John Sabapathy
@jwwsabapathy.bsky.social
400 followers 520 following 310 posts
Professor of history @uclhistory.bsky.social + co-convenor @anthropoceneucl.bsky.social. Editor at @enghistrev.bsky.social. Institutions, rationalities, environments, mostly medieval. https://tinyurl.com/2p8r9yeh + https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropocene/.
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An 'experimental' piece of writing by me @ucl-ias.bsky.social on Crawford Lake, the site proposed for the Anthropocene's location c.1950.

(Publication was delayed—it was written before the Subcommission for Quaternary Stratigraphy's rejection of the Anthropocene as an epoch).

#Anthropocene
Anthropocene Vernaculars: Crawford Lake
An experimental piece of writing tracing the histories of Crawford Lake, Ontario which was nominated as a global example of the Anthropocene.
thinkpieces-review.co.uk
An 'experimental' piece of writing by me @ucl-ias.bsky.social on Crawford Lake, the site proposed for the Anthropocene's location c.1950.

(Publication was delayed—it was written before the Subcommission for Quaternary Stratigraphy's rejection of the Anthropocene as an epoch).

#Anthropocene
Anthropocene Vernaculars: Crawford Lake
An experimental piece of writing tracing the histories of Crawford Lake, Ontario which was nominated as a global example of the Anthropocene.
thinkpieces-review.co.uk
Reposted by John Sabapathy
'As the ESRC, the UK’s leading social science funder, moves to deprioritise research on economic models beyond growth, Imogen Hamilton-Jones and Catarina Heeckt defend the academic legitimacy and societal relevance of post-growth thinking.' 1/2
Beyond economic growth – the case for researching alternatives | British Politics and Policy at LSE
As the ESRC moves to deprioritise research on economic models beyond growth, we need to defend the legitimacy and societal relevance of degrowth thinking.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Reposted by John Sabapathy
'A “challenging” graduate labour market in the UK could further erode trust in the higher education sector, with the “bad times” showing little sign of ending.'

All the more reason to have a serious, nationwide discussion of what universities do and what they are for.
Faith in universities ‘at new low’ as graduate jobs dry up
Challenging economic conditions may have led to bump in student recruitment numbers this year but experts fear long-term damage after institutions pegged futures to employability agenda
www.timeshighereducation.com
Reposted by John Sabapathy
This, from @catherinedevries.bsky.social, is really useful advice for young (and, tbh, old!) academics. Worth passing on if you know any, maybe? catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/fail-bette...
Bottom fridge drawer for soft salad, upper drawer for hard salad (cucumbers) is what seems to work here?
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Reading group 📚
Portals to Possible Futures: How to craft an archive of response in the face of polycrises

Join LEAP Lab & Cambridge Posthuman Network in exploring climate and environmental research through posthuman and new materialist epistemologies
16 Oct 4-6pm, CRASSH
https://bit.ly/46ZaQOa
Portals to Possible Futures: How to craft an archive of response in the face of polycrises - CRASSH
Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
bit.ly
Reposted by John Sabapathy
'How well do particular groups of students perform against the three standard OfS outcomes measures (continuation, completion, progression) plus another (attainment) that is very much in direct control of individual providers?'
OfS characteristics dashboards, 2025 release
What does the sector look like in 2025, in terms of the chances that groups of students can get in or get on? David Kernohan paints a picture using the latest OfS data
wonkhe.com
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Reposted by John Sabapathy
Don't miss this year's Holden Lecture by Prof Jason Peacey at Senate House Library, University of London, 30 October at 6PM. It's inspired by Senate House Library's Spineless Wonders Exhibition. 1/2 @uclhistory.bsky.social
Holden Lecture: Tickets and trifles: ephemeral print and Restoration England
www.london.ac.uk
A lovely evening talking with Georgina Endfield & @wanderinggaia.bsky.social about history and environmental change last night @britishacademy.bsky.social starting a great season of 'living with the planet': www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/seasons/livi... #Anthropocene, #medievalsky
You wouldn’t believe how my children laugh at such behaviour…..
Henrietta Leyser & the much missed Jinty Nelson's editors' preface for the series has not dated, despite Brexit, Ukraine, or indeed, the Middle East.
Jinty Nelson & Henrietta Leyser's general editors' preface  for the Oxford History of Medieval Europe series.
Chapeau to @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social for his wonderful new book which has just arrived, an amazingly global and ecumenical volume, in all senses! Beautifully produced by OUP (and before publication day!?).

A spur to others!
Front cover of Charles West's Europe in the Eleventh Century
Reposted by John Sabapathy
We've updated our new books displays on the 1st and 2nd floors. There's a wide range of subjects spanning from the medieval to the 21st century.

If this interests you and you're not a member, membership to the library is open and free to everyone - www.history.ac.uk/library-digi...
Image showing some new acquisitions to the Institute of Historical Research Library - October 2025 Image showing some new acquisitions to the Institute of Historical Research Library - October 2025 Image showing some new acquisitions to the Institute of Historical Research Library - October 2025 Image showing some new acquisitions to the Institute of Historical Research Library - October 2025
Reposted by John Sabapathy
MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by John Sabapathy
In case you missed it — our cold spots research was covered in a panel discussion on Radio 4’s Front Row programme yesterday! Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by John Sabapathy
'Whatever the cause, deregulated competition has created a tragedy of the commons, whereby individual universities pursue short-term gains while the sector as a whole bears the cost when international confidence is shaken.'
The UCL admissions chaos will damage UK HE’s global reputation
Future crises can be averted if government and universities share data and plans in a more timely and transparent fashion, says Doug Sprecht
www.timeshighereducation.com