Rachael Squire
@squirerachael.bsky.social
Human geographer. Interested in states of precarity, oceans (and aquariums), feminist geopolitics, territory, Cold War science.
https://www.statesofprecarity
https://indoor-oceans.com/
https://www.statesofprecarity
https://indoor-oceans.com/
Crafting the Ocean: The Geographies of Environmental World-Making - a new paper by Kim Peters and I in @tibg.bsky.social. rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... Huge thanks to the team at Transactions for such a constructive process.
Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers | RGS Journal | Wiley Online Library
The paper departs from existing analyses of ‘world making’, bringing cultural and environmental geographies into further conversation through linking theories of crafting and world-making together, t....
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Crafting the Ocean: The Geographies of Environmental World-Making - a new paper by Kim Peters and I in @tibg.bsky.social. rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... Huge thanks to the team at Transactions for such a constructive process.
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Join us for the 2025 Gordon Manley Lecture "Major Revisions: Thinking ocean space from RHUL to HIFMB" by Professor Kimberley Peters, HIFMB. Thursday 27th November 2025, 6pm, Shilling Auditorium, Royal Holloway, University of London. Free, in person, public lecture.
October 30, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Join us for the 2025 Gordon Manley Lecture "Major Revisions: Thinking ocean space from RHUL to HIFMB" by Professor Kimberley Peters, HIFMB. Thursday 27th November 2025, 6pm, Shilling Auditorium, Royal Holloway, University of London. Free, in person, public lecture.
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Published today on #WorldHomelessDay: my book Debt Trap Nation – a deep dive into how government policy is driving families into homelessness & debt.
All royalties to @seacharity.bsky.social 💜
Families aren't failing. They're being failed.
📖 www.agendapub.com/page/detail/...
#DebtTrapNation
All royalties to @seacharity.bsky.social 💜
Families aren't failing. They're being failed.
📖 www.agendapub.com/page/detail/...
#DebtTrapNation
October 10, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Published today on #WorldHomelessDay: my book Debt Trap Nation – a deep dive into how government policy is driving families into homelessness & debt.
All royalties to @seacharity.bsky.social 💜
Families aren't failing. They're being failed.
📖 www.agendapub.com/page/detail/...
#DebtTrapNation
All royalties to @seacharity.bsky.social 💜
Families aren't failing. They're being failed.
📖 www.agendapub.com/page/detail/...
#DebtTrapNation
Today i'm grateful for a paper reviewer. It got major revisions with critical & challenging comments but they were delivered with kindness, thought & enthusiasm when there were plenty of opportunities (through my own ignorance and clumsiness in the paper) to do otherwise. This generosity matters 👍
October 1, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Today i'm grateful for a paper reviewer. It got major revisions with critical & challenging comments but they were delivered with kindness, thought & enthusiasm when there were plenty of opportunities (through my own ignorance and clumsiness in the paper) to do otherwise. This generosity matters 👍
This was such a wonderful session and gift! Thank you @julietjfall.bsky.social
I made a mini 8-page comic as take-home-gift for 'Author Meets Critics' session at the Royal Geographical Society / IBG next week in Birmingham. Print it out in A4, cut along the middle line & fold. A visual summary of my response to @stuartelden.bsky.social & @squirerachael.bsky.social & G.Peterle!
September 2, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This was such a wonderful session and gift! Thank you @julietjfall.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachael Squire
As others have noted, promotion often depends on getting grants, but so does permanency and the transition from precarity and, increasingly, surviving compulsory redundancy.
UKRI award rate halves in seven years as grant applications double. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
UKRI award rate halves in seven years as grant applications double - Research Professional News
Trends across research councils prompt warning that system is “overstretched or broken”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM
As others have noted, promotion often depends on getting grants, but so does permanency and the transition from precarity and, increasingly, surviving compulsory redundancy.
Would love to see more conversations like this. If you haven't got access to a grant or institutional funds (which many increasingly don't), conferences are impossible. Lots of implications but there remains an expectation that people can simply 'just go'.
Having serious conference FOMO this summer, I really, really miss catching up with friends and the buzz of being in a big group of people with overlapping interests. Are people just paying for it out of their own pockets?
July 1, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Would love to see more conversations like this. If you haven't got access to a grant or institutional funds (which many increasingly don't), conferences are impossible. Lots of implications but there remains an expectation that people can simply 'just go'.
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Had the immense pleasure of seeing the maestoso @inneskeighren.bsky.social of @rhulgeography.bsky.social for his inaugural professorial lecture. A tour de force detailing the life of William Macintosh & his place in geographical lore. A superb lecture by a superb (and immaculately dressed) academic.
May 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Had the immense pleasure of seeing the maestoso @inneskeighren.bsky.social of @rhulgeography.bsky.social for his inaugural professorial lecture. A tour de force detailing the life of William Macintosh & his place in geographical lore. A superb lecture by a superb (and immaculately dressed) academic.
It's arrived! So excited to read this from @julietjfall.bsky.social - it looks truly wonderful - what a fascinating way to explore borders. Looking forward to reflecting on it with others at this year's @rgsibg.bsky.social conference
May 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
It's arrived! So excited to read this from @julietjfall.bsky.social - it looks truly wonderful - what a fascinating way to explore borders. Looking forward to reflecting on it with others at this year's @rgsibg.bsky.social conference
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Huge congratulations to Professor Katie Willis on receiving the @rgsibg.bsky.social Taylor & Francis Award for excellence in the promotion and practice of teaching and learning in higher education.
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/new...
@royalholloway.bsky.social
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/new...
@royalholloway.bsky.social
May 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Huge congratulations to Professor Katie Willis on receiving the @rgsibg.bsky.social Taylor & Francis Award for excellence in the promotion and practice of teaching and learning in higher education.
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/new...
@royalholloway.bsky.social
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/new...
@royalholloway.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Seeing yet more stories of unis moving to compulsory redundancy, with Geography colleagues (and of course others) at risk.
Today, it's Newcastle Uni, a department that produces incredible scholarship with a vibrant culture.
Sharing in solidarity x
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Today, it's Newcastle Uni, a department that produces incredible scholarship with a vibrant culture.
Sharing in solidarity x
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Newcastle University compulsory job cut fears grow amid £4.2m savings shortfall
As industrial action continues, union bosses continue their plea with Newcastle University chiefs to reject any potential compulsory job losses
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
May 9, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Seeing yet more stories of unis moving to compulsory redundancy, with Geography colleagues (and of course others) at risk.
Today, it's Newcastle Uni, a department that produces incredible scholarship with a vibrant culture.
Sharing in solidarity x
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Today, it's Newcastle Uni, a department that produces incredible scholarship with a vibrant culture.
Sharing in solidarity x
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
A great morning at the @rgsibg.bsky.social today for the 'I can see the sea' school resources walkthrough. Brilliant to meet teachers and to celebrate the @geographicalassoc.bsky.social Highly Commended award for the work.
www.rgs.org/about-us/our...
www.rgs.org/about-us/our...
May 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A great morning at the @rgsibg.bsky.social today for the 'I can see the sea' school resources walkthrough. Brilliant to meet teachers and to celebrate the @geographicalassoc.bsky.social Highly Commended award for the work.
www.rgs.org/about-us/our...
www.rgs.org/about-us/our...
Reposted by Rachael Squire
A last plug for my inaugural lecture—"The archive in the armoire: rediscovering the global lives of William Macintosh"—which will be held in person at 18:15 on 20 May at Royal Holloway (a recording will be published online afterwards). All details here: www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/eve...
May 2, 2025 at 8:18 AM
A last plug for my inaugural lecture—"The archive in the armoire: rediscovering the global lives of William Macintosh"—which will be held in person at 18:15 on 20 May at Royal Holloway (a recording will be published online afterwards). All details here: www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/eve...
Reposted by Rachael Squire
🚨JOB ALERT 🚨
12-month Lectureship in Human Geography (esp. urban and political geography) @rhulgeography.bsky.social.
Salary: £49,325 p.a. Application deadline: 2 May 2025. Starting date: c. 1 September 2025.
Details: jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
12-month Lectureship in Human Geography (esp. urban and political geography) @rhulgeography.bsky.social.
Salary: £49,325 p.a. Application deadline: 2 May 2025. Starting date: c. 1 September 2025.
Details: jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
Job Opportunity at Royal Holloway University of London: Lecturer in Human Geography
Full-Time, Fixed-Term (12 months)Applications are invited for a fixed term (12 months) teaching focused post in Human Geography at Lecturer level in the Department of Geography, Royal Holloway Univers...
jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk
April 12, 2025 at 8:22 AM
🚨JOB ALERT 🚨
12-month Lectureship in Human Geography (esp. urban and political geography) @rhulgeography.bsky.social.
Salary: £49,325 p.a. Application deadline: 2 May 2025. Starting date: c. 1 September 2025.
Details: jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
12-month Lectureship in Human Geography (esp. urban and political geography) @rhulgeography.bsky.social.
Salary: £49,325 p.a. Application deadline: 2 May 2025. Starting date: c. 1 September 2025.
Details: jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
Reposted by Rachael Squire
🚨 Calling all colleagues who have previously worked in a UK #geography department, but no longer do.
We are developing best-practice guidelines for addressing #precarious employment within geography departments.
Join a focus group below to contribute your insights!
forms.office.com/e/ec5ywgjhXm
We are developing best-practice guidelines for addressing #precarious employment within geography departments.
Join a focus group below to contribute your insights!
forms.office.com/e/ec5ywgjhXm
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
March 10, 2025 at 10:32 AM
🚨 Calling all colleagues who have previously worked in a UK #geography department, but no longer do.
We are developing best-practice guidelines for addressing #precarious employment within geography departments.
Join a focus group below to contribute your insights!
forms.office.com/e/ec5ywgjhXm
We are developing best-practice guidelines for addressing #precarious employment within geography departments.
Join a focus group below to contribute your insights!
forms.office.com/e/ec5ywgjhXm
Appreciating signs of spring on a grey day
March 10, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Appreciating signs of spring on a grey day
Yesterday I submitted a grant proposal - my first in a while. I may not get it (this is most likely the case), but I'm celebrating the process & labour nonetheless. Extremely grateful to work with colleagues who took the time to read it so carefully & help shape the ideas amidst everything else 🥳🤞
March 5, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Yesterday I submitted a grant proposal - my first in a while. I may not get it (this is most likely the case), but I'm celebrating the process & labour nonetheless. Extremely grateful to work with colleagues who took the time to read it so carefully & help shape the ideas amidst everything else 🥳🤞
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Please join me, if you can/want to, for my (in-person) inaugural lecture—"The archive in the armoire: rediscovering the global lives of William Macintosh"—on Tuesday, 20 May, at Royal Holloway, University of London. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/eve... #C18
February 26, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Please join me, if you can/want to, for my (in-person) inaugural lecture—"The archive in the armoire: rediscovering the global lives of William Macintosh"—on Tuesday, 20 May, at Royal Holloway, University of London. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/eve... #C18
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Because #Musk is going to gut #NASA and make himself the guardian of outerspace, it's worth revisiting this piece I wrote with @squirerachael.bsky.social and Pete Adey back in 2021 about the enclosure of the commons of outer space
www.societyandspace.org/forums/the-f...
www.societyandspace.org/forums/the-f...
The Final Frontier? The Enclosure of a Commons of Outer Space
This forum offers a rich set of contributions grappling with the potential enclosing and enclosures of outer space. It starts from a simple premise: if geography has its roots in ‘earth’ writing, what...
www.societyandspace.org
February 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Because #Musk is going to gut #NASA and make himself the guardian of outerspace, it's worth revisiting this piece I wrote with @squirerachael.bsky.social and Pete Adey back in 2021 about the enclosure of the commons of outer space
www.societyandspace.org/forums/the-f...
www.societyandspace.org/forums/the-f...
This looks brilliant. Looking forward to reading in more detail and using in teaching!
Now out and #openaccess in issue 30(1): "A Cultural Geopolitics of Hosting: Domesticity, Violence and Hospitality in the Home" by Olivia Mason and Sarah M. Hughes @oliviamason.bsky.social @sarahhughes90.bsky.social
Download and read for free:
Download and read for free:
buff.ly
February 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM
This looks brilliant. Looking forward to reading in more detail and using in teaching!
Reposted by Rachael Squire
States of Precarity made an important contribution to the discussion on the current state of geography in UK higher Ed.
Geography (and human geography in particular) often ends up being on the front line in times of austerity
Geography (and human geography in particular) often ends up being on the front line in times of austerity
an important report on precarity in UK geography departments: “Whilst we cannot take full responsibility for the endemic structural problems within UK Higher Education, nor can we cede responsibility for caring about our colleagues.” blog.geographydirections.com/2025/01/13/r... @rgsibg.bsky.social
Resources for change: raising awareness of the challenges of fixed term contracts in geography departments
By the States of Precarity Team:, Johanne Bruun, Rachel Colls, James Esson, Peter Forman, Anna Jackman, Rachael Squire (corresponding author) “Because geography is about attention to difference an…
blog.geographydirections.com
January 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
States of Precarity made an important contribution to the discussion on the current state of geography in UK higher Ed.
Geography (and human geography in particular) often ends up being on the front line in times of austerity
Geography (and human geography in particular) often ends up being on the front line in times of austerity
Reposted by Rachael Squire
It has been a pleasure to work with @statesofprecarity.bsky.social on posters looking at the impact of fixed term contracts (FTC) in Geography (and beyond).
🔵Poster 1 - the challenges of FTC
🔵Poster 2 - How to support colleagues on FTC
🔵Poster 3 - Identity and difference and the impact of FTC
🔵Poster 1 - the challenges of FTC
🔵Poster 2 - How to support colleagues on FTC
🔵Poster 3 - Identity and difference and the impact of FTC
January 16, 2025 at 7:12 AM
It has been a pleasure to work with @statesofprecarity.bsky.social on posters looking at the impact of fixed term contracts (FTC) in Geography (and beyond).
🔵Poster 1 - the challenges of FTC
🔵Poster 2 - How to support colleagues on FTC
🔵Poster 3 - Identity and difference and the impact of FTC
🔵Poster 1 - the challenges of FTC
🔵Poster 2 - How to support colleagues on FTC
🔵Poster 3 - Identity and difference and the impact of FTC
Really excited to be launching this with @rgsibg.bsky.social in May. We hope it will bring the sea to classrooms in new & exciting ways. If you're a #KS2 or #KS3 teacher, it would be wonderful to see you there. The event is free to attend with details on the link below:
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
I can see the sea - teacher walkthrough - RGS
A chance for educators to implement the 'I can see the sea' module into their classrooms.
www.rgs.org
January 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Really excited to be launching this with @rgsibg.bsky.social in May. We hope it will bring the sea to classrooms in new & exciting ways. If you're a #KS2 or #KS3 teacher, it would be wonderful to see you there. The event is free to attend with details on the link below:
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
Reposted by Rachael Squire
EDICa co-investigator, Dr Catherine Souch, is Head of Research & Higher Ed at @rgsibg.bsky.social. They've funded a project which has reported on fixed term contracts in geography depts, but this is applicable across UK academia. blog.geographydirections.com/2025/01/13/r...
Recommendations: 🧵
Recommendations: 🧵
Resources for change: raising awareness of the challenges of fixed term contracts in geography departments
By the States of Precarity Team:, Johanne Bruun, Rachel Colls, James Esson, Peter Forman, Anna Jackman, Rachael Squire (corresponding author) “Because geography is about attention to difference an…
blog.geographydirections.com
January 14, 2025 at 10:20 AM
EDICa co-investigator, Dr Catherine Souch, is Head of Research & Higher Ed at @rgsibg.bsky.social. They've funded a project which has reported on fixed term contracts in geography depts, but this is applicable across UK academia. blog.geographydirections.com/2025/01/13/r...
Recommendations: 🧵
Recommendations: 🧵
Reposted by Rachael Squire
Many things familiar to me in this article on the issues stemming from precarious ECR contracts (in some of my first postdoc projects, the zero hours contract I had to be on didn't even allow access to the Uni's *library*, let alone a desk, webprofile, or a long enough contract to write a paper in).
an important report on precarity in UK geography departments: “Whilst we cannot take full responsibility for the endemic structural problems within UK Higher Education, nor can we cede responsibility for caring about our colleagues.” blog.geographydirections.com/2025/01/13/r... @rgsibg.bsky.social
Resources for change: raising awareness of the challenges of fixed term contracts in geography departments
By the States of Precarity Team:, Johanne Bruun, Rachel Colls, James Esson, Peter Forman, Anna Jackman, Rachael Squire (corresponding author) “Because geography is about attention to difference an…
blog.geographydirections.com
January 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Many things familiar to me in this article on the issues stemming from precarious ECR contracts (in some of my first postdoc projects, the zero hours contract I had to be on didn't even allow access to the Uni's *library*, let alone a desk, webprofile, or a long enough contract to write a paper in).