NEW ANALYSIS: UK emissions fell 2.4% in 2025 as coal fell to a 400-year low. Incredibly, we used less coal last year than than in 1600, when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and Shakespeare was writing Hamlet.
All the details in our article: www.carbonbrief.org/...
I’ve been in conversation about this (to no avail so far). Might have to contact them again with this new fact.
106 people will be killed on Birmingham's roads next council term.
Along with 15 organisations, we're calling for Birmingham's future leaders to adopt 10 practical steps to prevent these deaths and many more serious injuries.
Who will make Birmingham's roads safer?
“When I began teaching, I joined UCU because the people in the union seemed cool – and because I quickly realised I needed to organise with my peers. If you’re feeling isolated or precarious at UoB, BUCU is where you’ll find your people.”
Betsy Porritt - BUCU Anti-casualisation officer
The Spectator published this attack on me & colleagues just as the High Court is considering Sussex’s request for review of the Office for Students fine. It accuses us of ‘repressing’ our students. The magazine ignored my request for to reply. Please disseminate.
alanlester.co.uk/blog/smearin...
UoB Professional Services - you make student success happen. Join Birmingham UCU to fight for fair workload and recognition.
Remembering David Judge (1950 - 2026). I first met David in 1999. He was such an incredible person, we could do with more Davids in academia. Here is something I wrote when I heard the news last week, published by @psa-parliaments.bsky.social: psaparliaments.org/2026/02/17/r...
Kinder Scout is nice.
Look mum, I’m cited!
Scrapping REF should be “serious’ option”, says Manchester VC.
Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
NEW BLOG: Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons
Louise Thompson explains the obstacles facing small parties and calls on parliamentary institutions to formalise informal arrangements and consider ways to increase equalities of opportunity for all parties
Monday and the start of a second week of being prevented from working by my employer, the University of Sheffield. Management has decided that massive damage to staff morale, student experience and the university’s reputation is worth it in a futile attempt to break the union. Shame on them.
HSE found UoB failed to follow its own stress policy, had inadequate stress risk assessments and no effective monitoring of stress. This is about legal duties, not ‘wellbeing extras’.
TRUMP: honk honk honk, I'm a big goose. everyone tells me whenever I enter a room, that's the biggest goose I've ever seen and I say yes. I'm a big goose. in a good way. a lot of Somalians are small stupid gooses but I'm a big goose
BBC NEWS: a disciplined Trump sticks to the script on the economy
'Several universities’ undergraduate student intakes fell by between 20 and 30 per cent for this academic year, as many elite institutions reported record numbers.' Sector as a whole accepted 2% more students. Russell Group up 9% (29% of all UK enrolments). 1/3
I'm a bit late to the game on this, but this is exacting overview of the problems with US-style political science is compelling and well-worth reading. But rather than a lack of interpretation, I'd say the major issue is a lack of history (or historicism).
harpers.org/archive/2026...
It's Blue Monday
Like a stopped clock PR companies are sometimes right. Also like a stopped clock, they need two AA batteries shoved up them and the knob twisted until their hands point in the right direction.
Birmingham: It’s Not Shit, Reason No 12: Mr Blue Sky
paradisecircus.com/2024/11/19/b...
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
The average salary among Russell Group leaders increased above £350,000 last year, despite these universities losing almost 7,000 staff members due to cost-cutting. Patrick Jack crunches the numbers #highered #academicsky
https://ow.ly/gJK850XU77K
Very pleased to have presented on this panel, although disappointed that I couldn't be there in person because of the snow...
'An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Russell Group university “does not have appropriate arrangements in place” for managing workplace stress and was unable to demonstrate that it is managing the risks associated with excessive workloads.' 1/2
Thanks to @philbc3.bsky.social for a very interesting talk on the crisis of right-wing political reproduction at @unibirmingham.bsky.social yesterday!
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people"
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Excellent article on landlords exploiting lack of robust regulations on supported exempt accommodation and causing misery for tenants and wider communities.
A real problem in Birmingham!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Thanks to @houseofcommons.parliament.uk and @houseoflords.parliament.uk for another brilliant visit!
University of Birmingham ftw!
Traditional photo of traditional early start for @unibirmingham.bsky.social visit to @houseofcommons.parliament.uk and @houseoflords.parliament.uk.
Given that people is asking me for the numbers, here the table provided by UKRI:
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
Meg Russell is now giving oral evidence to @commonsproccom.parliament.uk with @marcgeddes.uk and @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social about elections within the House of Commons.
Read Meg, @alanrenwick.bsky.social and Tom Fleming's written evidence 👉 committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide....
Watch it 👇
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 🎉
The PSA Parliaments Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York in conjunction with The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership on the 27th-28th November!
