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britishacademy.bsky.social
The British Academy
@britishacademy.bsky.social
We mobilise the humanities and social sciences to ​understand the world and shape a brighter future.
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We’re delighted to announce that The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years by Sunil Amrith has been awarded the 2025 British Academy Book Prize!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Brian Barry Prize ✍️

The prize is awarded annually for excellence in political science. The winner receives £1,500 and will be published in @bjpols.bsky.social.

Follow the link for more information and to find out how to apply: https://bit.ly/3XUKdG1
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by The British Academy
‘I write fiction because it's a way of making statements I can disown’
RIP Tom Stoppard who amongst many other things was an Honorary Fellow of @britishacademy.bsky.social
www.thetimes.com/article/89b0...
Sir Tom Stoppard obituary: playful and prolific playwright
A popular and exotic figure, Stoppard was known for his dandyish appearance as well as his wit and eloquence
www.thetimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM
How do indigenous populations find their way at sea without using maps or GPS? Dr Pablo Fernandez Velasco, Postdoctoral Fellow at the British Academy, set sail on an interdisciplinary expedition with Marshallese navigators to try find out. Read about it in the New York Times: https://nyti.ms/43Y1p0W
A Voyage Into the Art of Finding One's Way at Sea (Gift Article)
Scientists and Indigenous sailors in the Marshall Islands are studying seafaring and the human brain.
nyti.ms
November 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
There are only two weeks left to apply for the Postdoctoral Fellowships for Overseas Researchers 2026. The scheme helps early career and postdoctoral researchers to cooperate on research projects with leading research groups in Japan. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3WQ14Jw
November 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
In this 10-Minute Talk, Professor Isabel Torres examines the challenging presence of lyric in Miguel de Cervantes’ ‘Don Quixote’ and considers how the root of ancient poetry, ‘poiesis’, reshapes reality from within the prose. Watch the full video here: https://bit.ly/4rphBSQ
November 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The UK has become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

In this set of discussion papers, funded researchers discuss examples and approaches to deepen our understanding of place-sensitive nature recovery, exploring the links between people and nature.
Place-sensitive understandings of nature recovery
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
@hetanshah.bsky.social will be speaking at De Montfort University later today about how the humanities and social sciences can provide essential insights on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to economic strategy.

There’s still time to register for your free ticket ⬇️

bit.ly/3Km7n4Z
November 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Are you an early career researcher interested in pursuing projects in Asia? The Stein-Arnold Exploration Fund 2026 provides opportunities to British or Hungarian residents to explore sphere of the ancient civilizations of India, China, and Iran, including Central Asia: https://bit.ly/488Axh7
November 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
"Today’s Budget was an opportunity for the government to offer further detail and clarity on the state and finances of the higher education sector, building on the recent White Paper."

Read our response to the Autumn Budget in full: https://bit.ly/4rs7bCc
The British Academy's response to the Autumn Budget
The British Academy has responded to the Autumn Budget (26 November 2025)
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Are you an early career or established researcher engaged on original research intended to produce monographs, editions or studies of documents, texts or illustrations? Apply for the Neil Ker Memorial Fund 2026: https://bit.ly/4hO0Oo1
November 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM
'Cervantes’ ‘Don Quixote’ continues to shape how we think about idealism and the blurred line between illusion and reality. In this talk, Isabel Torres FBA explores how ‘poiesis' in this novel helps us to understand lyric as a provocative presence in early modern Spain. https://youtu.be/VPBkaO5zYe4
November 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
How do young people across the UK experience the spaces, services & relationships that shape their social and cultural lives?

We wanted to find out. 🧵

As part of our policy programme on social and cultural infrastructure, we commissioned London Development Trust to explore this question.
November 21, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Join @hetanshah.bsky.social at De Montfort University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Lecture Series on Thursday, 27 November, as he explores how the humanities and social sciences can support policymaking.

Register for your free ticket below ⬇️

www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/ev...
🎓 DMU’s Vice-Chancellor’s Lecture Series kicks off with Hetan Shah, Chief Exec of The British Academy!

He’ll explore how the humanities & social sciences can guide smarter policymaking for the future.

🗓️ 27 Nov | 18:00 | Vijay Patel Building
#DMU #LectureSeries
November 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The British Academy invite applications for the Stein-Arnold Exploration Fund 2026. The scheme encourages research on the antiquities, historical geography, early history or arts in parts of Asia: https://bit.ly/488Axh7
November 13, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Achieving technological and economic growth sustainably is seen by many as key if we are to meet the needs of a growing global population.

Professor Shadreck Chirikure explores whether the cosmologies of past advanced civilisations can help us address present challenges. https://bit.ly/43rMb40
November 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
We’ll be at LSCL Fest 2025 at Excel London, 18–19 November 2025, sharing what it’s like to work at the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences.

Come and find out about the wide range of work we do!

👉Register for free: https://lsclfest.co.uk/registration/
November 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The British Academy invite applications for the Neil Ker Memorial Fund 2026. The scheme aims to promote the study of Western medieval manuscripts, particularly those of British interest: https://bit.ly/4hO0Oo1
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
What does the history of the potato tell us about nationhood and identity?

Professor Rebecca Earle FBA explores what the story of this humble crop reveals about nationhood and identity .

Watch the full video here: https://bit.ly/43nRkKm
November 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
We are still accepting applications to the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Overseas Researchers 2026. Awards are for a period of between 12 months minimum to 24 months maximum. Find out more and apply: https://bit.ly/3WQ14Jw
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
How can the cosmologies of successful past civilisations help us address the challenge of sustainability?  In this 10-Minute Talk, Professor Shadreck Chirikure explores how the worldviews of historic societies shaped economic development without compromising their environment. https://bit.ly/4onudYR
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Are you an early career or postdoctoral researcher interested in pursuing projects in Japan? The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Overseas Researchers 2026 provides opportunities to cooperate with leading Japanese research groups. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3WQ14Jw
November 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The Curriculum and Assessment review final report was published today by the government.

Professor Charles Forsdick, Lead Fellow for Languages at The British Academy, reflects on the review’s implications for UK language education: https://bit.ly/4okpkjf
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Applications for the ERC Consolidator Grant will close on 13 January. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, join our webinar on 24 November. Find out more and register your interest: https://bit.ly/46RDnVV
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
What happens when competing and complementary ‘ways of knowing’ meet in religion, spirituality, and health?

A new open access volume from the Proceedings of the British Academy explores marginalised epistemes - from Korean shamanism to Siddha medicine.

Discover more: https://bit.ly/47qt9xi
November 4, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Indigenous peoples make up just 5% of the world’s population - but protect over 80% of its biodiversity.

British Academy-supported research from the NUWAO project explores how Indigenous-led, nature-based solutions can shape fairer climate action across Oceania.

Read more:
https://bit.ly/4nyr9Yv
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM