Katherine Firth
@katherinefirth.bsky.social
Writes about writing, especially for PhDs and researchers: poetry, music, food. Blogs at Research Degree Insider
Reposted by Katherine Firth
My favourite year for oppressed literary masculinity was 2023 when the number of women on the Booker shortlist was smaller than the number of men named Paul
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
My favourite year for oppressed literary masculinity was 2023 when the number of women on the Booker shortlist was smaller than the number of men named Paul
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Post about your book! And if you're feeling extra generous, you can even post about your friends' books! 👇
Academic authors: self-promote! 💫
This is not a particularly popular account but:
🚨 If you have published a book in the last 5 years (since the hype wears off after a while), especially in the humanities, feel free to reply here and repost! 👇
This is not a particularly popular account but:
🚨 If you have published a book in the last 5 years (since the hype wears off after a while), especially in the humanities, feel free to reply here and repost! 👇
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Post about your book! And if you're feeling extra generous, you can even post about your friends' books! 👇
I love Kaylene Whiskey
Dolly Parton has never stepped foot on the dry red dirt of Indulkana in remote South Australia, but she is a frequent visitor in the art of Kaylene Whisky, which celebrates sisterhood and strong women.
'No one like her in the universe': Meet rising art star Kaylene Whiskey
Dolly Parton has never stepped foot on the dry red dirt of Indulkana in remote South Australia, but she is a frequent visitor in the art of Kaylene Whisky, which celebrates sisterhood and strong women.
www.abc.net.au
November 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I love Kaylene Whiskey
Reposted by Katherine Firth
> “Australian creatives are not only world class, but they are also the lifeblood of Australian culture, and we must ensure the right legal protections are in place,” Hon Rowland MP said.
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
Australia Rejects AI Text and Data Mining Copyright Exception
The Albanese Government has rejected a proposal to amend Australia’s copyright laws to allow artificial intelligence (AI) systems to freely train on copyright works, according to an official statement...
natlawreview.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
> “Australian creatives are not only world class, but they are also the lifeblood of Australian culture, and we must ensure the right legal protections are in place,” Hon Rowland MP said.
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Do you remember the good old Twitter days of a 🧵 100 tweets deep on something niche yet widely relevant from an expert who didn’t know it all (and gave credit where credit was due)? yeah. Buckle in for a long, deep, nuanced, historical, Wuthering Heights ride 👇👇👇
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
November 14, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Do you remember the good old Twitter days of a 🧵 100 tweets deep on something niche yet widely relevant from an expert who didn’t know it all (and gave credit where credit was due)? yeah. Buckle in for a long, deep, nuanced, historical, Wuthering Heights ride 👇👇👇
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Behavior bio people, check out this guy's experience training an octopus!
I taught an octopus piano (It took 6 months)
YouTube video by Mattias Krantz
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Behavior bio people, check out this guy's experience training an octopus!
Dammit, went into the theory mines knowing exactly what I wanted to say… came out blearily and empty handed. I’ve ordered a whole load of Averroes and Bourdieu to the library as if that will help.
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
November 14, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Dammit, went into the theory mines knowing exactly what I wanted to say… came out blearily and empty handed. I’ve ordered a whole load of Averroes and Bourdieu to the library as if that will help.
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
Reposted by Katherine Firth
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Mid- #AcWriMo mood. The academia / writing / research meme stash always has the goods! 🙌 #highered #academicsky #resdev #academicchatter #PhDchat
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Mid- #AcWriMo mood. The academia / writing / research meme stash always has the goods! 🙌 #highered #academicsky #resdev #academicchatter #PhDchat
Reposted by Katherine Firth
The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM
The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
"Professors' inboxes are like kids' lunchboxes - they require constant viligance and lots of things fester when they inevitably go unattended. In other words, when professors don't respond, it's rarely personal. They probably forgot or got too busy. Email again"
My lab site is very much still under construction, but we are in #grad application season and I thought I'd blog about stuff I discuss often with prospective applicants to our program in #anthropology. Check it out. Let me know hits and misses.
www.evolvedlab.net/blog
www.evolvedlab.net/blog
Blog | Evolve D Lab
www.evolvedlab.net
November 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM
"Professors' inboxes are like kids' lunchboxes - they require constant viligance and lots of things fester when they inevitably go unattended. In other words, when professors don't respond, it's rarely personal. They probably forgot or got too busy. Email again"
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft."
-- Anne Lamott
#AcWri #GetYourManuscriptOut #AmWriting #WritingSky #AcademicSky
-- Anne Lamott
#AcWri #GetYourManuscriptOut #AmWriting #WritingSky #AcademicSky
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft."
-- Anne Lamott
#AcWri #GetYourManuscriptOut #AmWriting #WritingSky #AcademicSky
-- Anne Lamott
#AcWri #GetYourManuscriptOut #AmWriting #WritingSky #AcademicSky
Reposted by Katherine Firth
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
Reposted by Katherine Firth
It was a blast to talk to Amra Pajalic on her podcast about all things #3MinuteThesis.
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
It was a blast to talk to Amra Pajalic on her podcast about all things #3MinuteThesis.
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
Reposted by Katherine Firth
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll! Ten thousand blubber-hunters sweep over thee in vain.
November 10, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll! Ten thousand blubber-hunters sweep over thee in vain.
It was a blast to talk to Amra Pajalic on her podcast about all things #3MinuteThesis.
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
It was a blast to talk to Amra Pajalic on her podcast about all things #3MinuteThesis.
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
Amra won the La Trobe University 3MT competition,—listen in to hear Amra’s journey and how 3MT made a difference. 🎧✨📚
Available on all the pod platforms:
amrasarmchairanecdotes.buzzsprout.com/2448457/follow
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
Reposted by Katherine Firth
And while you’re stocking up on Lauren’s book, you can also get mine!
November 9, 2025 at 6:48 AM
And while you’re stocking up on Lauren’s book, you can also get mine!
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Edinburgh University is closing the Institute for Academic Development. Download these student resources while you can. Making notes, reading strategies, time management, dissertations and so on.
CC licenses. Pdf and text only versions. #HE 🗃️
institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk/study-hub/le...
CC licenses. Pdf and text only versions. #HE 🗃️
institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk/study-hub/le...
November 7, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Edinburgh University is closing the Institute for Academic Development. Download these student resources while you can. Making notes, reading strategies, time management, dissertations and so on.
CC licenses. Pdf and text only versions. #HE 🗃️
institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk/study-hub/le...
CC licenses. Pdf and text only versions. #HE 🗃️
institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk/study-hub/le...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Arguably the leading woodturner of the last 50 years is now in his 80s and retired but still makes 2-3 YouTube videos a week from his modest shed in his backyard in Canberra. This man should be on a postage stamp.
Richard Raffan turning a claret ash breakfast bowl.
YouTube video by Richard Raffan
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Arguably the leading woodturner of the last 50 years is now in his 80s and retired but still makes 2-3 YouTube videos a week from his modest shed in his backyard in Canberra. This man should be on a postage stamp.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Martha republished her first cookbook today, so it's a great time to reread my piece about cooking a menu from it and the specific version of wealth she sells in it www.eater.com/24283638/mar...
Martha Stewart’s ‘Entertaining’ Let Me Party Like It Was 1982
What replicating a cocktail party from Martha Stewart’s first book taught me about Martha, and the good life
www.eater.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Martha republished her first cookbook today, so it's a great time to reread my piece about cooking a menu from it and the specific version of wealth she sells in it www.eater.com/24283638/mar...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫