Ali Riley
@aliriley.bsky.social
Sheffield-based HE Education Developer and Adviser. Interests #ESD and #EntEd. Ex-archaeologist. Bit deaf. Living with Endometriosis. Chapter maggot.
Pinned
Ali Riley
@aliriley.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Hoping to build networks over here in the hopes that Bsky can be as useful as Twitter used to be in days of yore. Drop me a follow if you're interested in ed/curric development in HE, supporting professional recognition, pedagogies of justice including ESD... and more!
Seeing a lot of retweets of this. I don't disagree with the conclusion but is everyone missing the 'I set a trap for my students' bit? Feels like there are kinder ways of making your point. www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Seeing a lot of retweets of this. I don't disagree with the conclusion but is everyone missing the 'I set a trap for my students' bit? Feels like there are kinder ways of making your point. www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Reposted by Ali Riley
NEW on Wonkhe: Despite sector-wide consensus on how to tackle belonging gaps, Jim Dickinson explores how the latest APPs risk entrenching disadvantage by misreading the social psychology behind inclusion buff.ly/PDsei4E
November 14, 2025 at 7:10 AM
NEW on Wonkhe: Despite sector-wide consensus on how to tackle belonging gaps, Jim Dickinson explores how the latest APPs risk entrenching disadvantage by misreading the social psychology behind inclusion buff.ly/PDsei4E
Reposted by Ali Riley
National Trust council elections saw a defeat for the Restore Trust campaign.
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Voting results from the AGM
Read about the National Trust's 2025 Annual General Meeting and the results from the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
November 8, 2025 at 11:50 PM
National Trust council elections saw a defeat for the Restore Trust campaign.
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Reposted by Ali Riley
If you want kids to read:
-Reopen the closed libraries
-Give them free books
-Sponsor author visits in schools with high % pupil premium or FSM students
-Work on adult literacy
Then Y8s will have a chance of passing this test
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
-Reopen the closed libraries
-Give them free books
-Sponsor author visits in schools with high % pupil premium or FSM students
-Work on adult literacy
Then Y8s will have a chance of passing this test
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Bridget Phillipson ‘ready to take on unions’ over year 8 reading tests
Education secretary says mandatory test needed to tackle ‘shocking outcomes’ for many working-class children
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM
If you want kids to read:
-Reopen the closed libraries
-Give them free books
-Sponsor author visits in schools with high % pupil premium or FSM students
-Work on adult literacy
Then Y8s will have a chance of passing this test
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
-Reopen the closed libraries
-Give them free books
-Sponsor author visits in schools with high % pupil premium or FSM students
-Work on adult literacy
Then Y8s will have a chance of passing this test
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ali Riley
A new Scottish tartan memorializing the (mainly) female victims of the Witchcraft Act has been officially registered, created by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, founders of the Witches of Scotland campaign #WomensArt
via Smithsonian Magazine
via Smithsonian Magazine
October 27, 2025 at 4:41 AM
A new Scottish tartan memorializing the (mainly) female victims of the Witchcraft Act has been officially registered, created by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, founders of the Witches of Scotland campaign #WomensArt
via Smithsonian Magazine
via Smithsonian Magazine
Reposted by Ali Riley
Three excellent books on what the #ClimateEmergency means for higher education & how universities should respond 📚 🧵
1️⃣ Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis by @edufuturist.bsky.social
www.universitiesonfire.com
1️⃣ Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis by @edufuturist.bsky.social
www.universitiesonfire.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Three excellent books on what the #ClimateEmergency means for higher education & how universities should respond 📚 🧵
1️⃣ Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis by @edufuturist.bsky.social
www.universitiesonfire.com
1️⃣ Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis by @edufuturist.bsky.social
www.universitiesonfire.com
Reposted by Ali Riley
My colleagues & I have taken a huge gamble to set up @thenerve.news We’re trying to build a new independent publication from the ground up. Social media is our only distribution for now.
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
NEW: The British politician, his Russian intelligence handler & a Kremlin plot against the US & Ukraine.
My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask:
Why, even now, is no-one asking questions?
t.co/BUTtpK9C4S
My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask:
Why, even now, is no-one asking questions?
t.co/BUTtpK9C4S
October 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
My colleagues & I have taken a huge gamble to set up @thenerve.news We’re trying to build a new independent publication from the ground up. Social media is our only distribution for now.
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Reposted by Ali Riley
“The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, says UN commission of inquiry
Commission’s 72-page legal analysis cites examples including scale of killings, aid blockages and forced displacement
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2025 at 8:16 AM
“The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Reposted by Ali Riley
Tommy Robinson is lying about the police estimate, by a factor of nearly thirty, to turn 110,000 into 3 million. He is spinning "MILLIONS" quite hard. It is a lie.
September 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Tommy Robinson is lying about the police estimate, by a factor of nearly thirty, to turn 110,000 into 3 million. He is spinning "MILLIONS" quite hard. It is a lie.
While I think it is fantastic that #endometriosis is getting more attention and there is less stigma, I can't help feeling that there's a downside to this as I see adverts across Instagram asking me to spend a fortune on 'endo support' products. The products here cost around £70.
September 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
While I think it is fantastic that #endometriosis is getting more attention and there is less stigma, I can't help feeling that there's a downside to this as I see adverts across Instagram asking me to spend a fortune on 'endo support' products. The products here cost around £70.
Reposted by Ali Riley
Absolutely astounded that the UCU and Unison branches at Kent and Greenwich were not consulted, and that staff only found out about the merger this morning via BBC news and Kent Online. Solidarity to all colleagues.
September 10, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Absolutely astounded that the UCU and Unison branches at Kent and Greenwich were not consulted, and that staff only found out about the merger this morning via BBC news and Kent Online. Solidarity to all colleagues.
Reposted by Ali Riley
sit with this quote for a minute
“Menstrual blood was messy, it was imprecise, it was difficult to collect, OB-GYNs told the pair. Why bother when the disease could be diagnosed with surgery?”
September 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
sit with this quote for a minute
Great article about the work being done by pioneering female scientists on #endometriosis (just think what could be done if it was actually well funded!!) www.science.org/content/arti...
September 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Great article about the work being done by pioneering female scientists on #endometriosis (just think what could be done if it was actually well funded!!) www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Ali Riley
So, right now, the only reliable way to diagnose endometriosis is with exploratory surgery. But finally, real scientists (instead of male scientists), are on the job & of course they’ve identified multiple markers in menstrual blood that point to noninvasive testing.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Driven by the pain of endometriosis, this scientist is uncovering clues to its causes
Katie Burns is helping reveal the immune system’s role in the long-neglected disease
www.science.org
September 10, 2025 at 6:10 AM
So, right now, the only reliable way to diagnose endometriosis is with exploratory surgery. But finally, real scientists (instead of male scientists), are on the job & of course they’ve identified multiple markers in menstrual blood that point to noninvasive testing.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Ali Riley
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
What's better than a rainbow-coloured bed of dahlias?
An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
An actual rainbow shining over the rainbow-coloured dahlias.
September 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
It's that time of year again, annual elections for election to Council of the National Trust. Lots of candidates to choose from.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Read carefully and vote wisely if you don't want the direction of travel to be backward.
Reposted by Ali Riley
Great to see that government WILL ban moorland burning on peat deeper than 30cm, and over a much greater area than previously
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Burning banned on England’s deep peat to protect wildlife
Ban on burning heather and grass on deep peat extended to improve air quality for local communities, reduce flood risk and protect wildlife.
www.gov.uk
September 9, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Great to see that government WILL ban moorland burning on peat deeper than 30cm, and over a much greater area than previously
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Ali Riley
So why are people who wear Plasticine Action T-shirts assumed by the police to be supporting Palestine Action but people putting up flags of the Patron Saint of Palestine aren’t? Shouldn’t we arrest them all to be on the safe side? #twotierpolicing
August 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
So why are people who wear Plasticine Action T-shirts assumed by the police to be supporting Palestine Action but people putting up flags of the Patron Saint of Palestine aren’t? Shouldn’t we arrest them all to be on the safe side? #twotierpolicing
Reposted by Ali Riley
Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere
September 4, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere
Broken hearing aid, no appointment before I go to Japan 😰. Praying to the gods of the NHS for a cancellation!! It is semi-functional, but I really want 100% for my trip...
September 2, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Broken hearing aid, no appointment before I go to Japan 😰. Praying to the gods of the NHS for a cancellation!! It is semi-functional, but I really want 100% for my trip...
Reposted by Ali Riley
this is a very minor subskeet but! It has come to my attention that not everyone realises that BDS is actually a concerted effort and not just ‘I dislike this one company’.
Here’s the current list! Along with an explainer of how they were chosen: bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Agai...
Here’s the current list! Along with an explainer of how they were chosen: bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Agai...
August 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
this is a very minor subskeet but! It has come to my attention that not everyone realises that BDS is actually a concerted effort and not just ‘I dislike this one company’.
Here’s the current list! Along with an explainer of how they were chosen: bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Agai...
Here’s the current list! Along with an explainer of how they were chosen: bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Agai...
Reposted by Ali Riley
Ballot papers drop today for local industrial action to defend jobs at the University of Sheffield against redundancy and further workload pressures.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
Strike ballot opens at University of Sheffield staff over job cuts
Staff at the University of Sheffield are being asked to vote for strike action, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The ballot opened yesterday and will close on Tuesday 30 September.
www.ucu.org.uk
August 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Ballot papers drop today for local industrial action to defend jobs at the University of Sheffield against redundancy and further workload pressures.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1415...
Reposted by Ali Riley
Had a fun time writing about bread and circuses vs. bread and roses and whether in crises we're allowed to have fun. www.meditationsinanemergency.com/circuses-vs-...
Circuses vs. Roses: Notes on Pleasure and Scold Culture
Someone made this extra-grumpy meme about the fact that football player and podcaster Travis Kelce proposed to pop superstar Taylor Swift and now they're engaged, or rather about the fact that of cour...
www.meditationsinanemergency.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Had a fun time writing about bread and circuses vs. bread and roses and whether in crises we're allowed to have fun. www.meditationsinanemergency.com/circuses-vs-...
Reposted by Ali Riley
Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
August 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
Reposted by Ali Riley
Hundreds of thousands of people are on the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against Netanyahu.
August 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Hundreds of thousands of people are on the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against Netanyahu.