Nancy Cushing
@ncushing12.bsky.social
Environmental historian on Durramuragal and Awabakal Country. 🐨🦘🍁. University of Newcastle. Coral Thomas Fellow, 2024-25, State Library NSW. On execs of OzAHA and AANZ Environmental History Network.
Reposted by Nancy Cushing
Coming to NEXTGATe forum on Failures & Letdowns (Monday 18 Aug #ESEH2025)?
You may like this thoughtful paper (free to air Int Review of Env Hist)
press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/pr... @wildpasts.bsky.social @mcookhistory.bsky.social @ncushing12.bsky.social @ruthamorgan.bsky.social
You may like this thoughtful paper (free to air Int Review of Env Hist)
press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/pr... @wildpasts.bsky.social @mcookhistory.bsky.social @ncushing12.bsky.social @ruthamorgan.bsky.social
August 9, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Coming to NEXTGATe forum on Failures & Letdowns (Monday 18 Aug #ESEH2025)?
You may like this thoughtful paper (free to air Int Review of Env Hist)
press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/pr... @wildpasts.bsky.social @mcookhistory.bsky.social @ncushing12.bsky.social @ruthamorgan.bsky.social
You may like this thoughtful paper (free to air Int Review of Env Hist)
press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/pr... @wildpasts.bsky.social @mcookhistory.bsky.social @ncushing12.bsky.social @ruthamorgan.bsky.social
Reposted by Nancy Cushing
Our 6th 'Studies in North Queensland History' retrospective for @austhistassoc.bsky.social #AHA2025 @jcucase.bsky.social @jcuofficial.bsky.social is @ncushing12.bsky.social on "Arctic Regions In a Torrid Zone: The Ross River Meatworks 1892-1992 jculibrarynews.blogspot.com/2025/07/arct...
Arctic Regions In a Torrid Zone: The Ross River Meatworks 1892 - 1992
This year James Cook University celebrates its proud legacy in historical research, writing and publishing through the Studies in North Que...
jculibrarynews.blogspot.com
July 1, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Our 6th 'Studies in North Queensland History' retrospective for @austhistassoc.bsky.social #AHA2025 @jcucase.bsky.social @jcuofficial.bsky.social is @ncushing12.bsky.social on "Arctic Regions In a Torrid Zone: The Ross River Meatworks 1892-1992 jculibrarynews.blogspot.com/2025/07/arct...
Would you want a pet’s life?
https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-face-an-uncomfortable-truth-maybe-our-pampered-pets-would-be-better-off-without-us-256903
https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-face-an-uncomfortable-truth-maybe-our-pampered-pets-would-be-better-off-without-us-256903
June 24, 2025 at 3:58 AM
I recently reviewed the series "Eat the Invaders" for History Australia. It is a well made and thought provoking series hosted by the charming Tony Armstrong.
I thought it could have gone further.
Watch it here: iview.abc.net.au/show/eat-the...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/MWUCR...
I thought it could have gone further.
Watch it here: iview.abc.net.au/show/eat-the...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/MWUCR...
A case for cannibalism? What ‘Eat the Invaders’ doesn’t say
Published in History Australia (Vol. 22, No. 2, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
June 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I recently reviewed the series "Eat the Invaders" for History Australia. It is a well made and thought provoking series hosted by the charming Tony Armstrong.
I thought it could have gone further.
Watch it here: iview.abc.net.au/show/eat-the...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/MWUCR...
I thought it could have gone further.
Watch it here: iview.abc.net.au/show/eat-the...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/MWUCR...
Open Access article on "Crook Cook" and "Nazi Cook" - what to do about kitsch on a monumental scale in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. @clairebrennan.bsky.social @nikolasorr.bsky.social
read.dukeupress.edu/radical-hist...
read.dukeupress.edu/radical-hist...
Monumentally Kitsch | Radical History Review | Duke University Press
read.dukeupress.edu
June 9, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Open Access article on "Crook Cook" and "Nazi Cook" - what to do about kitsch on a monumental scale in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. @clairebrennan.bsky.social @nikolasorr.bsky.social
read.dukeupress.edu/radical-hist...
read.dukeupress.edu/radical-hist...
Taking up the mantle from the EHN started by @libbydeq.bsky.social, the Australian and Aotearoa NZ Environmental History Network brings together EH scholars, offers prizes and issues a regular newsletter. Join us!
We can add www.environmentalhistory-au-nz.org to this map. We meet as Green Stream @austhistassoc.bsky.social (July 2025, Townsville) 🇦🇺 EHN founding member of #ICEHO @ruthamorgan.bsky.social @ncushing12.bsky.social
May 18, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Taking up the mantle from the EHN started by @libbydeq.bsky.social, the Australian and Aotearoa NZ Environmental History Network brings together EH scholars, offers prizes and issues a regular newsletter. Join us!
It is that time of year again - the State Library of NSW Fellowships are open for applications. I am greatly enjoying my time as the Coral Thomas Fellow, and look forward to welcoming the next incumbent.
Think about applying now.
www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/awards...
Think about applying now.
www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/awards...
Fellowships
The Library offers a number of prestigious and competitive fellowships to support the study, writing and teaching of Australian history and culture.
www.sl.nsw.gov.au
May 12, 2025 at 3:43 AM
It is that time of year again - the State Library of NSW Fellowships are open for applications. I am greatly enjoying my time as the Coral Thomas Fellow, and look forward to welcoming the next incumbent.
Think about applying now.
www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/awards...
Think about applying now.
www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/awards...
Another round coming in the US statue wars.
And then to add insult to injury... www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/a...
Canceled Humanities Grants to Help Pay for Trump’s ‘Garden of Heroes’ (Gift Article)
The National Endowment for the Humanities, which supports museums and historical sites, will redirect funds to the president’s planned patriotic sculpture garden.
www.nytimes.com
April 13, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Another round coming in the US statue wars.
Spent the last couple of weeks at @slnsw looking for animals on detailed plans of Sydney city street blocks from 1880s to 1930s. Not much to see. Mainly the odd stable hidden away behind the street fronts. So then I visited the grand daddy of Sydney stables.
April 13, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Spent the last couple of weeks at @slnsw looking for animals on detailed plans of Sydney city street blocks from 1880s to 1930s. Not much to see. Mainly the odd stable hidden away behind the street fronts. So then I visited the grand daddy of Sydney stables.
Top morning last Friday talking history with these legends and many others during a Museums of History NSW symposium at the Mint. Looking forward to joining efforts to connect historians working across the state.
Photo © Joshua Morris for MHNSW.
Photo © Joshua Morris for MHNSW.
April 4, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Top morning last Friday talking history with these legends and many others during a Museums of History NSW symposium at the Mint. Looking forward to joining efforts to connect historians working across the state.
Photo © Joshua Morris for MHNSW.
Photo © Joshua Morris for MHNSW.
Looking for historical animals in Sydney’s Centennial Park. And why historians need a stout pair of boots.
April 2, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Looking for historical animals in Sydney’s Centennial Park. And why historians need a stout pair of boots.
Reposted by Nancy Cushing
ECRs and HDRs: don't forget the AHA offers prizes and grants to help you get to the annual conference, help you with your research, and reward your stellar contributions! Check out the Awards and Prizes page for more info!
Awards and Prizes - The Australian Historical Association
The AHA administers a range of prizes and awards annually and biennially. The Association is also proud of their partnership with the National Archives of Australia to offer scholarships to…
buff.ly
February 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
ECRs and HDRs: don't forget the AHA offers prizes and grants to help you get to the annual conference, help you with your research, and reward your stellar contributions! Check out the Awards and Prizes page for more info!
Is this happening in your place? Theft of plaques from monuments and memorials apparently for the value of the metal? Are the thieves unwitting allies of iconoclasts?
February 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Is this happening in your place? Theft of plaques from monuments and memorials apparently for the value of the metal? Are the thieves unwitting allies of iconoclasts?
Which Australian bark are you?
February 23, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Which Australian bark are you?
“For researchers and developers alike, these findings offer a roadmap for improving AI’s understanding of global history, paving the way for tools that better support scholarly inquiry into the past.”
Or, they indicate that some types of thinking are best done by humans, not by artifices.
Or, they indicate that some types of thinking are best done by humans, not by artifices.
“History is often viewed as facts, but sometimes interpretation is necessary to make sense of it.” Well now, who knew? 🤔🙄
www.earth.com/news/ai-stru...
www.earth.com/news/ai-stru...
AI struggles to understand human history and fails miserably when tested
The study, which is the first of its kind, evaluates the historical knowledge of leading AI models such as ChatGPT-4, Llama, and Gemini.
www.earth.com
January 27, 2025 at 2:27 AM
“For researchers and developers alike, these findings offer a roadmap for improving AI’s understanding of global history, paving the way for tools that better support scholarly inquiry into the past.”
Or, they indicate that some types of thinking are best done by humans, not by artifices.
Or, they indicate that some types of thinking are best done by humans, not by artifices.
There is some irony in seeing that my former colleague, the late Professor Lyndall RYAN AM, has been made an officer of the Order of Australia today "For distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly Indigenous history and colonial settlement through research and publications."
January 25, 2025 at 11:35 PM
There is some irony in seeing that my former colleague, the late Professor Lyndall RYAN AM, has been made an officer of the Order of Australia today "For distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly Indigenous history and colonial settlement through research and publications."
Reposted by Nancy Cushing
I have updated the Academic Workload Tracker for 2025. I strongly encourage all academics to track how long you actually work, and at what tasks. It's a crucial way to counter the deliberate wage-theft of obfuscatory university workload models.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Academic Work Tracker Template v2.2 (2025)
docs.google.com
December 31, 2024 at 2:51 AM
I have updated the Academic Workload Tracker for 2025. I strongly encourage all academics to track how long you actually work, and at what tasks. It's a crucial way to counter the deliberate wage-theft of obfuscatory university workload models.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
1940 bushfire poster from New South Wales linking them with the housing shortage that existed before the war and became much worse as it progressed, as resources were shifted to war purposes.
January 1, 2025 at 7:15 AM
1940 bushfire poster from New South Wales linking them with the housing shortage that existed before the war and became much worse as it progressed, as resources were shifted to war purposes.
It is Christmas day here in Australia and as part of my bushfire series, what seems like a highly inappropriate way to wish someone Christmas joy.
December 24, 2024 at 11:01 PM
It is Christmas day here in Australia and as part of my bushfire series, what seems like a highly inappropriate way to wish someone Christmas joy.
In 1948, the Bush Fire Advisory Committee reminded the people of New South Wales of their Christian duty to provide stewardship to birds and animals. They put a strong emphasis on charismatic native species but didn't forget the economically important sheep in the background.
December 24, 2024 at 5:20 AM
In 1948, the Bush Fire Advisory Committee reminded the people of New South Wales of their Christian duty to provide stewardship to birds and animals. They put a strong emphasis on charismatic native species but didn't forget the economically important sheep in the background.
Citizen humanities for you to join in on.
Interested in historic documents?📜
Want to improve your reading of old handwriting (palaeography?)✍️
Enjoy bite-sized puzzles like Wordle? Looking for a new challenge over Christmas?🎄🎅
Help us transcribe 25,000 Tudor, Stuart and Georgian wills on Zooniverse: www.zooniverse.org/projects/hjs...
1/
Want to improve your reading of old handwriting (palaeography?)✍️
Enjoy bite-sized puzzles like Wordle? Looking for a new challenge over Christmas?🎄🎅
Help us transcribe 25,000 Tudor, Stuart and Georgian wills on Zooniverse: www.zooniverse.org/projects/hjs...
1/
The Material Culture of Wills: England 1540-1790 | Zooniverse - People-powered research
Help us transcribe wills from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, and reveal how ownership of, and attitudes towards, objects changed in a period of economic transformation
www.zooniverse.org
December 23, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Citizen humanities for you to join in on.
Playing with perspective in this 1947 anti-bushfire poster. The white cuff and well groomed hand suggest this is a city dweller unfamiliar with the protocols that needed to be observed in the bush.
December 23, 2024 at 5:38 AM
Playing with perspective in this 1947 anti-bushfire poster. The white cuff and well groomed hand suggest this is a city dweller unfamiliar with the protocols that needed to be observed in the bush.
A series in the lead up to Christmas Australian-style. What is more seasonal than the threat of bushfires? Some cautionary posters from the NSW Rural Fire Service, starting with this tasteless one from 1946. All nicked from www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ourstory/gal...
December 19, 2024 at 8:52 PM
A series in the lead up to Christmas Australian-style. What is more seasonal than the threat of bushfires? Some cautionary posters from the NSW Rural Fire Service, starting with this tasteless one from 1946. All nicked from www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ourstory/gal...
Great to see this recognition of historians working outside of the academy.
Also, to see what the ABS says that we do. I would add “more than” before human history.
Also, to see what the ABS says that we do. I would add “more than” before human history.
Professional Historians Australia successfully secured a change in Historian job classifications at the ABS to “Academic Historian” and “Professional Historian”.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/c...
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/c...
Occupation 232336 Historian
Researches, collects and analyses information about the history of human activity, events, cultures and eras, and prepares accounts of findings.
www.abs.gov.au
December 16, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Great to see this recognition of historians working outside of the academy.
Also, to see what the ABS says that we do. I would add “more than” before human history.
Also, to see what the ABS says that we do. I would add “more than” before human history.
An ibis’s work is never done. At Sydney Botanic Gardens.
December 16, 2024 at 2:14 AM
An ibis’s work is never done. At Sydney Botanic Gardens.