What is life without bookshelves?!
@wherearethebooks.bsky.social
Promoting #OpenScience practises (in the Arab States) & #LordByron (everywhere else). Ravenous bibliophage lurking in the desert (with cats)
Chief Academic Officer, Knowledge E | Director, The Byron Society | Director, Forum for Open Research | BARS Exec
Chief Academic Officer, Knowledge E | Director, The Byron Society | Director, Forum for Open Research | BARS Exec
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
My kid just had an exam in school that involved being assigned some chapters, summarizing them, then having an open-book test on the details. The teacher encouraged them to use AI to prepare. This paragraph does a great job explaining why I found it so disturbing.
www.ru.nl/en/research/...
www.ru.nl/en/research/...
November 9, 2025 at 10:25 AM
My kid just had an exam in school that involved being assigned some chapters, summarizing them, then having an open-book test on the details. The teacher encouraged them to use AI to prepare. This paragraph does a great job explaining why I found it so disturbing.
www.ru.nl/en/research/...
www.ru.nl/en/research/...
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
BARS 2026 First Book Prize: Calls for Nominations
Awarded biennially for the best first monograph in Romantic Studies, this prize is open to first monographs published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025.
Deadline: 12th January 2026.
More info: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6174
Awarded biennially for the best first monograph in Romantic Studies, this prize is open to first monographs published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025.
Deadline: 12th January 2026.
More info: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6174
October 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
BARS 2026 First Book Prize: Calls for Nominations
Awarded biennially for the best first monograph in Romantic Studies, this prize is open to first monographs published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025.
Deadline: 12th January 2026.
More info: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6174
Awarded biennially for the best first monograph in Romantic Studies, this prize is open to first monographs published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025.
Deadline: 12th January 2026.
More info: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6174
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
A reminder that pg researchers and ECRs working in Romantic Studies in the UK are invited to apply for a Stephen Copley Research Award (valued up to £500)
The late Stephen Copley supervised my PhD and I appreciate seeing his name live on like this
#Romanticism
www.bars.ac.uk/main/index.p...
The late Stephen Copley supervised my PhD and I appreciate seeing his name live on like this
#Romanticism
www.bars.ac.uk/main/index.p...
Stephen Copley Research Awards – British Association for Romantic Studies
www.bars.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
A reminder that pg researchers and ECRs working in Romantic Studies in the UK are invited to apply for a Stephen Copley Research Award (valued up to £500)
The late Stephen Copley supervised my PhD and I appreciate seeing his name live on like this
#Romanticism
www.bars.ac.uk/main/index.p...
The late Stephen Copley supervised my PhD and I appreciate seeing his name live on like this
#Romanticism
www.bars.ac.uk/main/index.p...
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Very excited for BAVS to come to Liverpool next year, and very pleased to see our CfP out! No specific theme, we are open to any exploration of the multifaceted nature of 'the Victorian' - have a look at the call here: victorianist.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/c...
CFP: BAVS 2026 Conference Liverpool
BAVS Liverpool 202627 – 29 July 2026 Keynote Speakers: Dr Alison Chapman (University of Victoria, BC), others to be confirmed. The Centre for Modern and Contemporary History (CMCH) at Liverpool Joh…
victorianist.wordpress.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Very excited for BAVS to come to Liverpool next year, and very pleased to see our CfP out! No specific theme, we are open to any exploration of the multifaceted nature of 'the Victorian' - have a look at the call here: victorianist.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/c...
You just need to submit a proposal for the @bars.bsky.social conference before 30 Nov and write a *short* application note to apply for the bursary.
Of you're a historian, filmmaker, lawyer, architect, consultant, teacher, librarian - or anything else - share your new #romanticism insights with us!
Of you're a historian, filmmaker, lawyer, architect, consultant, teacher, librarian - or anything else - share your new #romanticism insights with us!
Also a reminder that @bars.bsky.social are offering a new conference #bursary this year, for professionals outside academia (not only teaching, heritage, alt-ac but any job) who are interested in #Romanticis and want to present their research.
Details on BARS website
#funding #IndependentScholars
Details on BARS website
#funding #IndependentScholars
Reminder: CfP closes for BARS 2026 'Romantic Retrospection' at the University of Birmingham, UK, and online on 30 November.
Details below:
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/arts-...
Details below:
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/arts-...
November 8, 2025 at 8:27 AM
You just need to submit a proposal for the @bars.bsky.social conference before 30 Nov and write a *short* application note to apply for the bursary.
Of you're a historian, filmmaker, lawyer, architect, consultant, teacher, librarian - or anything else - share your new #romanticism insights with us!
Of you're a historian, filmmaker, lawyer, architect, consultant, teacher, librarian - or anything else - share your new #romanticism insights with us!
Also a reminder that @bars.bsky.social are offering a new conference #bursary this year, for professionals outside academia (not only teaching, heritage, alt-ac but any job) who are interested in #Romanticis and want to present their research.
Details on BARS website
#funding #IndependentScholars
Details on BARS website
#funding #IndependentScholars
Reminder: CfP closes for BARS 2026 'Romantic Retrospection' at the University of Birmingham, UK, and online on 30 November.
Details below:
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/arts-...
Details below:
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/arts-...
November 8, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Also a reminder that @bars.bsky.social are offering a new conference #bursary this year, for professionals outside academia (not only teaching, heritage, alt-ac but any job) who are interested in #Romanticis and want to present their research.
Details on BARS website
#funding #IndependentScholars
Details on BARS website
#funding #IndependentScholars
Not long left... If you have a great #Byron essay, please do share with us soon!
OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS 📣 The Byron Journal Essay Prize
Deadline for submissions: 1st December 2025
Prize: £150 and publication in the journal
Find out more information and how to submit via the LUP blog: bit.ly/BJEssayPrize 🥇
@bars.bsky.social @wherearethebooks.bsky.social
Deadline for submissions: 1st December 2025
Prize: £150 and publication in the journal
Find out more information and how to submit via the LUP blog: bit.ly/BJEssayPrize 🥇
@bars.bsky.social @wherearethebooks.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Not long left... If you have a great #Byron essay, please do share with us soon!
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS 📣 The Byron Journal Essay Prize
Deadline for submissions: 1st December 2025
Prize: £150 and publication in the journal
Find out more information and how to submit via the LUP blog: bit.ly/BJEssayPrize 🥇
@bars.bsky.social @wherearethebooks.bsky.social
Deadline for submissions: 1st December 2025
Prize: £150 and publication in the journal
Find out more information and how to submit via the LUP blog: bit.ly/BJEssayPrize 🥇
@bars.bsky.social @wherearethebooks.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM
OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS 📣 The Byron Journal Essay Prize
Deadline for submissions: 1st December 2025
Prize: £150 and publication in the journal
Find out more information and how to submit via the LUP blog: bit.ly/BJEssayPrize 🥇
@bars.bsky.social @wherearethebooks.bsky.social
Deadline for submissions: 1st December 2025
Prize: £150 and publication in the journal
Find out more information and how to submit via the LUP blog: bit.ly/BJEssayPrize 🥇
@bars.bsky.social @wherearethebooks.bsky.social
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Chanting at music festivals is not the actual problem. Israel's genocide is. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
‘They’re skin and bones’: doctors in Gaza warn babies at risk of death from lack of formula
Doctors say Israel is blocking deliveries of formula urgently needed as mothers are either dead or too malnourished to feed their babies
www.theguardian.com
July 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Chanting at music festivals is not the actual problem. Israel's genocide is. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Today the order banning #PalestineAction as "terrorists" came into effect. But they are not terrorists. They are protesters trying to stop a genocide. This is a "first they came for ..." situation. Unless we stand in solidarity against this assault on our freedom, they will pick us off one by one.
July 5, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Today the order banning #PalestineAction as "terrorists" came into effect. But they are not terrorists. They are protesters trying to stop a genocide. This is a "first they came for ..." situation. Unless we stand in solidarity against this assault on our freedom, they will pick us off one by one.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
How is this anything other than blatant censorship? Our national broadcaster deciding, preemptively, that some artist may hold certain views and refusing to broadcast their performances in case they express said views.
NEW: The BBC has said it will no longer broadcast or live stream performances it deems 'high risk' following Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set
BBC drops 'high risk' live performances following Bob Vylan Glastonbury set
www.thenational.scot
July 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
How is this anything other than blatant censorship? Our national broadcaster deciding, preemptively, that some artist may hold certain views and refusing to broadcast their performances in case they express said views.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
But Bob Vylan and Kneecap are the bad guys for calling this out apparently
www.thestar.com/news/world/m...
www.thestar.com/news/world/m...
Strikes kill 94 Palestinians in Gaza, including 45 people waiting for aid, authorities say
Airstrikes and shootings killed 82 Palestinians in Gaza overnight, including 38 while attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid
www.thestar.com
July 4, 2025 at 5:06 AM
But Bob Vylan and Kneecap are the bad guys for calling this out apparently
www.thestar.com/news/world/m...
www.thestar.com/news/world/m...
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Ondertussen in de West Bank: o.a. 15-jarig kind en 66-jarige vrouw doodgeschoten, kolonisten vallen Palestijnen aan om ze te verjagen. edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/m...
Israeli forces kill 15-year-old Palestinian boy after settlers attack West Bank towns, officials say | CNN
Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian health authorities said, as settler violence against Palestinians surged in the occupied territory.
edition.cnn.com
June 30, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Ondertussen in de West Bank: o.a. 15-jarig kind en 66-jarige vrouw doodgeschoten, kolonisten vallen Palestijnen aan om ze te verjagen. edition.cnn.com/2025/06/26/m...
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
We should all be disgusted by the flood of anti-Muslim remarks spewed in the aftermath of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary — some blatant, others latent.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Attacks on Muslims flood mainstream after Mamdani win
Openly racist rhetoric has become normalized at the highest levels of American politics.
www.axios.com
June 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We should all be disgusted by the flood of anti-Muslim remarks spewed in the aftermath of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary — some blatant, others latent.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Heartened to see @shannonvallor.bsky.social quoted in this.
Backlash against bad things is good, and I'm glad to see it reach a level necessitating a trend piece like this one.
www.wired.com/story/genera...
Backlash against bad things is good, and I'm glad to see it reach a level necessitating a trend piece like this one.
www.wired.com/story/genera...
The AI Backlash Keeps Growing Stronger
As generative artificial intelligence tools continue to proliferate, pushback against the technology and its negative impacts grows stronger.
www.wired.com
June 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Heartened to see @shannonvallor.bsky.social quoted in this.
Backlash against bad things is good, and I'm glad to see it reach a level necessitating a trend piece like this one.
www.wired.com/story/genera...
Backlash against bad things is good, and I'm glad to see it reach a level necessitating a trend piece like this one.
www.wired.com/story/genera...
🤢🤮
“The company cut millions of print books from their bindings, scanned them into digital files, and threw away the originals solely for the purpose of training AI.”
While destructive scanning is a common practice among some book digitizing operations, Anthropic's approach is somewhat unusual due to its massive scale.
June 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
🤢🤮
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
BREAKING: The University of Bern @unibe.ch just cancelled Monday's @amnesty.org International event on Palestine & Gaza with UN Special Rapporteur @franceskalbs.bsky.social.
Complete destruction of academic freedom and human rights considerations at University of Bern.
www.rts.ch/info/regions...
Complete destruction of academic freedom and human rights considerations at University of Bern.
www.rts.ch/info/regions...
L'Université de Berne interdit un débat d'Amnesty sur la Palestine
Le débat sur la situation dans les territoires palestiniens qu'Amnesty International prévoyait d'organiser lundi à l'Université de Berne tombe à l'eau. L'établissement s'est rétracté, retirant l'autor...
www.rts.ch
June 28, 2025 at 7:22 AM
BREAKING: The University of Bern @unibe.ch just cancelled Monday's @amnesty.org International event on Palestine & Gaza with UN Special Rapporteur @franceskalbs.bsky.social.
Complete destruction of academic freedom and human rights considerations at University of Bern.
www.rts.ch/info/regions...
Complete destruction of academic freedom and human rights considerations at University of Bern.
www.rts.ch/info/regions...
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
I have many snarky things to say about this philanthrocapitalist propaganda sponsored by the family that brought you food deserts.
But let’s keep it simple.
Corporations have always used tech bubbles to disrupt labor solidarity & smuggle labor intensification under the veil of efficiency.
But let’s keep it simple.
Corporations have always used tech bubbles to disrupt labor solidarity & smuggle labor intensification under the veil of efficiency.
June 28, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I have many snarky things to say about this philanthrocapitalist propaganda sponsored by the family that brought you food deserts.
But let’s keep it simple.
Corporations have always used tech bubbles to disrupt labor solidarity & smuggle labor intensification under the veil of efficiency.
But let’s keep it simple.
Corporations have always used tech bubbles to disrupt labor solidarity & smuggle labor intensification under the veil of efficiency.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
"It’s created such wreckage to have implied that history and humanities are luxury goods, rather than essential services... more to the point, the idea that only science really matters has been enormously destructive."
There is no research infrastructure without a full research infrastructure.
There is no research infrastructure without a full research infrastructure.
"My father, an early and prominent computer scientist, passed away more than two years ago. Since then I’ve been trying to make sense of how rapidly the world that helped make him, and in turn the one he helped shape, is unraveling." 1/ scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/06/26/d...
Did My Father’s World Die with Him? Grieving the Incalculable Costs of “STEM.” - The Scholarly Kitchen
Grieving my father's death feels inextricably tangled with grieving the catastrophe overtaking the whole of our research infrastructure.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
June 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
"It’s created such wreckage to have implied that history and humanities are luxury goods, rather than essential services... more to the point, the idea that only science really matters has been enormously destructive."
There is no research infrastructure without a full research infrastructure.
There is no research infrastructure without a full research infrastructure.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Once again, the Israeli media has never shrunk from reporting what is actually happening, or from identifying it as a mortifying disgrace.
Jaw-dropping reporting by Haaretz www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
June 27, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Once again, the Israeli media has never shrunk from reporting what is actually happening, or from identifying it as a mortifying disgrace.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Appalling and shameful. We should be better than this.
Ukrainians who fled to UK being refused asylum on grounds it is ‘safe to return’
Law firm says it hears weekly from Ukrainians, including vulnerable women and children, who were turned down
www.theguardian.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Appalling and shameful. We should be better than this.
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
If thousands of us stand up and say "I support #PalestineAction", what is the government going to do? Lock us all up for "terrorism" offences?
This is where we show them how solidarity works.
My latest with the great @doubledown.news
This is where we show them how solidarity works.
My latest with the great @doubledown.news
Sharing This Video Could Get You 14 Years in Prison @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Sharing This Video Could Get You 14 Years in Prison
This NEW Law is TERRIFYING & Will SILENCE Us All
www.doubledown.news
June 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
If thousands of us stand up and say "I support #PalestineAction", what is the government going to do? Lock us all up for "terrorism" offences?
This is where we show them how solidarity works.
My latest with the great @doubledown.news
This is where we show them how solidarity works.
My latest with the great @doubledown.news
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
Today @sparcopen.bsky.social announced the theme for this year's Open Access Week!
We've already got ideas cooking for this one!
if you're a researcher, what are your biggest concerns when it comes to the ownership of your work? How do they impact your decision to publish open access?
We've already got ideas cooking for this one!
if you're a researcher, what are your biggest concerns when it comes to the ownership of your work? How do they impact your decision to publish open access?
June 26, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Today @sparcopen.bsky.social announced the theme for this year's Open Access Week!
We've already got ideas cooking for this one!
if you're a researcher, what are your biggest concerns when it comes to the ownership of your work? How do they impact your decision to publish open access?
We've already got ideas cooking for this one!
if you're a researcher, what are your biggest concerns when it comes to the ownership of your work? How do they impact your decision to publish open access?
Reposted by What is life without bookshelves?!
According to the UN, Israel’s attacks on educational and cultural sites in Gaza and the West Bank amount to crimes against humanity.
“Member states’ continued sales of weapons and business relations with Israel [are] acts of complicity.”
“Member states’ continued sales of weapons and business relations with Israel [are] acts of complicity.”
Israeli attacks on Palestinian heritage amount to war crimes, UN report finds
The independent UN investigative body released the findings last week
ow.ly
June 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
According to the UN, Israel’s attacks on educational and cultural sites in Gaza and the West Bank amount to crimes against humanity.
“Member states’ continued sales of weapons and business relations with Israel [are] acts of complicity.”
“Member states’ continued sales of weapons and business relations with Israel [are] acts of complicity.”