird. Today I'm in Birmingham enjoying some fresh air ahead of a paper later on. I've just been shat on by another bird.
I don't know how many times I have to repeat this, but if you haven't got languages central to a University, it isn't really a University. Hard for Britain to appreciate, but large parts of the world doesn't operate in English. There is a whole world out there!
More devastating news from the East Midlands:
"All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I don't know how many times I have to repeat this, but if you haven't got languages central to a University, it isn't really a University. Hard for Britain to appreciate, but large parts of the world doesn't operate in English. There is a whole world out there!
I'm sorry, mean spirited I know. On the trains they indicate the end of the carriage best to get on for your seat number. If people could try to get on at that end, or if you make a mistake wait a moment and not try not to barge through a whole carriage like a rugby league player that would help.
November 6, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I'm sorry, mean spirited I know. On the trains they indicate the end of the carriage best to get on for your seat number. If people could try to get on at that end, or if you make a mistake wait a moment and not try not to barge through a whole carriage like a rugby league player that would help.
Atmospheric moon photo.
November 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Atmospheric moon photo.
Looking forward to going to Birmingham tomorrow to present research at the @milwelfhist.bsky.social symposium on "War, Trauma, and Emotional Injury". #histmed #trauma #milwelfhist
@wellcometrust.bsky.social @sshmedicine.bsky.social @eahmh.bsky.social @eahnursing.bsky.social @aahmhistmed.bsky.social @aahnhistnursing.bsky.social
Just a few weeks to go until the second event in our conference series. We very much look forward to it #histmed #trauma #milwelfhist
Just a few weeks to go until the second event in our conference series. We very much look forward to it #histmed #trauma #milwelfhist
November 5, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Looking forward to going to Birmingham tomorrow to present research at the @milwelfhist.bsky.social symposium on "War, Trauma, and Emotional Injury". #histmed #trauma #milwelfhist
Thanks to all the Newcastle Sixth Form College students for coming to me talk, and the opportunity to talk about being a historian. Thanks for all the questions. I hope tomorrow's conference paper goes as well!
I'm speaking to students at Newcastle College tomorrow. Praying 🙏🏼 I've pitched my talk correctly.
November 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Thanks to all the Newcastle Sixth Form College students for coming to me talk, and the opportunity to talk about being a historian. Thanks for all the questions. I hope tomorrow's conference paper goes as well!
I'm speaking to students at Newcastle College tomorrow. Praying 🙏🏼 I've pitched my talk correctly.
November 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I'm speaking to students at Newcastle College tomorrow. Praying 🙏🏼 I've pitched my talk correctly.
What would the economic impact of increasing job security be? I'd be more willing to spend if I had confidence I would have a job in a year's time.
November 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
What would the economic impact of increasing job security be? I'd be more willing to spend if I had confidence I would have a job in a year's time.
I'm really enjoying "Once Upon a Time in Space". I was, however, fascinated by the different versions of the same events in episode 2 "The Russian Thing" www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... and the 1998 Horizon documentary "Mir Mortals" (link below). 1/2
BBC Two - Once Upon a Time in Space, Series 1, The Russian Thing
When the Soviet Union falls, Russia welcomes US astronauts to their space station, Mir.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I'm really enjoying "Once Upon a Time in Space". I was, however, fascinated by the different versions of the same events in episode 2 "The Russian Thing" www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... and the 1998 Horizon documentary "Mir Mortals" (link below). 1/2
More about this here: www.york.ac.uk/about/sustai...
November 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
More about this here: www.york.ac.uk/about/sustai...
My wife has signed us up to an experiment where we have a geothermal "node" in the garden. I'm intrigued by how it works. My children are now calling me a "geothermal nerd".
November 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
My wife has signed us up to an experiment where we have a geothermal "node" in the garden. I'm intrigued by how it works. My children are now calling me a "geothermal nerd".
Reposted by Rob Dale
We need a critique of AI in academic publishing. Following my decision not to sign an AI addendum to my contract with Cambridge University Press, I wrote this short essay which is now out in the Dublin Review of Books.
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
Move over for AI - DRB
Katja Bruisch writes: I recently completed a scholarly monograph – an environmental, economic and energy history of peat in imperial and Soviet Russia. After years of thinking and writing, I approache...
drb.ie
October 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
We need a critique of AI in academic publishing. Following my decision not to sign an AI addendum to my contract with Cambridge University Press, I wrote this short essay which is now out in the Dublin Review of Books.
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
👇
drb.ie/move-over-fo...
Need to get this printed on a mug!
"When people say “We must move with the times,”they really mean “You must do it my way".
Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
October 31, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Need to get this printed on a mug!
Happy Halloween! Nothing scarier than watching TOTP from September 1998, by this point I had done my A-levels and was working in a packing warehouse.
October 31, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Happy Halloween! Nothing scarier than watching TOTP from September 1998, by this point I had done my A-levels and was working in a packing warehouse.