Alastair Litterick
@aj-litt.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Essex. Algebra, geometry, representation theory, computation. STEM Ambassador. Views my own. ajlitterick.github.io
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
Leaders of the free world stand united in London
The United States is not among them
The United States is not among them
March 2, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Leaders of the free world stand united in London
The United States is not among them
The United States is not among them
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
EXCLUSIVE: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions.
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
Exclusive: Hegseth orders Cyber Command to stand down on Russia planning
The secretary of Defense has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, sources tell Recorded Future News.
therecord.media
February 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions.
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
“At some point we will probably have to leave the ECHR”
says Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch today
Joining Russia & Belarus as the only European countries outside the European Convention on Human Rights is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA - THIS IS WHY
youtu.be/y1A2-eNFsmw?...
says Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch today
Joining Russia & Belarus as the only European countries outside the European Convention on Human Rights is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA - THIS IS WHY
youtu.be/y1A2-eNFsmw?...
Joining Russia & Belarus as only European countries outside ECHR is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA-THIS IS WHY
YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic
youtu.be
February 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
“At some point we will probably have to leave the ECHR”
says Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch today
Joining Russia & Belarus as the only European countries outside the European Convention on Human Rights is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA - THIS IS WHY
youtu.be/y1A2-eNFsmw?...
says Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch today
Joining Russia & Belarus as the only European countries outside the European Convention on Human Rights is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA - THIS IS WHY
youtu.be/y1A2-eNFsmw?...
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
My friend @mathyadriana.bsky.social lost her job last week, and I want you to know the story:
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
on approaching hard problems
Friends, colleagues, and lovers of words, I usually use this space to talk about books, but today I want to tell you about my friend Adriana Salerno. Like...
buttondown.com
February 22, 2025 at 8:18 PM
My friend @mathyadriana.bsky.social lost her job last week, and I want you to know the story:
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
buttondown.com/yarntheory/a...
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
I don't think Nigel wants to upset the American establishment...
Politics latest: Farage under fire for 'silence' on Trump's Zelenskyy attacks
Nigel Farage has been challenged as to why he hasn't condemned Donald Trump's attacks against Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey have all offered their support to Ukraine's…
buff.ly
February 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I don't think Nigel wants to upset the American establishment...
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
I don't object to high pay for VCs in the context of salaries for comparable roles under late capitalism. (I object to late capitalism, but that's another story).
But I do object to executive pay rising year-on-year when the rest of us suffer real terms pay cuts year-on-year.
But I do object to executive pay rising year-on-year when the rest of us suffer real terms pay cuts year-on-year.
Average pay packages for vice-chancellors at UK universities have increased by £40,000 – to over £340,000 – in just three years, according to Times Higher Education analysis #AcademicSky #EduSky
Average v-c pay tops £340,000 as rises outpace rank-and-file
Union describes results of THE analysis as ‘sickening’ amid spate of redundancies and course closures in crisis-hit universities
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I don't object to high pay for VCs in the context of salaries for comparable roles under late capitalism. (I object to late capitalism, but that's another story).
But I do object to executive pay rising year-on-year when the rest of us suffer real terms pay cuts year-on-year.
But I do object to executive pay rising year-on-year when the rest of us suffer real terms pay cuts year-on-year.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
Absolutely spot on from Rory Stewart
February 2, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Absolutely spot on from Rory Stewart
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
It would take whoever is producing this show a matter of seconds to check Portes is correct, and say that in the presenters' ears. This absurd, defensive both-sidesism by the hosts is an abrogation of the BBC's responsibility (again).
Emma Trimble, "1 in 12 people in London are illegal immigrants"
Professor Jonathan Portes, "Emma has taken that figure from a story in The Telegraph.. That story was a lie.. The Telegraph has corrected it, The Times has corrected it.. The Sun has corrected it.. And The Daily Mail has corrected it"
Professor Jonathan Portes, "Emma has taken that figure from a story in The Telegraph.. That story was a lie.. The Telegraph has corrected it, The Times has corrected it.. The Sun has corrected it.. And The Daily Mail has corrected it"
February 2, 2025 at 9:11 PM
It would take whoever is producing this show a matter of seconds to check Portes is correct, and say that in the presenters' ears. This absurd, defensive both-sidesism by the hosts is an abrogation of the BBC's responsibility (again).
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
One in six UK workers are skipping meals to make ends meet say @the-tuc.bsky.social
This is 2025. Work should enable us to flourish and grow, not just survive. If you’re not in a union join one now
www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion
This is 2025. Work should enable us to flourish and grow, not just survive. If you’re not in a union join one now
www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion
January 13, 2025 at 7:07 AM
One in six UK workers are skipping meals to make ends meet say @the-tuc.bsky.social
This is 2025. Work should enable us to flourish and grow, not just survive. If you’re not in a union join one now
www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion
This is 2025. Work should enable us to flourish and grow, not just survive. If you’re not in a union join one now
www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
“It wasn’t that she thought her history teacher was lying. It was just so hard to believe the world had ever trusted and loved men like that. Bullies, that’s what they were.”
January 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
“It wasn’t that she thought her history teacher was lying. It was just so hard to believe the world had ever trusted and loved men like that. Bullies, that’s what they were.”
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
Watch them change their tune in about 0.0001 seconds when it looks like their local uni is going bust.
Most UK adults think universities have enough money, poll finds.
Only 32 per cent of respondents felt universities have too little money.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Only 32 per cent of respondents felt universities have too little money.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
December 19, 2024 at 9:18 AM
Watch them change their tune in about 0.0001 seconds when it looks like their local uni is going bust.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
I wrote a piece about how Silicon Valley AI companies need universities. The AI sector is bleeding money, AI teaching clones are on our doorstep, but there are alternatives, like Te Hiku Media’s Indigenous AI tool. #TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
Universities must beware of reliance on big AI (opinion)
Building reliance on Silicon Valley AI companies carries risks, Collin Bjork writes.
www.insidehighered.com
December 7, 2024 at 9:02 AM
I wrote a piece about how Silicon Valley AI companies need universities. The AI sector is bleeding money, AI teaching clones are on our doorstep, but there are alternatives, like Te Hiku Media’s Indigenous AI tool. #TeamRhetoric #WritingStudies www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
UK research declines: 'In England, this has been compounded by a 16% drop in real-terms QR funding from 2010/11-2024/25 compared to an increase in Research Council grant funding over the same period, with more severe declines in the value of QR-equivalent funding...in the devolved administrations.'
Briefing - The impact of QR funding
russellgroup.ac.uk
December 13, 2024 at 7:34 AM
UK research declines: 'In England, this has been compounded by a 16% drop in real-terms QR funding from 2010/11-2024/25 compared to an increase in Research Council grant funding over the same period, with more severe declines in the value of QR-equivalent funding...in the devolved administrations.'
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
'Universities are starting to ask questions about how much research they can afford to do, and whether to cap their losses, bringing “difficult decisions about the activities they can continue to pursue”, according to senior figures in the sector.' Sadly, 'starting' started earlier than this.
Universities ‘asking how much research they can afford to do’ - Research Professional News
Crisis in universities’ finances spells “difficult decisions about research activity they can continue”, leaders warn
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 11, 2024 at 10:48 AM
'Universities are starting to ask questions about how much research they can afford to do, and whether to cap their losses, bringing “difficult decisions about the activities they can continue to pursue”, according to senior figures in the sector.' Sadly, 'starting' started earlier than this.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
I want to watch TV coverage of the live fall of the Syrian regime.
CNN is airing a Giuliani documentary, Fox News has a comedian joking about Canada, MSNBC a documentary about migrants
So I turned on BBC,which is breathlessly switching between Syria, South Korea demonstrations, and Ghana election
CNN is airing a Giuliani documentary, Fox News has a comedian joking about Canada, MSNBC a documentary about migrants
So I turned on BBC,which is breathlessly switching between Syria, South Korea demonstrations, and Ghana election
December 8, 2024 at 3:21 AM
I want to watch TV coverage of the live fall of the Syrian regime.
CNN is airing a Giuliani documentary, Fox News has a comedian joking about Canada, MSNBC a documentary about migrants
So I turned on BBC,which is breathlessly switching between Syria, South Korea demonstrations, and Ghana election
CNN is airing a Giuliani documentary, Fox News has a comedian joking about Canada, MSNBC a documentary about migrants
So I turned on BBC,which is breathlessly switching between Syria, South Korea demonstrations, and Ghana election
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
So about ten years ago I found a small network of bots on Reddit dedicated to spreading hate. The thing about it is that these weren't even responding to political topics - they were just responding to random keywords with insults and hate.
The same bots are now here. You should understand why. 🧵
The same bots are now here. You should understand why. 🧵
this is kind of a niche issue but: if you are getting weird and hostile responses that feel a little off, there are some folks on here making accounts that automatically reply to large quantities of posts in a vaguely hostile manner. you can ignore them, and also, it's not personal
December 3, 2024 at 1:55 PM
So about ten years ago I found a small network of bots on Reddit dedicated to spreading hate. The thing about it is that these weren't even responding to political topics - they were just responding to random keywords with insults and hate.
The same bots are now here. You should understand why. 🧵
The same bots are now here. You should understand why. 🧵
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
The idea of conducting Research Excellence and Teaching Excellence Frameworks in these conditions (as well as National Student Survey) is a bit ridiculous really. Loads of the depts and schools they're covering won't even exist in two or three years.
There's no doubt whatsoever that British Higher Ed is in headlong retreat. All the stuff Ministers talk about - Widening Participation, more intense teaching, local links, regional growth - is Potemkin Village fantasy. It just won't and can't happen. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sussex University: Hundreds of jobs up for voluntary redundancy
After other cost-saving measures, the vice-chancellor has launched a voluntary redundancy scheme.
www.google.com
December 3, 2024 at 8:45 PM
The idea of conducting Research Excellence and Teaching Excellence Frameworks in these conditions (as well as National Student Survey) is a bit ridiculous really. Loads of the depts and schools they're covering won't even exist in two or three years.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
I've tried explaining The Great University Disaster to people outside education too, and they just look at me with incomprehension and say 'it can't possibly be that bad'. The first thing many voters will hear about it is when a big providers goes spectacularly bust.
not an original observation but i was just explaining that the UK higher ed sector is in a bad financial position to my mum (who’s lived in austria all her life) and it is actually a very strange thing to explain that the ‘education sector’ is struggling
December 2, 2024 at 9:10 PM
I've tried explaining The Great University Disaster to people outside education too, and they just look at me with incomprehension and say 'it can't possibly be that bad'. The first thing many voters will hear about it is when a big providers goes spectacularly bust.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
Unless and until OfS is abolished and replaced with a planning body, no amount of fee rises will stop (1) universities shrinking radically and (2) A-Levels being devalued. That will make unis and the govt more and more unpopular as The Nothing from the Neverending Story eats the sector.
November 30, 2024 at 6:09 PM
Unless and until OfS is abolished and replaced with a planning body, no amount of fee rises will stop (1) universities shrinking radically and (2) A-Levels being devalued. That will make unis and the govt more and more unpopular as The Nothing from the Neverending Story eats the sector.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
The university in the cuts spotlight today is Essex, where 200 jobs are to go. Britain - the stupid country. www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
University of Essex to cut 200 staff amid £29 million deficit
They will introduce a voluntary severance scheme to achieve this
www.essexlive.news
November 28, 2024 at 5:41 PM
The university in the cuts spotlight today is Essex, where 200 jobs are to go. Britain - the stupid country. www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
Given recent HE news, I'm re-upping my 'what working in UK HE feels like at the moment' post in case it's useful for anyone to have to share with folks who... may not know what it's like.
What working in UK HE feels like at the moment
I’m writing this post because I felt moved to make consolatory comments to two separate people’s posts about the state of UK higher education on Bluesky on a single day. In doing so, I …
lizgloyn.wordpress.com
November 26, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Given recent HE news, I'm re-upping my 'what working in UK HE feels like at the moment' post in case it's useful for anyone to have to share with folks who... may not know what it's like.
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
With Leeds Trinity and Loughborough we're now actually at 83, or exactly half of the 166 universities @timeshighered.bsky.social counts.
HALF OF OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE SHEDDING STAFF. In a normal timeline, politicians would care about this and try to do *something*, *anything*, right?
HALF OF OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE SHEDDING STAFF. In a normal timeline, politicians would care about this and try to do *something*, *anything*, right?
UK HE shrinking
This is a live page of all the redundancies, restructures, reorganisations, and closures taking place across the sector at the moment. Solidarity to all. This sector is vital to the country’s…
qmucu.org
November 26, 2024 at 9:32 PM
With Leeds Trinity and Loughborough we're now actually at 83, or exactly half of the 166 universities @timeshighered.bsky.social counts.
HALF OF OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE SHEDDING STAFF. In a normal timeline, politicians would care about this and try to do *something*, *anything*, right?
HALF OF OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE SHEDDING STAFF. In a normal timeline, politicians would care about this and try to do *something*, *anything*, right?
Reposted by Alastair Litterick
If you're an academic, you know Elsevier's influence on research and scholarship has been bad. Read this thread to learn how it's actually a lot worse than you thought.
Elsevier products: ScienceDirect, Scopus, Mendeley, SciVal, SSRN, Pure, Interfolio. . .and that's not all.
"They know what you are working on, they know what you are submitting, they know the results of your peer reviews. They control every part of the process and register every action you take."
"They know what you are working on, they know what you are submitting, they know the results of your peer reviews. They control every part of the process and register every action you take."
Elsevier’s stranglehold on academia: How publishers get rich off our data
Academic publishers’ most valuable asset used to be their journals. Now, it’s the data they collect from researchers and then sell. That is extremely concerning, a growing group of Groningen researche...
ukrant.nl
November 25, 2024 at 11:25 PM
If you're an academic, you know Elsevier's influence on research and scholarship has been bad. Read this thread to learn how it's actually a lot worse than you thought.