Dr Vanessa
@hpsvanessa.bsky.social
historian of science, medicine, food, sport and exploration; other content generally but not limited to: my dinner, a weird bug, feminist beer 🏳️⚧️, complaining about bad parking. Latest book: tinyurl.com/HigherColder
Pinned
Dr Vanessa
@hpsvanessa.bsky.social
· Dec 20
NEW FOLLOWERS: you MUST have a profile pic (not neccessarily of yourself!) and/or a header image, a biog + a couple of posts or I'll assume you are a bot/troll/bad faith person and block you.
Please do the *minimum* to show you're not a scammer!
Please do the *minimum* to show you're not a scammer!
Fun* update: bus subcontractor lost the contract, new contractor has taken over line but changed the time table so that now if I want to get to campus for 9am on a bus I have to leave my house at 7.30. I live 4 miles from work. #BrumIsBroken
joy: get to my bus stop, check the bus tracker & find my commuting route literally no longer exists. Number reassigned, no timetables, zero warning or information. I fucking hate Birmingham’s crappy underfunded infrastructure sometimes. It makes it hard to live here & there’s zero accountability 😔
November 11, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Fun* update: bus subcontractor lost the contract, new contractor has taken over line but changed the time table so that now if I want to get to campus for 9am on a bus I have to leave my house at 7.30. I live 4 miles from work. #BrumIsBroken
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
Bluesky suspended Sarah Kendzior today for no reason whatsoever. She just shared excerpts of her articles, which were as always incisive and not offensive at all. Hey @pfrazee.com this is super not OK. I know her- we've interacted a fair bit via chats and her work is essential.
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Bluesky suspended Sarah Kendzior today for no reason whatsoever. She just shared excerpts of her articles, which were as always incisive and not offensive at all. Hey @pfrazee.com this is super not OK. I know her- we've interacted a fair bit via chats and her work is essential.
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
If you're a student who works with radio or podcasts, take a look at the Charles Parker prize. Brilliant opportunity for oral historians
www.cpatrust.org.uk/prize
www.cpatrust.org.uk/prize
Charles Parker Prize | Showcase Your Audio Talent — Charles Parker Archive Trust
Discover top student audio features and enter the Charles Parker Prize for a chance to broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
www.cpatrust.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
If you're a student who works with radio or podcasts, take a look at the Charles Parker prize. Brilliant opportunity for oral historians
www.cpatrust.org.uk/prize
www.cpatrust.org.uk/prize
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
Just been invited to the launch event of a report considering the 'future of the UK's research system' where they will be considering the creation of disruption labs named after Ada Lovelace and the report will be introduced by a panel of five men
November 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Just been invited to the launch event of a report considering the 'future of the UK's research system' where they will be considering the creation of disruption labs named after Ada Lovelace and the report will be introduced by a panel of five men
The main thing I've discovered over the past few semesters is that I got way more actual research-related work done when I was allowed to teach stuff that was even vaguely, tangentially, related to my actual research. Who would have thought it, eh?
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 AM
The main thing I've discovered over the past few semesters is that I got way more actual research-related work done when I was allowed to teach stuff that was even vaguely, tangentially, related to my actual research. Who would have thought it, eh?
Today's #Housegawp is one of the best examples of "new builds are a blank slate, make what you like of them" that I've ever seen. I mean, absolute "fuck it, I want it" territory. I admire these people and their vision
www.onthemarket.com/details/1768...
www.onthemarket.com/details/1768...
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Today's #Housegawp is one of the best examples of "new builds are a blank slate, make what you like of them" that I've ever seen. I mean, absolute "fuck it, I want it" territory. I admire these people and their vision
www.onthemarket.com/details/1768...
www.onthemarket.com/details/1768...
Despite the terrible reviews literally everywhere, I can thoroughly recommend Night Swim b/c if you make it through this ragged cliche mess of a movie the closing theme tune will make you laugh until you pee. What a completely jarring inane choice. Better than deep blue sea or the blob themes tbh.
November 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Despite the terrible reviews literally everywhere, I can thoroughly recommend Night Swim b/c if you make it through this ragged cliche mess of a movie the closing theme tune will make you laugh until you pee. What a completely jarring inane choice. Better than deep blue sea or the blob themes tbh.
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
you know we used to have to do at least a little work to prove the connection between racism and transphobia
Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
you know we used to have to do at least a little work to prove the connection between racism and transphobia
Perfect example of why I recommend @vittles.bsky.social to so many ppl. This kind of roving thoughtful exploration of the edges of a topic-historical/social connections you'd never make yourself-models the kind of piece I love to read (& ideally write) (also feeds my obsession w/Aus food TV MKR4Eva)
Death by Duxelles
How modern food culture played a decisive role in the Erin Patterson trial, by Aaron Timms. Illustration by Sing Yun Lee.
www.vittlesmagazine.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Perfect example of why I recommend @vittles.bsky.social to so many ppl. This kind of roving thoughtful exploration of the edges of a topic-historical/social connections you'd never make yourself-models the kind of piece I love to read (& ideally write) (also feeds my obsession w/Aus food TV MKR4Eva)
>See recommendation for a book
>add book to bookshop basket
>realise digital cover is slopAI
>remove book from basket
🤷♀️
>add book to bookshop basket
>realise digital cover is slopAI
>remove book from basket
🤷♀️
November 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
>See recommendation for a book
>add book to bookshop basket
>realise digital cover is slopAI
>remove book from basket
🤷♀️
>add book to bookshop basket
>realise digital cover is slopAI
>remove book from basket
🤷♀️
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
*Women receive substantially lower "potential" ratings despite receiving higher performance ratings
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
Forthcoming in the AER: "“Potential” and the Gender Promotion Gap" by Alan Benson, Danielle Li, and Kelly Shue. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
“Potential” and the Gender Promotion Gap
(Forthcoming Article) - We show that subjective assessments of employee “potential” contribute to gender gaps
in promotion and pay. Using data on 29,809 management-track employees from a
large retail ...
www.aeaweb.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
*Women receive substantially lower "potential" ratings despite receiving higher performance ratings
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
#MondayNetwork - a regular appeal to any #skystorians with intersecting interests: food /nutrition, surviving climate change, environmental determinism, race science, exploration, acclimatisation & physiology, cit sci, Indigenous knowledge, & related topics to say hi or share link to your work! 🗃️
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
#MondayNetwork - a regular appeal to any #skystorians with intersecting interests: food /nutrition, surviving climate change, environmental determinism, race science, exploration, acclimatisation & physiology, cit sci, Indigenous knowledge, & related topics to say hi or share link to your work! 🗃️
Monday scheming: I think there’s an 80% chance I can legitimately use a clip from The Creature From The Black Lagoon in a Very Serious conference presentation
a black and white photo of a creature from the black lagoon .
Alt: a black and white gif of the creature from the black lagoon - someone in a fairly stiff fish man costume with large gills and scale plates
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Monday scheming: I think there’s an 80% chance I can legitimately use a clip from The Creature From The Black Lagoon in a Very Serious conference presentation
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
Theresa May, the buffoon of "Brexit means Brexit", was to the left of Keir Starmer on trans rights.
That's the kind of fact that mainstreaming bigotry forces us to recognise.
That's the kind of fact that mainstreaming bigotry forces us to recognise.
The ability of the far right to insist that their views - trans people are lying perverts, climate change is a hoax, immigrants are all thieving, raping scum - are necessarily legitimate & must be given a hearing is already a vast victory for forms of extremism beyond the pale not long ago.
What bothers me is that impartiality and balance are two different and incompatible things. Impartiality means that you don't intervene to put your thumb on the scales. Balance necessarily requires that you intervene to artificially make every issue look like a 50/50.
November 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Theresa May, the buffoon of "Brexit means Brexit", was to the left of Keir Starmer on trans rights.
That's the kind of fact that mainstreaming bigotry forces us to recognise.
That's the kind of fact that mainstreaming bigotry forces us to recognise.
In trouble for the radical belief that if I have to buy something that is essential for my job then my employer should reimburse me for it.
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
In trouble for the radical belief that if I have to buy something that is essential for my job then my employer should reimburse me for it.
Has anyone had dealings with the Science Museum picture library recently & have any alternative contact info? I've had zero luck getting a response from them at the general email (it's been months since my first email) & my request is getting urgent :/ www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/contact.asp 🗃️
Contact Us - Science & Society Picture Library
View and buy rights managed stock photos at Science & Society Picture Library.
www.scienceandsociety.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Has anyone had dealings with the Science Museum picture library recently & have any alternative contact info? I've had zero luck getting a response from them at the general email (it's been months since my first email) & my request is getting urgent :/ www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/contact.asp 🗃️
#MondayNetwork - a regular appeal to any #skystorians with intersecting interests: food /nutrition, surviving climate change, environmental determinism, race science, exploration, acclimatisation & physiology, cit sci, Indigenous knowledge, & related topics to say hi or share link to your work! 🗃️
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
#MondayNetwork - a regular appeal to any #skystorians with intersecting interests: food /nutrition, surviving climate change, environmental determinism, race science, exploration, acclimatisation & physiology, cit sci, Indigenous knowledge, & related topics to say hi or share link to your work! 🗃️
#jobfairy - if the US is still a safe place for you to work this is a fascinatingly specific #histSTM job
🗃️
🗃️
Assistant Prof job in history of science (related to water?) at Madison. Strong program, nice town (aside from winter)
jobs.h-net.org/jobs/69456
jobs.h-net.org/jobs/69456
Professor of History | H-Net Job Guide
jobs.h-net.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
We've joined with 15 local and national organisations, setting out 10 practical steps to address the city's road safety emergency and prevent needless deaths on our city's roads.
Will you join us by co-signing the asks in 2 minutes?: betterstreetsforbirmingham....
Will you join us by co-signing the asks in 2 minutes?: betterstreetsforbirmingham....
November 10, 2025 at 7:15 AM
We've joined with 15 local and national organisations, setting out 10 practical steps to address the city's road safety emergency and prevent needless deaths on our city's roads.
Will you join us by co-signing the asks in 2 minutes?: betterstreetsforbirmingham....
Will you join us by co-signing the asks in 2 minutes?: betterstreetsforbirmingham....
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
woah plot twist
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 AM
woah plot twist
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
Before numbers, Dutch city buildings were given distinctive stone tablets, or gable stones. Sometimes they said something about the resident, sometimes it was patriotic, but it could be anything.
My current favourite is this (17thc??) leopard on Zeedijk, Amsterdam. I love him.
#GevelsteenSunday
My current favourite is this (17thc??) leopard on Zeedijk, Amsterdam. I love him.
#GevelsteenSunday
November 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Before numbers, Dutch city buildings were given distinctive stone tablets, or gable stones. Sometimes they said something about the resident, sometimes it was patriotic, but it could be anything.
My current favourite is this (17thc??) leopard on Zeedijk, Amsterdam. I love him.
#GevelsteenSunday
My current favourite is this (17thc??) leopard on Zeedijk, Amsterdam. I love him.
#GevelsteenSunday
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
So is Michael Burry a 'got lucky' fluke like Nate Silver or is he - please goddess - onto something...
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
So is Michael Burry a 'got lucky' fluke like Nate Silver or is he - please goddess - onto something...
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
Im so exhausted yall, I dont know how to tell you how desperate our friends in Gaza are, because prices haven't gone down, aid is not flowing freely, there is no infrastructure and no work, but no one is donating. The horrors continue, the stress accumulates and they are all confused and frustrated
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Im so exhausted yall, I dont know how to tell you how desperate our friends in Gaza are, because prices haven't gone down, aid is not flowing freely, there is no infrastructure and no work, but no one is donating. The horrors continue, the stress accumulates and they are all confused and frustrated
Reposted by Dr Vanessa
This is what we cover in the New Towns module. All the oral histories of the first residents of Stevenage, Harlow etc, mention bathrooms and heating.
When concrete tower block housing went up en masse after World War II, most people were fucking ecstatic to move into them because they had the holy trinity of novelties people rarely had in 1950: indoor toilets, hot water, and electricity.
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This is what we cover in the New Towns module. All the oral histories of the first residents of Stevenage, Harlow etc, mention bathrooms and heating.