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The British Academy

@britishacademy.bsky.social

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We mobilise the humanities and social sciences to understand the world and shape a brighter future.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · Sep 9

The British Academy Book Prize 2025 shortlist is here!

Each book offers a new perspective on issues of global importance, driven by rigorous research and an ability to tell powerful stories in an engaging and compelling way.

📖 Discover the full list here:

https://bit.ly/4glo8Jo

Promotional image for The British Academy Book Prize 2025 shortlist, featuring a diagonal divide with various book covers displayed on a teal and dark blue background.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 22h

Power and politics are woven into the history of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Shortlisted for the 2025 British Academy Book Prize, The Baton and the Cross by journalist @lucyaash.bsky.social explores how Vladimir Putin co-opted the Church to shape Russia today.

Learn more here 👉 bit.ly/3WDTgKS

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Reposted by The British Academy

LRB Bookshop @londonreviewbookshop.co.uk · 1d

This week, we’re celebrating the British Academy Book Prize shortlist, with reading recommendations from this year’s nominees

First up, is Bronwen Everill with three books that complement her shortlisted work AFRICONOMICS: lrb.me/b44189

@britishacademy.bsky.social

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 1d

We are delighted to congratulate Professor Philippe Aghion FBA and Professor Joel Mokyr FBA, joint recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, alongside Peter Howitt, “for having explained innovation-driven economic growth.”

Read the full announcement👉 https://bit.ly/4h78hhI

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2025

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2025 was awarded "for having explained innovation-driven economic growth" with one half to Joel Mokyr "for having identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through techno...

www.nobelprize.org

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 1d

“It celebrates the skills, values, and importance of the social sciences and humanities.”

In a new interview with @fivebooks.com, 2025 British Academy Book Prize Chair Professor Rebecca Earle FBA discusses how this year’s shortlist captures the ideas shaping our world.

👉 https://bit.ly/3KLwIoY

Five individuals posing for a photo in an office with a yellow illuminated background. Rebecca Earle in the centre is holding the 2025 Book Prize shortlist.

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Reposted by The British Academy

Leverhulme Trust @leverhulme.ac.uk · 2d

Confessions of an Early Career Researcher, a podcast by ECRs, for ECRs. Brought to you by
@britishacademy.bsky.social
and the Leverhulme Trust. Listen and subscribe: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/audio-video/...

Confessions of an Early Career Researcher, Logos: The British Academy, the Leverhulme Trust.

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Reposted by The British Academy

Leverhulme Trust @leverhulme.ac.uk · 2d

How can networks help the uncertainty of being a first-gen academic? How did the pandemic impact our attitude towards community? These are just some of the questions discussed in Ep 3 of #ConfessionsOfAnECR with Leonie Smith, @claregs.bsky.social & @devinasarwatay.bsky.social.

tinyurl.com/46cp3bjr

Leonie Smith sits down with Clare Stainthorp and Devina Sarwatay in a podcasting studio.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 4d

In a new article in the Journal of the British Academy, FBA Robin Mansell explores the tensions between AI industry developers of LLMs and creative industries rightsholders, as well as considering the broader implications for the future of our datafied world.

Find out more ⬇️

https://bit.ly/47i4drz

A stylized depiction of a human hand reaching towards a robotic hand against a bright blue background, reminiscent of Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam." The image uses vivid pink and green hues.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 4d

Bringing together stories of environment and Empire, genocide and ecocide, war and peace – Sunil Amrith's The Burning Earth is a razor-sharp study of accountability for the climate crisis.

The Burning Earth is shortlisted for the British Academy Book Prize. Learn more here https://bit.ly/3WsTunW

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 6d

India is the forgotten heart of the ancient world, a trailblazer of ideas along a Golden Road from the Red Sea to the Pacific.

Shortlisted for the British Academy Book Prize, The Golden Road by @willdalrymple.bsky.social is a culmination of a lifetime's work.

Learn more now https://bit.ly/3WsTunW

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 6d

New from the Journal of the British Academy, the potential impacts of synthetic voice likenesses on human listeners.

Featuring insights from speech and language therapy, human–computer interaction, ethics, and the law to explore implications of voice cloning technologies.

https://bit.ly/490haHM

Close-up of a person speaking into a smartphone, holding it near their mouth.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

Alongside the @royalsociety.org, @raeng.org.uk, @acmedsci.bsky.social we have opened applications for the latest round of the Horizon Europe Pump Priming Collaboration scheme. Funded by DSIT, the programme supports UK researchers in engaging with Horizon Europe. Learn more: bit.ly/42tplbM

A colour block banner with the words 'Horizon Europe Pump Priming collaboration between UK and EU partners 2026' written on it.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

We will be running an ERC Consolidator Grant webinar on 24 November for UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in applying for the ERC Consolidator Grants. Find out more and register your interest: https://bit.ly/46RDnVV

A purple colour block banner with the words 'ERC Consolidator Grant webinar’ written on it.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

Cuts to humanities, arts and social science courses at universities are leaving students unable to study close to home - which particularly impacts students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Read more 👀 www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/univers...

University course closures leave students unable to study many SHAPE subjects close to home - report

A new report shows that students are shut out of SHAPE education in their home regions, as large swathes of the UK are ‘cold spots’ for humanities, social sciences and arts degrees.

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

ICYMI 💡 Our report on 'cold spots' in UK higher education was talked about on BBC Radio 4 Front Row last night by @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social , with @benlukeart.bsky.social and Islam Issa, Professor of Public Humanities at @@mybcu.bsky.social

Tune in at 30:00 🔊 https://bbc.in/46F96uF

Front Row - Kathryn Bigelow and Kiran Desai - BBC Sounds

Film director Kathryn Bigelow and Booker-nominee author Kiran Desai

bbc.in

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

Spanning a broad range of non-fiction subjects from the global politics of women’s health to Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church, this year's British Academy Book Prize shortlist leads readers across continents and pivotal moments in history.

Here's why non-fiction is important to our authors.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

Read the full report: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r...

Cold spots: Mapping inequality in SHAPE provision in UK higher education

This British Academy report reveals that many parts of the UK are becoming subject cold spots – areas with no provision in a subject within a commutable distance. These are often in rural, coastal or ...

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 8d

In case you missed it: our latest report explores a growing crisis in universities.

In many regions, students risk losing access to vital humanities, social science and arts subjects. Swipe to see our key findings and recommendations.

Key finding 1:
Cold spots have emerged in the North, South West and East of England, as well as parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Key finding 1:
Cold spots have emerged in the North, South West and East of England, as well as parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Key finding 2:
The biggest loss of provision is at lower-tariff levels. This is concerning given strong links between attainment and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Key finding 3:
Languages, Linguistics, Anthropology, Classics and Theology are among the hardest hit. If trends continue, English, History, Drama and Celtic studies – including Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh – could follow.

As we await the post-16 White Paper, we’re calling for:
- An urgent review of higher education funding
- Regulators to monitor provision with an ‘at-risk’ regional register and subject premium
- Government to help universities collaborate effectively with clearer guidance about competition law

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 13d

The British Academy and @nuffieldfoundation.org today publish the final report from the three-year Understanding Communities programme, bringing together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to build resilience and wellbeing in UK communities. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ISBMHo

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 13d

We invite applications for British Academy/Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowships 2025. The scheme supports established and senior researchers in the humanities and social sciences wishing to complete research through a sustained period of leave for one year. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3VMeTZ9

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 14d

New in the Journal of the British Academy, explore the rise of transnational kleptocracy and how rule-of-law societies have welcomed kleptocrats and oligarchs.

Read more through the link below!👇

https://bit.ly/4nb2wlB

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 14d

Read our response to the Government’s announcement that university maintenance grants will be reintroduced for certain courses, funded through a levy on international student fees
https://bit.ly/4gPz7uO

British Academy responds to government announcement on university maintenance grants

The British Academy has issued a response to the government's announcement on using a proposed levy on international students to fund maintenance grants.

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 14d

Are you a postdoctoral researcher? Don't miss the application deadline for British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants on 5 November. Funding is available for research projects across all areas of the humanities and social sciences. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3K4kEyA

White banner with an image of a researcher focused on his work. The words 'BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants' are written on the right-hand side.

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 15d

This #InternationalPodcastDay tune into ‘Confessions of an Early Career Researcher’ – a new guide to the world of academia post-PhD.

The first three episodes of the podcast are available now. Subscribe for our next episodes, live on 15 October: https://bit.ly/4pNaTp1

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 15d

Applications for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium 2026 are now open. The application deadline is 29 October. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4nyWsmv

Graphic that reads ‘The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium’

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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 15d

Find out more about the 2025 Book Prize shortlist – Professor Rebecca Earle FBA, chair of the Prize, was featured on the latest episode of Free Thinking, where she discussed the topics and themes that are featured in this year's books 📚 Listen from 45:20: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0m57gl7

Arts & Ideas - Finding my tribe - BBC Sounds

Anne McElvoy and guests discuss connections, divisions and creating new political parties