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Margot Finn

@eicathomefinn.bsky.social

16K followers 4.1K following 7.7K posts

Historian of Britain and colonialism, material culture, the EIC. Also works on equalities, museums, open access & research policy. Download the EIC @ Home open access volume here: https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/88277 (or individual chapters via JSTOR) .. more

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Margot C. Finn is a British historian and academic who specialises in Britain and the British colonial world during the long nineteenth century. She has been Professor of Modern British History at the University College, London (UCL) since 2012. Finn was previously the President of the Royal Historical Society and a trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum. .. more

Political science 31%

Economics 26%

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1h

And unlike ChatGPT, BBIH will not hallucinate bibliographical references for you or for your students. (Ah, the wonders of using humans in peer review).

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Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h

The October updates include, for example, 162 titles about the history of Wales, 229 records re histories of African nations, 359 publications re Scottish history, 448 records discuss the histories of the Americas and Atlantic Ocean, 468 publications focusing on Irish history, and much more.

Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · 9h

The Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) has recently been updated with 5000+ new references. Discover further details about this update in this On History blog blog.history.ac.uk/2025/10/bibl... @brepols.net

Bibliography of British and Irish History October 2025 update - On History

What’s new in BBIH?  The October 2025 update to the Bibliography of British and Irish History adds over 5,000 new publications. The new update includes books, journal articles, book chapters and…

blog.history.ac.uk

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h

The irony is not noted in the RP piece.

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h

She was in dialogue with David Willetts. Power is persistent, even when it nominally goes away.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h

Apparently it means instead of support staff.

It would be quite nice if occasionally leaders speaking for science and for research recognised that not all research is bench science or located in STEM subjects. Severely unscientific to fail to do so: lots of data out there to the contrary.

Reposted by Greg Walker, Margot C. Finn, Michael Hancher

Mercedes Sheldon @mercedessheldon.bsky.social · 2h

Fab editorial by @umnenglish.bsky.social faculty.
"Majoring in English is by no means a bad investment of a student’s time and tuition dollars. ... While graduates with English degrees may start out earning less than peers in other fields, they out-earn them in the second half of their careers."

Counterpoint | Actually, English majors are thriving at the University of Minnesota

"As the chair of the English department, past English chair, and assistant dean of curriculum and instruction at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, we often find reports of the demise of ...

www.startribune.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h

Great. Now 'individual' grants are under attack, alongside staff doing too much research. Meanwhile research finances are described with no reference at all to student finances. And our VCs are all at fault for encouraging us to apply for grants that don't pay 100% FEC.

What are universities for?

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 4h

REF incentives stretch research funding, warns former UKRI boss.

Ottoline Leyser says quality-related distribution mechanism is leading to over-recruitment of principal investigators.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

REF incentives stretch research funding, warns former UKRI boss - Research Professional News

Ottoline Leyser says quality-related distribution mechanism is leading to over-recruitment of principal investigators

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2h

In theory was the promise of open access. In practice, it only works in part because: 1) actually publishing OA often requires either an APC/BPC or a 'transitional' agreement; 2) OA publication does not have global traction; 3) Discoverability of OA publications is poor, esp. if 'Green'.

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3h

The JBA is open access, so no need to worry about a paywall.

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 2d

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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Reposted by Margot C. Finn

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 4h

REF incentives stretch research funding, warns former UKRI boss - Research Professional News

Ottoline Leyser says quality-related distribution mechanism is leading to over-recruitment of principal investigators

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Reposted by Margot C. Finn

Oliver Markus Malloy @malloy.rocks · 4h

Trump has been inciting violence against Democrats for years.

His goal is to instigate a civil war and genocide.

Fascism is eliminationism.

“Make America great again” means “Eliminate all Democrats.”

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Reposted by Margot C. Finn

Liverpool University Press @livunipress.bsky.social · 6h

Most read in British Journal of Canadian Studies🍁
'‘The abiding condition was hunger’: assessing the long-term biological & health effects of malnutrition & hunger in Canada’s residential schools' by @ianmosby.bsky.social & Tracey Galloway @csnrec.bsky.social
Read it #OA: bit.ly/BJCS-Galloway-Mosby

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Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn

Jessica Kant @jessdkant.bsky.social · 6h

“These findings follow previous research which concluded that the more people learn about how AI works, the less they trust it. The opposite was also true — AI’s biggest fanboys tended to be those who understood the least about the tech.”

The More Scientists Work With AI, the Less They Trust It

A preliminary report shows that researchers' confidence in AI software dropped off a cliff over the last year.

futurism.com

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Reposted by Margot C. Finn

Society for the Social History of Medicine (SSHM) @sshmedicine.bsky.social · 6h

The 2026 SSHM Conference will be @universityofleeds.bsky.social. The theme will be In/Out and we are inviting papers that consider experiences of being in and/or out of health or health care in any period or geographical location. #HistMed #HistSTM
sshm.org/sshm-2026/

SSHM 2026: In/Out

Location: University of Leeds Dates: 30 June to 3 July 2026 Submission Deadline: 5.00pm (GMT) 11th January 2026 Conference Co-Convenors: Dr Alexia Moncrieff & Dr Katherine Rawling Conference Co…

sshm.org

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Reposted by Margot C. Finn

Lisa Smith @historybeagle.bsky.social · 7h

Pleased to see that an article I wrote w/ Rachel Rich, @adamcrymble.bsky.social and @sarahfoxhistory.bsky.social is out! We look at George III's use of food for masculine self-fashioning. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Self-Fashioning, Food, and Masculinity in George III’s Monarchy | The Historical Journal | Cambridge Core

Self-Fashioning, Food, and Masculinity in George III’s Monarchy

www.cambridge.org

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Reposted by Holger Nehring, Margot C. Finn, Carmen M. Mangion

Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · 9h

Bibliography of British and Irish History October 2025 update - On History

blog.history.ac.uk

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 11h

'An idea all but guaranteed to founder on the rock of imperfect data, legal challenge, and the adverse consequences of institutions entering quality/funding death spirals all the way to disorderly market exit.' @wonkhe.bsky.social 's Monday Briefing succinctly anatomises proposal to tie fees to TEF.

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Reposted by Patrick Walsh, Keith Lilley, Margot C. Finn

National Library of Scotland @natlibscot.bsky.social · 11h

This #MapMonday, explore historic maps of #Ireland!

We've added new georeferenced map layers to our Maps Images Website. View first and second edition one-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey of Ireland maps in our georeferenced and side-by-side viewers 🗺️

Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/...

side by side view of first and second edition ordnance survey maps for Waterford from National Library of Scotland website

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Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Margot C. Finn

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 11h

Research funders urged to drive culture shift on negative results.

Reform needed to improve trust in science, patient care and training of AI, advocates say.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h

'Of the 202 Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine this century, less than 70% hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize. The remaining 63 laureates left their country of birth before winning a Nobel prize, sometimes crossing international borders more than once'.

More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys

The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.

www.nature.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h

'Despite the diversity of the sector, it is specifically universities – and a particular, largely inaccurate popular perception of universities – that are being seen as a problem on the way to a skills-led solution rather than an underfunded and struggling keystone.'

We know the detail. But what's the story?

There's been enough hints about the content of the white paper - for David Kernohan what is still missing is a narrative

wonkhe.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h

'In a recent submission to the House of Commons Education Select Committee inquiry into university finances, the regulator spelled out how competition law might apply where higher education providers collaborate on course provision.' 3/3

committees.parliament.uk

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h

'In particular, universities have warned about their inability to address the disappearance of courses in some regions due to competition laws that prevent a group of providers from coming together to decide which institution could offer certain courses' 2/3

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h

'More degree subjects are likely to face extinction unless changes are made to competition laws to allow universities to work together to maintain certain courses, experts have said.' 1/3

Competition law exemption ‘needed to prevent courses dying out’

Attempts to quell universities’ fears about competition laws may actually be heightening anxiety over collaboration in cash-strapped sector

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h

'If the ceasefire holds, this language is an augur of the future. One where there is no reckoning, no addressing of root causes. Only a hurtling into the imperatives of cleanings-up and workings-out. All the while illegal occupation continues'.

While the perpetrators of Gaza’s genocide pose as its saviours, survivors return home – to a wasteland | Nesrine Malik

Western leaders attending the Sharm el-Sheikh summit have enabled and sponsored this slaughter. They are in no position to build a Palestinian future, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

www.theguardian.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h

'The Trades Union Congress, Communication Workers Union and leading figures in online safety have signed an open letter to Chi Onwurah MP, the Labour chair of the science, innovation and technology committee, calling for an investigation into the proposals.'

UK MPs urged to investigate TikTok’s plans to cut 439 content moderator jobs

Trade unions and online safety experts sign letter warning jobs losses could expose children to harmful content

www.theguardian.com

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d

'a recently published book titled Up the Youth Club, by the journalist and writer Emma Warren, is both a superb work of social history, and a passionate call for a newly energised, modern version of everything she writes about.'

Britain's youth clubs have been quietly decimated. What's most revealing is that few seem to care | John Harris

These vital spaces have been the first targets of cuts in a nation that favours age over youth – despite being the remedy for blights such as social division, polarisation and loneliness, says Guardia...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Tom Shakespeare, Martin Paul Eve, Margot C. Finn , and 3 more Tom Shakespeare, Martin Paul Eve, Margot C. Finn, Michael H. Whitworth, Pauline Stafford, Vaughan S. Roberts

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d

'To meet the demand, a fundraiser has been launched to print out 10,000 posters and distribute them across the city.' 2/2

Donate to 'Brummies United Against Racism and Hate' Poster Campaign, organized by Brummies United

Help Us Flood Birmingham with a Message of Unity and Hope … Brummies United needs your support for 'Brummies United Against Racism and Hate' Poster Campaign

www.gofundme.com

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 1d

'The Birmingham campaign has been inundated with people who want to show solidarity with people of colour and religious minorities under increasing threat.' 1/2

‘Brummies united against racism’: poster campaign takes on the far right

A message of neighbourly solidarity is thriving in Birmingham against a backdrop of racist intimidation

www.theguardian.com

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