What happens when disability becomes a driving subject of intellectual and political inquiry? Professor Dan Goodley challenges the pathologising assumptions embedded in higher education and explores how depathologising the university could help reimagine society: https://bit.ly/4l84dzW
We are pleased to announce the latest cohort of SHAPE Involve and Engage awardees, who will be working with various partner organisations in the GLAM sector to help bring the humanities and social sciences closer to the public. Read more about the projects here: https://bit.ly/4suMO75
Dr William Allen reflected on his journey and valuable advice from a colleague regarding the PDF: "Treat it as a launchpad and not as a cushion."
"The PDF was transformative. I love the use of the spectre of a bridge, tiding you over choppy waters. The next bridge needs to be one that more people can cross."
- Dr Daisy Ogembo, a Research Fellow and alumni from the 2019 PDF cohort.
Professor Mike Braddick FBA (1991 PDF cohort) shared views on the current landscape - one major difference that he sees a "twilight zone" of precarity for ECRs now, where they may be on fixed-term teaching-only contracts, which didn't exist in his time. The panel likened the PDF to a bridge.
More highlights from #SHAPEConference26:
The flagship Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF) scheme celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. In a session chaired by Evelyn Welch, panellists shared their stores and reflected on precarity in research across the decades.
Vivienne Stern MBE reflects: "You get the system that you produce the incentives for and there is an absence of stewardship in the current system. Mergers aren't a solution to the disappearance of disciplines, but how might universities pool resources?"
Dame Shirley Pearce touched on the role of the regulator and whether it has the powers it needs to address the problems at hand.
Do we need to move towards strategic support for specific subject areas?
Professor Adam Tickell stated the need for leadership to address the current system, asking what do the public want from universities and how will it be funded? A bipartisan figure to lead in answering these questions is necessary.
Leading figures from Higher Education (HE) came together in our 'Learning from our own history' session to discuss recent reviews of the sector, their success and failures, and their effects on policy between and since.
#SHAPEConference26
Finally he stated the importance of international collaborations: "We can't do it alone and we shouldn't try - we benefit from people and ideas around the world. And we know that when we collaborate we do better than we do alone."
His fourth priority called for closer inspection of "what all this means for citizens". How we can articulate what the benefits are to people? SHAPE is indispensable for this.
Priority three concerned companies and their growth. He spoke of a healthy startup system in the UK, with a need to ensure they're able to scale, and that R&D intensive companies get the support they need.
His second priority focuses on applied research, where outcomes may be more readily identified: "These outcomes should be defined in terms of societal benefit and government priorities."
The foremost priority, was to protect and grow curiosity-driven research which he described as "the bedrock of everything". He recognised the challenges of this, without the ability to show any economic benefit within any one parliamentary term.
Lord Vallance laid out his five overall priorities for the research and innovation system. 🧵
#SHAPEConference26
"As one of the four national academies, the British Academy is both a key stakeholder for the department but also a delivery partner playing an important role in the overall research and innovation landscape. I'm grateful to the Academy for your leadership and advocacy across the SHAPE disciplines."
Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, was welcomed by our President Susan J. Smith. His keynote began with strong support the Academy's role in research. #SHAPEConference26
Lord Vallance
Fantastic to have Science Minister Lord Vallance open our @britishacademy.bsky.social sector conference this morning. He talks eloquently about protecting and growing curiosity driven research which does not provide a return during a single Parliamentary cycle
Lord Vallance
Big day ahead as we have our annual @britishacademy.bsky.social sector conference including a keynote from Science Minister Lord Vallance.
I’ll be chairing a panel with Philip Augar, Shirley Pearce, Vivienne Stern & Adam Tickell on what we can learn from all those reviews of HE.
Stay tuned!
The Arts and Humanities Alliance is proud to sponsor the 2026 @britishacademy.bsky.social SHAPE conference. Our session is Myth busting for the public with @ritagardner.bsky.social @jennyrichards.bsky.social & @sebgordon1.bsky.social
Chair @emmacayley.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/shape-conf...
Read the full response: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/60...
Graphic with the following text: "1. International students who do not generate provider income should be exempt - including Erasmus+ participants following the UK’s association."
"2. Students studying SHAPE subjects must be eligible for levyfunded maintenance grants. Restricting subject eligibility harms UK economic growth and signals that disadvantaged students ‘deserve’ fewer choices."
"We urge the government to reconsider the levy, engage with the sector, and pursue a sustainable funding model to safeguard higher education and research."
We are continuing to call for the government to withdraw the International Student Levy. This levy will add more financial pressure to a system under strain, threatening the UK’s research excellence, global reputation, and economic competitiveness.
On Monday, we hosted a joint conference with @wellcometrust.bsky.social. The last panel of the day examined how communication, caregiving, and social structures shape wellbeing in later life across global contexts.
Learn more about British Academy funding: https://bit.ly/4aVpJDr
What happens when everything can become a bet?
Based on British Academy-funded research by @sarah-mills.bsky.social, this article explores the rapid rise of prediction markets – and what they mean for regulation, public trust and democracy. 👇
We are delighted to join RoRI as Core Partners.
We share the view that responsive, impactful, and fair research is essential to tackling the unprecedented global challenges of our time. SHAPE research drives economic growth, improves wellbeing, and enhances understanding of people and societies.
The image displays the text "British Journal of Political Science" and "Brian Barry Prize" on a dark green background.
Deadline for nominations for the 2026 Brian Barry Prize is the 28th of February 2026.
Find out more - cup.org/4rl5mqj
In partnership with @universitypress.cambridge.org and BJPolS, the @britishacademy.bsky.social awards an annual prize in honour of Brian Barry.
New research supported by the British Academy finds that global gains in girls’ schooling haven’t necessarily translated into broader gender equality.
Read more on @lseblogs.bsky.social about what the findings reveal and how we can better understand persistent inequalities. 👇
bit.ly/46pR8f8
As part of the British Academy-funded project Problematic Humour, this research reveals how social media users navigate, negotiate and often reject accusations of being offended during heated online exchanges.
Read more 👇
Yesterday, we hosted a joint symposium with @wellcometrust.bsky.social. The second panel highlighted Wellcome-funded projects focusing on identity and autonomy during major life transitions in young adulthood. Learn more about our funding: https://bit.ly/4kFaGC0
Expanded temporalities of global (dis)order and their policy implications
Seven papers explore how adjusting our temporal orientation can help us think more creatively and deeply about our current moment and possible trajectories.
Read them on our evidence hub: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/programmes/g...
