Gordon McKelvie
@gordonmckelvie.bsky.social
Medieval Historian and UCU branch officer. Senior lecturer at Winchester University. Research on popular protest, political culture, warfare, rumour/conspiracy theories in England and Scotland, c.1300-1600. Views also on union stuff and politics
Ally's Tartan Army - Scotland 1978
YouTube video by worldcupgillingham
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Here at Exeter we are offering three fully funded AHRC PhD places in humanities subjects. Please get in touch if you are keen to come and do research with us! Closing date 23 February 2026: www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
PhD: AHRC Studentship | University of Exeter
Project descriptionThe University of Exeter is offering up to three fully funded AHRC doctoral studentships and training and development opportunities across a range of the AHRC’s disciplines for cand...
www.exeter.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Here at Exeter we are offering three fully funded AHRC PhD places in humanities subjects. Please get in touch if you are keen to come and do research with us! Closing date 23 February 2026: www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
This is the nonsense you get when the party topping the polls doesn't actually have any coherent policies, but people are happy to go with the vibe that, if they just hate the right people hard enough, everything will be fine.
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 AM
This is the nonsense you get when the party topping the polls doesn't actually have any coherent policies, but people are happy to go with the vibe that, if they just hate the right people hard enough, everything will be fine.
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Are you a scholar of the fifteenth century and have an interest in the British Isles and its wider connections? If so, then you will want to know that @memsunikent.bsky.social will be hosting the 2026 Fifteenth Century Conference in Canterbury and the CfP is now open: www.kent.ac.uk/medieval-ear...
MEMS to Host the Fifteenth Century Conference 2026
www.kent.ac.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Are you a scholar of the fifteenth century and have an interest in the British Isles and its wider connections? If so, then you will want to know that @memsunikent.bsky.social will be hosting the 2026 Fifteenth Century Conference in Canterbury and the CfP is now open: www.kent.ac.uk/medieval-ear...
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
This is worth reading closely. The piece makes a very strong case for being very careful when embracing AI for historical research.
"Historical analysis is fundamentally different and more complex than producing a mass of visualizations and statistics that are the lifeblood of many A.I. programmes."
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social on the problematic use of A.I. within historical research.
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social on the problematic use of A.I. within historical research.
Artificial Intelligence: A Warning for History
Does A.I. have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past? Gordon McKelvie considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it means for historians facing the current H...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
This is worth reading closely. The piece makes a very strong case for being very careful when embracing AI for historical research.
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
That renowned and respected lover of truth and journalistic integrity.... THE KREMLIN.... has stepped up to defend Trump in his battle against the BBC.
SO that's Farage, Netanyahu, Putin, and Boris Johnson...
SO that's Farage, Netanyahu, Putin, and Boris Johnson...
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
That renowned and respected lover of truth and journalistic integrity.... THE KREMLIN.... has stepped up to defend Trump in his battle against the BBC.
SO that's Farage, Netanyahu, Putin, and Boris Johnson...
SO that's Farage, Netanyahu, Putin, and Boris Johnson...
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith
The dispute over pay at this great national institution gets to the heart of our misplaced priorities, says novelist Zadie Smith
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
We're so glad you like them! We've been lucky to work with some very talented illustrators throughout our History and the Crisis in Higher Education series
History and the Crisis in Higher Education
What are the causes and consequences of cuts and closures in History and higher education at large? This series explores the impact of this trajectory on the wider landscape of research, methodologies...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM
We're so glad you like them! We've been lucky to work with some very talented illustrators throughout our History and the Crisis in Higher Education series
Was really impressed with these illustrations when I saw them - captures what I’m trying it say about A.I
This article was illustrated by Jas Martin, a student at Nottingham Trent University.
You can find more of her brilliant work here: jasminemartinillustration.weebly.com
You can find more of her brilliant work here: jasminemartinillustration.weebly.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Was really impressed with these illustrations when I saw them - captures what I’m trying it say about A.I
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
"Historical analysis is fundamentally different and more complex than producing a mass of visualizations and statistics that are the lifeblood of many A.I. programmes."
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social on the problematic use of A.I. within historical research.
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social on the problematic use of A.I. within historical research.
Artificial Intelligence: A Warning for History
Does A.I. have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past? Gordon McKelvie considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it means for historians facing the current H...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
"Historical analysis is fundamentally different and more complex than producing a mass of visualizations and statistics that are the lifeblood of many A.I. programmes."
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social on the problematic use of A.I. within historical research.
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social on the problematic use of A.I. within historical research.
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Something from me on the dangers of A.I for historians and the neverending cycle of job cuts www.historyworkshop.org.uk/practice-his...
Artificial Intelligence: A Warning for History
Does Artificial Intelligence have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past? Gordon McKelvie considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for the his...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Something from me on the dangers of A.I for historians and the neverending cycle of job cuts www.historyworkshop.org.uk/practice-his...
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
@bjennings90.bsky.social absolutely nails it. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...)
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
@bjennings90.bsky.social absolutely nails it. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...)
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Osborne deserves a lot more condemnation, for not just doing austerity but doing it so cackhandedly:
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
Late period Osborne: interest rates at zero and 50-80bn of headroom: and his priority was “don’t invest”.
November 4, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Osborne deserves a lot more condemnation, for not just doing austerity but doing it so cackhandedly:
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
Though on an unrelated note - there probably is a comedy to be written about monotheisms being the result of external consultants suggesting streamlining. ‘Rather than an infinite number of combinations of Gods to worship, just focus on one which gives a very clear message to the customers’
Worth a read, particular for a hardline non-believer like myself who nevertheless hates bad history.
New on History for Atheists: my long awaited and rather long critical review of Alice Roberts' new book *Domination*:
historyforatheists.com/2025/10/revi...
historyforatheists.com/2025/10/revi...
November 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Though on an unrelated note - there probably is a comedy to be written about monotheisms being the result of external consultants suggesting streamlining. ‘Rather than an infinite number of combinations of Gods to worship, just focus on one which gives a very clear message to the customers’
Worth a read, particular for a hardline non-believer like myself who nevertheless hates bad history.
New on History for Atheists: my long awaited and rather long critical review of Alice Roberts' new book *Domination*:
historyforatheists.com/2025/10/revi...
historyforatheists.com/2025/10/revi...
November 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Worth a read, particular for a hardline non-believer like myself who nevertheless hates bad history.
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!
October 14, 2025 at 8:53 AM
At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
You know you’ve been a UCU rep a while when you get a long service award and one of the first things you do is work out what that would mean for any statutory redundancy payout
October 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
You know you’ve been a UCU rep a while when you get a long service award and one of the first things you do is work out what that would mean for any statutory redundancy payout
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
The UAE is an authoritarian autocracy, a petro-state with no income tax for citizens, to bribe them for the lack of democratic voice or free speech
It is 85% migrant, a segregated society with a ban on integration in principle and practice, few rights, equal opportunities, nor voice for incomers
It is 85% migrant, a segregated society with a ban on integration in principle and practice, few rights, equal opportunities, nor voice for incomers
October 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The UAE is an authoritarian autocracy, a petro-state with no income tax for citizens, to bribe them for the lack of democratic voice or free speech
It is 85% migrant, a segregated society with a ban on integration in principle and practice, few rights, equal opportunities, nor voice for incomers
It is 85% migrant, a segregated society with a ban on integration in principle and practice, few rights, equal opportunities, nor voice for incomers
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
No, it never existed, and then the imaginary target was scrapped by the Conservatives years ago anyway.
The rise in numbers going to uni was entirely down to higher demand from students.
The rise in numbers going to uni was entirely down to higher demand from students.
did that 50% uni target thing actually still exist in any meaningful sense?
September 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM
No, it never existed, and then the imaginary target was scrapped by the Conservatives years ago anyway.
The rise in numbers going to uni was entirely down to higher demand from students.
The rise in numbers going to uni was entirely down to higher demand from students.
Nope. This is in no way a good thing. Not even remotely
AI can’t raise the dead, but it might do the next best thing on.ft.com/4gFXyus | opinion
AI can’t raise the dead, but it might do the next best thing
Rapid advances in generative AI and voice technology mean communicating with the deceased will no longer be sci-fi
on.ft.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Nope. This is in no way a good thing. Not even remotely
Reposted by Gordon McKelvie
Journalism is a tough gig in 2025. News desks are pared to the bone, specialists are all but gone, nobody wants to pay to consume and advertising is in a death spiral.
So let's be honest about why Farage and co get so much coverage: they provide endless, cheap, easy stories and promote rage clicks.
So let's be honest about why Farage and co get so much coverage: they provide endless, cheap, easy stories and promote rage clicks.
September 26, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Journalism is a tough gig in 2025. News desks are pared to the bone, specialists are all but gone, nobody wants to pay to consume and advertising is in a death spiral.
So let's be honest about why Farage and co get so much coverage: they provide endless, cheap, easy stories and promote rage clicks.
So let's be honest about why Farage and co get so much coverage: they provide endless, cheap, easy stories and promote rage clicks.