Hetan Shah
@hetanshah.bsky.social
Chief Executive, The British Academy
Chair, Our World in Data
Board, National Audit Office
Visiting Professor, Kings College London
Fellow, Birkbeck College
Views my own
Chair, Our World in Data
Board, National Audit Office
Visiting Professor, Kings College London
Fellow, Birkbeck College
Views my own
Pinned
Hetan Shah
@hetanshah.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Tony Blair is wrong – AI will not magically solve our public services
Too many people might be left out of its revolution.
www.newstatesman.com
'Taking the time to do things right isn’t anti-innovation – it is what is required to get deep-rooted change in social systems.'
My piece on AI and public services in this week's @newstatesman.com
www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024...
My piece on AI and public services in this week's @newstatesman.com
www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024...
The video recording of this event is now available online at the same link below
If you are free tomorrow night I’m chairing this rather good panel on what we can do to respond to environmental crisis vs the role of government or business. If you are in London you can come in person. If not (or if it’s too cold) you can tune in online
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/livin...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/livin...
Ask the Experts: Can people power drive environmental action?
Environmental breakdown can impact our lives in immediate and personal ways, yet many feel powerless to act and find the solutions out of reach. This is your opportunity to put questions to our expert...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The video recording of this event is now available online at the same link below
‘To put it simply, the EU is struggling to decide whether to view the UK as a partner or an economic competitor.’ @anandmenon.bsky.social gets to the nub of things
www.ft.com/content/0e5e...
www.ft.com/content/0e5e...
Will the UK and EU choose to be partners or rivals?
From defence collaboration to energy, the bloc is struggling to decide how to view its former member
www.ft.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:01 AM
‘To put it simply, the EU is struggling to decide whether to view the UK as a partner or an economic competitor.’ @anandmenon.bsky.social gets to the nub of things
www.ft.com/content/0e5e...
www.ft.com/content/0e5e...
There are clear failings in how GPs assess and support people living with frailty, with worrying unexplained variation in practice across England - our new @nao.org.uk report
www.theguardian.com/society/2025... (full report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/prim...)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025... (full report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/prim...)
GPs failing older people living with frailty, National Audit Office finds
Of patients diagnosed with condition in 2024/25, only 18% were assessed for fall risk and just 16% had a medical review
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:02 AM
There are clear failings in how GPs assess and support people living with frailty, with worrying unexplained variation in practice across England - our new @nao.org.uk report
www.theguardian.com/society/2025... (full report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/prim...)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025... (full report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/prim...)
Reposted by Hetan Shah
Chickens have quadrupled in size too...
www.economist.com/internationa...
www.economist.com/internationa...
December 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Chickens have quadrupled in size too...
www.economist.com/internationa...
www.economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Hetan Shah
This AI = machine learning. Basically, Zanskar trains AI models on huge volumes of satellite and geological data (etc.) to narrow down candidate geothermal sites.
A great example of AI that's nothing to do with large language models / chatbots.
A great example of AI that's nothing to do with large language models / chatbots.
Zanskar uses AI to identify hidden geothermal systems—and claims it has found one that could fuel a power plant, the first such discovery by industry in decades. www.wired.com/story/startu...
A Startup Says It Has Found a Hidden Source of Geothermal Energy
Zanskar uses AI to identify hidden geothermal systems—and claims it has found one that could fuel a power plant, the first such discovery by industry in decades.
www.wired.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:13 PM
This AI = machine learning. Basically, Zanskar trains AI models on huge volumes of satellite and geological data (etc.) to narrow down candidate geothermal sites.
A great example of AI that's nothing to do with large language models / chatbots.
A great example of AI that's nothing to do with large language models / chatbots.
Reposted by Hetan Shah
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us last night at the British Academy Festive Parliamentary Reception.
@wmarybeard.bsky.social spoke powerfully about why, now more than ever, the humanities and social sciences need to be recognised and celebrated.
@wmarybeard.bsky.social spoke powerfully about why, now more than ever, the humanities and social sciences need to be recognised and celebrated.
Energising, vital talk at our annual @britishacademy.bsky.social Parliamentary reception from @wmarybeard.bsky.social about how the humanities are absolute essentials in a democracy that keep a culture going
December 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us last night at the British Academy Festive Parliamentary Reception.
@wmarybeard.bsky.social spoke powerfully about why, now more than ever, the humanities and social sciences need to be recognised and celebrated.
@wmarybeard.bsky.social spoke powerfully about why, now more than ever, the humanities and social sciences need to be recognised and celebrated.
Energising, vital talk at our annual @britishacademy.bsky.social Parliamentary reception from @wmarybeard.bsky.social about how the humanities are absolute essentials in a democracy that keep a culture going
December 3, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Energising, vital talk at our annual @britishacademy.bsky.social Parliamentary reception from @wmarybeard.bsky.social about how the humanities are absolute essentials in a democracy that keep a culture going
We’ve been helping the Department for Energy and Net Zero to think about how to better engage the public in their work - very pleased to see this reflected in their new Energising Britain plan
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
We’ve been helping the Department for Energy and Net Zero to think about how to better engage the public in their work - very pleased to see this reflected in their new Energising Britain plan
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Hetan Shah
The data really shows how coastal towns got hit hard. A 'de-servisiation' that isnt given the policy attention that goes to 'deindustrialisation'. But the impact is very significant on coastal towns.
There is one coastal town that has gone up.... Brighton. Which has two universities.
There is one coastal town that has gone up.... Brighton. Which has two universities.
December 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The data really shows how coastal towns got hit hard. A 'de-servisiation' that isnt given the policy attention that goes to 'deindustrialisation'. But the impact is very significant on coastal towns.
There is one coastal town that has gone up.... Brighton. Which has two universities.
There is one coastal town that has gone up.... Brighton. Which has two universities.
Reposted by Hetan Shah
In the business this is known as Human Centipede (Final Sequence) ♻️
Your universe is a photocopy of a photocopy of a…
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
December 3, 2025 at 8:46 AM
In the business this is known as Human Centipede (Final Sequence) ♻️
‘The challenge of bloc politics is primarily around maximising strength within your own bloc… while staying moderate enough to avoid scaring voters in the other bloc into coordinating themselves more effectively & turning out in higher numbers.’ @samfr.bsky.social
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Six lessons from the 2024 election
And what they mean for the next one
samf.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:49 AM
‘The challenge of bloc politics is primarily around maximising strength within your own bloc… while staying moderate enough to avoid scaring voters in the other bloc into coordinating themselves more effectively & turning out in higher numbers.’ @samfr.bsky.social
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
Reposted by Hetan Shah
One for @hetanshah.bsky.social on the impact of the arts....
December 2, 2025 at 12:09 PM
One for @hetanshah.bsky.social on the impact of the arts....
Hannah Durkin’s Survivors wins the Wolfson History Prize 2025!
December 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Hannah Durkin’s Survivors wins the Wolfson History Prize 2025!
‘The whodunnit for modern Brussels: who killed the single market dream?’
on.ft.com/3M7d0oo
on.ft.com/3M7d0oo
Who killed Europe’s single market dream?
A decades-long effort to tear down internal trade barriers has stalled, leaving the EU economy ‘tagging along behind’
on.ft.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:58 AM
‘The whodunnit for modern Brussels: who killed the single market dream?’
on.ft.com/3M7d0oo
on.ft.com/3M7d0oo
So kid, in your heart you want to study humanities but you worry about your job prospects? Let’s play a game.
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
December 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
So kid, in your heart you want to study humanities but you worry about your job prospects? Let’s play a game.
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
Great interview with New Zealand anthropologist and @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Anne Salmond including this on life as a female academic
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
December 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Great interview with New Zealand anthropologist and @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Anne Salmond including this on life as a female academic
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/da...
As the Government prepares to publish its child poverty strategy a joint @acmedsci.bsky.social @britishacademy.bsky.social roundtable report on the factors affecting educational performance shows tackling poverty should be a priority
acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/de...
acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/de...
‘Devastating’ health impacts of child poverty require action, Academy urges
acmedsci.ac.uk
December 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
As the Government prepares to publish its child poverty strategy a joint @acmedsci.bsky.social @britishacademy.bsky.social roundtable report on the factors affecting educational performance shows tackling poverty should be a priority
acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/de...
acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/de...
Reposted by Hetan Shah
‘Was Musk just doing it for the lulz? It wasn’t entirely clear. It was all just too good — almost too good to be true, and the funniest thing of all was that it was true.’
@jemima.bsky.social captures the magical realism of Doge
on.ft.com/4olBkjP
@jemima.bsky.social captures the magical realism of Doge
on.ft.com/4olBkjP
Doge, crypto and the end of the lol era
Running the White House and launching memecoins once seemed so simple — more than that, it seemed hilarious
on.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM
‘Was Musk just doing it for the lulz? It wasn’t entirely clear. It was all just too good — almost too good to be true, and the funniest thing of all was that it was true.’
@jemima.bsky.social captures the magical realism of Doge
on.ft.com/4olBkjP
@jemima.bsky.social captures the magical realism of Doge
on.ft.com/4olBkjP
'Without judgement, abundance is useless.' Thoughtful longread from @jimdickinson.bsky.social about how AI is stripping things away to uncover what is actually valuable about higher education
wonkhe.com/blogs/the-en...
wonkhe.com/blogs/the-en...
The end of pretend – AI and the case for universities of formation
Jim Dickinson reflects on the end of scarcity, the rise of AI, and the challenge to a system of higher education built on pretence, performance and proxies Jim Dickinson reflects on the end of scarcit...
wonkhe.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:17 AM
'Without judgement, abundance is useless.' Thoughtful longread from @jimdickinson.bsky.social about how AI is stripping things away to uncover what is actually valuable about higher education
wonkhe.com/blogs/the-en...
wonkhe.com/blogs/the-en...
‘According to a poll of executives by Deloitte, a consultancy, and the Centre for AI, Management and Organisation at Hong Kong University, 45% reported returns from AI initiatives that were below their expectations. Only 10% reported their expectations being exceeded.’
economist.com/finance-and-...
economist.com/finance-and-...
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
economist.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:48 AM
‘According to a poll of executives by Deloitte, a consultancy, and the Centre for AI, Management and Organisation at Hong Kong University, 45% reported returns from AI initiatives that were below their expectations. Only 10% reported their expectations being exceeded.’
economist.com/finance-and-...
economist.com/finance-and-...
This is good. If anyone wants to do something similar in humanities and social sciences give me a shout
on.ft.com/48pT7jP
on.ft.com/48pT7jP
Trading firm XTX donates £26mn for maths research at UK universities
Billionaire Alex Gerko says Britain is missing out on top academic talent
on.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:44 AM
This is good. If anyone wants to do something similar in humanities and social sciences give me a shout
on.ft.com/48pT7jP
on.ft.com/48pT7jP
Reposted by Hetan Shah
The only reason to keep panettone in the house is in case of a water leak/flood when you’ll need something spectacularly dry and absorbent to soak it up. The sandbag of festive food 🤷♀️
November 30, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The only reason to keep panettone in the house is in case of a water leak/flood when you’ll need something spectacularly dry and absorbent to soak it up. The sandbag of festive food 🤷♀️
‘If self-driving cars are shared, like taxis, they won’t need central parking. If they are mostly owned, which I guess will happen quickly, and can be summoned on demand, we might not need to park them outside our homes. This would free up a huge amount of road space’
Self-driving cars and why I think they might fix England's unusually weak second city economies. tomforth.co.uk/selfdrivingc...
Self-driving cars in England’s big cities.
Self-driving cars might make England's big cities rich again. Maybe.
tomforth.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 12:37 AM
‘If self-driving cars are shared, like taxis, they won’t need central parking. If they are mostly owned, which I guess will happen quickly, and can be summoned on demand, we might not need to park them outside our homes. This would free up a huge amount of road space’
The absolute truth from @nigella.bsky.social on panettone
November 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
The absolute truth from @nigella.bsky.social on panettone