Clare Hickman
@drhick.bsky.social
Environmental & medical historian at Newcastle University - hospitals, gardens, landscapes, senses, inclusive interpretation, story teller.
Reposted by Clare Hickman
I am very pleased and grateful to share this announcement of our recent award from the @wellcometrust.bsky.social for a project on history of smallpox and measles #histmed #histsci news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h... The project will be based @exeter.ac.uk @cceh-u24.bsky.social led by ... 1/2
Exeter scholars secure significant research funding to investigate the early history of Smallpox and Measles
The early histories of smallpox and measles – and the insight they might offer to contemporary health and medicine – will be under the microscope of a new research project. Pustules, Palaeogenetics an...
news.exeter.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I am very pleased and grateful to share this announcement of our recent award from the @wellcometrust.bsky.social for a project on history of smallpox and measles #histmed #histsci news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h... The project will be based @exeter.ac.uk @cceh-u24.bsky.social led by ... 1/2
Reposted by Clare Hickman
"Mice seem to assist pregnant females when they get into difficulty giving birth, with experienced mothers being the most helpful. This is thought to be the first official sighting of such assistance in non-primates, and so expands our knowledge of caregiving behaviours across the animal kingdom."
Mouse 'midwives' help their pregnant companions give birth
Scientists have observed mice helping each other when they encounter difficulties during birth, prompting a rethink of caregiving among rodents and other animals
www.newscientist.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"Mice seem to assist pregnant females when they get into difficulty giving birth, with experienced mothers being the most helpful. This is thought to be the first official sighting of such assistance in non-primates, and so expands our knowledge of caregiving behaviours across the animal kingdom."
Reposted by Clare Hickman
An ITV video here about Mary Ann Macham, and her history in North Shields -
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
November 21, 2025 at 8:39 AM
An ITV video here about Mary Ann Macham, and her history in North Shields -
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
Looking forward to speaking at the 'Air Matters' Symposium tomorrow organised by Tatiana Konrad and Savannah Schaufler. Lots of interesting papers! Free to join online. More info here airproject.univie.ac.at
airproject.univie.ac.at
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Looking forward to speaking at the 'Air Matters' Symposium tomorrow organised by Tatiana Konrad and Savannah Schaufler. Lots of interesting papers! Free to join online. More info here airproject.univie.ac.at
Reposted by Clare Hickman
'The Innovation for Growth Summit, taking place at the Science Museum in London on 24 November, will focus on the “central role” of research and innovation in the government’s growth agenda and industrial strategy. It comes two days before the chancellor delivers her... autumn budget.' 1/3
‘Strategic realignment’ underway at UKRI, says chief executive.
Ian Chapman says funding agency is responding to government priorities ahead of pre-budget summit.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Ian Chapman says funding agency is responding to government priorities ahead of pre-budget summit.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘Strategic realignment’ underway at UKRI, says chief executive - Research Professional News
Ian Chapman says funding agency is responding to government priorities ahead of pre-budget summit
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
'The Innovation for Growth Summit, taking place at the Science Museum in London on 24 November, will focus on the “central role” of research and innovation in the government’s growth agenda and industrial strategy. It comes two days before the chancellor delivers her... autumn budget.' 1/3
Thanks so much to all our speakers & participants. It was a really stimulating discussion and great to meet so many new people with similar interests! #signs #objects #barriers #inclusion #ContestedSpaces
A thought-provoking couple of hours at a roundtable organised by @drhick.bsky.social & @catherinemax.bsky.social on objects (signs, barriers, fences, etc) in public space and their relationship to access, belonging and more, against the backdrop of the Farrell Centre’s Keep on the Grass exhibition.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Thanks so much to all our speakers & participants. It was a really stimulating discussion and great to meet so many new people with similar interests! #signs #objects #barriers #inclusion #ContestedSpaces
Reposted by Clare Hickman
If you ask historians of medicine what keeps them up at night, many will not say a new plague or bioterrorism, they will answer, "antibiotic resistance."
November 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
If you ask historians of medicine what keeps them up at night, many will not say a new plague or bioterrorism, they will answer, "antibiotic resistance."
Reposted by Clare Hickman
The screening study will target hidden exposure to lead in children and lays the groundwork for nationwide testing. The initiative follows a two-year FT investigation that revealed millions of Britons may be unknowingly exposed to the toxic metal. on.ft.com/47K8Ivp
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 AM
The screening study will target hidden exposure to lead in children and lays the groundwork for nationwide testing. The initiative follows a two-year FT investigation that revealed millions of Britons may be unknowingly exposed to the toxic metal. on.ft.com/47K8Ivp
Reposted by Clare Hickman
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Clare Hickman
I'm really looking forward to contributing to this event next week (18th November) around inclusion in public spaces - there's still time to book a place!
@catherinemax.bsky.social and I are convening a practitioner/policy/academic roundtable and discussion covering themes such as inclusion in public spaces. Also featuring the work of @draflint.bsky.social (who is speaking at the event) and myself as part of All Footsteps. Get in touch if interested!
Based in/near Newcastle? @drhick.bsky.social
and I convening a roundtable on 18th, exploring how signs, fences and barriers affect our experience of place. Inspired by my “Keep On the Grass" exhibition
now at the Farrell Centre.
Contact me if interested in participating.
and I convening a roundtable on 18th, exploring how signs, fences and barriers affect our experience of place. Inspired by my “Keep On the Grass" exhibition
now at the Farrell Centre.
Contact me if interested in participating.
November 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I'm really looking forward to contributing to this event next week (18th November) around inclusion in public spaces - there's still time to book a place!
Reposted by Clare Hickman
I'm not sure if others have noticed this, but interesting that one of the Prescott criticisms of the BBC is based on those of the 'History Reclaimed' group, which is also associated with the 'Restore Trust' group's attacks on & so far unsuccessful attempts to take control of the National Trust. 1/3
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I'm not sure if others have noticed this, but interesting that one of the Prescott criticisms of the BBC is based on those of the 'History Reclaimed' group, which is also associated with the 'Restore Trust' group's attacks on & so far unsuccessful attempts to take control of the National Trust. 1/3
Reposted by Clare Hickman
My colleague Marie-Theres Fojuth has advertised a fully funded 3-year PhD Fellowship in Museum Education @unistavanger.bsky.social with the «Into the Fjords: Blue Museums as Arenas of Learning about Vulnerable Ecosystems (FJORDS)» project. Perfect for Scandinavian-speaking #envhum #envhist people!
PhD Fellowship in Museum Education (288983) | University of Stavanger
Job title: PhD Fellowship in Museum Education (288983), Employer: University of Stavanger, Deadline: Sunday, January 4, 2026
www.jobbnorge.no
November 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
My colleague Marie-Theres Fojuth has advertised a fully funded 3-year PhD Fellowship in Museum Education @unistavanger.bsky.social with the «Into the Fjords: Blue Museums as Arenas of Learning about Vulnerable Ecosystems (FJORDS)» project. Perfect for Scandinavian-speaking #envhum #envhist people!
Reposted by Clare Hickman
One final note... Do check out the blog post breaking down the "Whose News" article. It would be a good place for students or those new to computational methods to start before tackling the article itself!
github.com/Living-with-...
github.com/Living-with-...
GitHub - Living-with-machines/whose_news: Code for the CHR paper "Whose News? Critical methods for assessing bias and missingness in large historical datasets"
Code for the CHR paper "Whose News? Critical methods for assessing bias and missingness in large historical datasets" - Living-with-machines/whose_news
github.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
One final note... Do check out the blog post breaking down the "Whose News" article. It would be a good place for students or those new to computational methods to start before tackling the article itself!
github.com/Living-with-...
github.com/Living-with-...
Reposted by Clare Hickman
power, data and birds on the loneliest road in america: www.ft.com/content/729d...
The AI boom comes to America’s loneliest place
Plans for a 230-mile transmission line threaten Nevada’s wilderness and have united hunters and wildlife groups
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:21 PM
power, data and birds on the loneliest road in america: www.ft.com/content/729d...
Reposted by Clare Hickman
💥Opportunity @mrcwarwick.bsky.social.
🚨 Archive Job Alert 🚨
📜 Fancy working with our fantastic archive collections?
We're looking for a *new* MRC Manager to lead our service!
Could this be YOU?
Find out more about the role at warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
More about the MRC at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...
📜 Fancy working with our fantastic archive collections?
We're looking for a *new* MRC Manager to lead our service!
Could this be YOU?
Find out more about the role at warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
More about the MRC at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...
November 10, 2025 at 11:24 AM
💥Opportunity @mrcwarwick.bsky.social.
Reposted by Clare Hickman
Special book talk today - we do not only talk about books, we also occasionally write them! Join @finnarne.me and @medievalpenguin.bsky.social in discussing Ghosts Behind Glass with @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social. #envhum #envhist
Tomorrow (Monday, Nov 10) the tables are turned: I’m the guest on the Greenhouse #envhum book talk to discuss Ghosts Behind Glass with @finnarne.me & guest host @medievalpenguin.bsky.social
Join us online for the discussion! 4pm CET/3pm GMT/10am EST
newnatures.org/greenhouse/e...
Join us online for the discussion! 4pm CET/3pm GMT/10am EST
newnatures.org/greenhouse/e...
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Special book talk today - we do not only talk about books, we also occasionally write them! Join @finnarne.me and @medievalpenguin.bsky.social in discussing Ghosts Behind Glass with @dollyjorgensen.bsky.social. #envhum #envhist
Reposted by Clare Hickman
This SI places plant and multispecies studies in dialogue with anthropological debates on emplacement, displacement, mobilities and migration. Highly recommend!
The latest Open Access issue of The Cambridge Journal of Anthropology has been published! View the TOC for this Special Issue on "Making Place with Plants: Intimacy, Mobility and Displacement," here: bit.ly/4qLWERG
@lianachua.bsky.social
@giuliacarabelli.bsky.social
@heikedrotbohm.bsky.social
@lianachua.bsky.social
@giuliacarabelli.bsky.social
@heikedrotbohm.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
This SI places plant and multispecies studies in dialogue with anthropological debates on emplacement, displacement, mobilities and migration. Highly recommend!
Reposted by Clare Hickman
“When you erase history, you make it easier to repeat…It’s about shaping what people believe about America itself…if the struggles of Black Americans are scrubbed…then it becomes easier to claim that systemic racism never existed in the first place. And that’s the real goal.” - Julian Vasquez Heili
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
“When you erase history, you make it easier to repeat…It’s about shaping what people believe about America itself…if the struggles of Black Americans are scrubbed…then it becomes easier to claim that systemic racism never existed in the first place. And that’s the real goal.” - Julian Vasquez Heili
Reposted by Clare Hickman
My great-grandad was a piano tuner from Huddersfield. He was conscripted into the army during the First World War, and had an awful time. After I found out a bit about what he went through, I wrote a short story. I thought today might be a good day to share it. richarddsmyth.com/2025/11/09/n...
New short story: ‘FP Number Two’
The sky shivers with fever and there are devils on the roofs of the public houses.
richarddsmyth.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
My great-grandad was a piano tuner from Huddersfield. He was conscripted into the army during the First World War, and had an awful time. After I found out a bit about what he went through, I wrote a short story. I thought today might be a good day to share it. richarddsmyth.com/2025/11/09/n...
Reposted by Clare Hickman
“Franklin did not succeed, partly because she was working on her own without a peer with whom to swap ideas. She was also excluded from the world of informal exchanges in which Watson and Crick were immersed.”
This is the painful part.
This is the painful part.
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
“Franklin did not succeed, partly because she was working on her own without a peer with whom to swap ideas. She was also excluded from the world of informal exchanges in which Watson and Crick were immersed.”
This is the painful part.
This is the painful part.
Reposted by Clare Hickman
If you believe either that Franklin discovered the double helix, and / or Watson and Crick stole her data, ask yourself how you know this. Then take a read of this article.
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:32 AM
If you believe either that Franklin discovered the double helix, and / or Watson and Crick stole her data, ask yourself how you know this. Then take a read of this article.
Reposted by Clare Hickman
Senior management’s left hand: you must provide a skills-based, employability-focused education!
Senior management’s right hand: hey, let’s axe languages lads
Senior management’s right hand: hey, let’s axe languages lads
November 6, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Senior management’s left hand: you must provide a skills-based, employability-focused education!
Senior management’s right hand: hey, let’s axe languages lads
Senior management’s right hand: hey, let’s axe languages lads
Reposted by Clare Hickman
Black Cultural Archives have created a timeline, “Medicine, Race, and Activism,” in partnership with Royal Holloway, celebrating Black contributions to British healthcare, spotlighting the health workers, patients, & campaigners who challenged medical racism.
#histmed
#histmed
Medicine, Race and Activism - Black Cultural Archives.
This timeline focuses on the contribution of Black people to the British healthcare ecosystem over centuries. It underscores the experiences of these workers and Black service users and recognises the...
bcatimelines.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Black Cultural Archives have created a timeline, “Medicine, Race, and Activism,” in partnership with Royal Holloway, celebrating Black contributions to British healthcare, spotlighting the health workers, patients, & campaigners who challenged medical racism.
#histmed
#histmed
Reposted by Clare Hickman
"everyone knows the project won’t work; it is now just a matter of letting MBS down gently"
Deep dive on Neom focuses on The Line - a building planned at a scale that would run from London to the Norfolk coast but in the desert. Absolutely wild, absolutely doomed ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
Deep dive on Neom focuses on The Line - a building planned at a scale that would run from London to the Norfolk coast but in the desert. Absolutely wild, absolutely doomed ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 AM
"everyone knows the project won’t work; it is now just a matter of letting MBS down gently"
Deep dive on Neom focuses on The Line - a building planned at a scale that would run from London to the Norfolk coast but in the desert. Absolutely wild, absolutely doomed ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
Deep dive on Neom focuses on The Line - a building planned at a scale that would run from London to the Norfolk coast but in the desert. Absolutely wild, absolutely doomed ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
Reposted by Clare Hickman
The Autumn 2025 issue of The Recipes Project is live! This issue, GLOBALIZING EARLY MODERN RECIPES, was co-edited by Lavinia Gambini, Lucy Havard, & Amanda Herbert.
recipes.hypotheses.org
recipes.hypotheses.org
Autumn 2025
GLOBALIZING EARLY MODERN RECIPES INTRODUCTION By Lavinia Gambini, Lucy Havard, and Amanda E. Herbert, Editors The early modern globalization of food and medicine was also a globalization of recipes. A...
recipes.hypotheses.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The Autumn 2025 issue of The Recipes Project is live! This issue, GLOBALIZING EARLY MODERN RECIPES, was co-edited by Lavinia Gambini, Lucy Havard, & Amanda Herbert.
recipes.hypotheses.org
recipes.hypotheses.org