fwiw, for me the whole discourse about AI "summarizing" materials comes from the idea that doing the Humanities is "easy" and books/ articles are simply information conveyance mechanisms, not the thing they are - knowledge creation machines with nuanced arguments

2.15pm at the Point of Buckquoy on the shortest day. #sunset #orkney #solstice

I've done a few podcasts recently and particularly enjoyed this one with Miranda Melcher @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social newbooksnetwork.com/the-saga-of-...

This stanza from a poem in praise of Norwegian king (later saint) Óláfr Haraldsson is widely cited in ON texts, including ch. 19 of the Saga of the Earls of #Orkney / #Orkneyingasaga. 1/2

More #skaldic good news!

Our online short course starting in January 2026 focuses on #runes – a writing system that developed in western Europe in the first millennium AD. #archaeology #ThinkUHI #Viking #Norse #Runology

Heartwarming polar bear story of the day www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.

The review of the BBC Charter has just been announced. In anticipation of this we have published a review of how 10 countries around the world organise their public service media, and what lessons can be drawn for the renewal of the BBC Charter www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...

Norse in the North 2026: Mind and Body Deadline for Abstracts: 2nd February 2026 We welcome postgraduate students from any level with research on any aspect of Old Norse, medieval Scandinavian, and Viking studies that fits the theme. #NitN2026 #medievalsky #callforpapers #oldnorse

Poignant comment on what we lose from the demise of the letter - as sparked by the news that Denmark’s postal service will stop carrying letters from the end of the year www.ft.com/content/feca...

Tonights lights. From the North. Cathode ray lights.

Gorgeous winter sun on the Mersey today

This is fantastic news. The opportunities AEONS will provide are immense. #UHI #Archaeology Institue is tiny compared to other universities, yet continues to deliver world-class research and education, AEONS will enable this research to continue and grow. Congratulations to the whole team #Orkney

Lonely postbox, Isle of Yell, Shetland, 2004, photo by Martin Parr (Magnum).

For those Old Norse and Viking lovers, the Norse in the North conference has made it to Bluesky! As we’re finalizing the CFP for 2026 at Leeds, please follow @norseinthenorth.bsky.social for updates! #oldnorse #medievalsky #postgraduate #conference #medieval

Det alt kan skje.

The algorithms are making it a lot harder to spread the word about these online talks. Although numbers are still reasonable, it would be a great help if folk were able to give the 30 December event a quick share 🙂 Booking available here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buildings-...

Some news - I've graduated! 🥳 Bonus news - you can now read my thesis here: 📖 eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/82711/

The ad for the second postdoctoral position on our @leverhulme.ac.uk Britain’s Early Medieval Letters project is now live. We’re looking for an Old English specialist (who also works with Latin). 32-month FT post. Deadline for apps is 16 Jan 🙂 jobs.kent.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

More #runes! #Oslo #runology

Gratulerer!

Or ornithonymics? We have some stuff in the @ragnasislands.bsky.social blog...

#sheep #tombs #islands What's not to like?

Love the cover picture!

This looks great!

Congratulations to Hazel and Graeme, who I was pleased to meet in Westray in October.

Just gearing up for this tomorrow! 📕🗣️👩‍🏫

“I suspect that Shetlanders will be bemused to learn that the Isle of Man is considered to be part of the UK in the eyes of GB Energy, while Shetland is not...”

Saddened, but not surprised, to see Snettisham books nominated for 'Research Project of the Year'. Yes, there's good in those books, but there's much wrong when it comes to torcs themselves & our research was largely ignored... #Archaeology 🏺 #Gold #Torcs bigbookoftorcs.com/2024/12/11/t...

A winter palace and a winter king. The Knap of Howar and the Papay Great auk on a breezy Papay tour today. #Papay #greatauk #orkney

We are told that, under stress, the humanities must be sacrificed. But amidst a war of aggression scholars in Ukraine have undertaken one of the most ambitious knowledge projects of our time. It's a privilege to be involved with Ukrainian History Global Initiative snyder.substack.com/p/ukrainian-...

In this compact volume, @profcarolyne.bsky.social explores how dragons have captured the human imagination across time and space. Discover The Little Book of Dragons: bit.ly/47SWqjc #ArtHistory #LiteraryStudies

The UHI #Archaeology Institute is delighted to welcome Dr Colleen Batey as a visiting associate professor. #ThinkUHI #UHIOrkney

I know the feeling.

Do you or your students work with English manuscripts? We have a summer school course for you👇 Book now for June 2026 in person in London. #MedievalSky #RenaissanceSky 📖✏️ #palaeography ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...

The range of red squirrels in the Highlands has increased by more than 25% in a decade following a reintroduction project by a rewilding charity

Attention creative medievalists! Eleanor Barraclough & I are co-editing a special issue of Public Humanities entitled CREATING THE MEDIEVAL NOW! See the cfp for details: essays of 2,000-3,000 words due 1 May 2026. (Amazing artwork by @hellomizk.bsky.social). 1/ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

The Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø on a snowy evening is definitely a sight to behold.

Earlier this year, Natasha spoke on this subject in a Royal Historical Society lecture - 'Dangerous Journeys: Framing Women’s Movement in the Medieval World’ - the recording of which is available here bit.ly/3MjdpnS #Skystorians

1963:

'Our research clearly illustrates that large areas of the country are becoming “cold spots” for social sciences, humanities and arts (SHAPE) subjects, meaning that students face starkly shrinking opportunities'. 1/2

Looking forward to a rather busy Leeds! Delighted by the set of panels organised with @jakestattel.bsky.social! @imc-leeds.bsky.social #IMC26

If you are into sagas and poetry our next seminar is for you. Sign up to attend online: forms.office.com/e/ngg1zukWH3 More details at ahc.leeds.ac.uk/medieval/eve... #medievalsky #poetry #sagas #orkney #shetland #icelandic #northernisles #vikings @judithjesch.bsky.social @ragnasislands.bsky.social

Det er t.o.m. en liten Odin her i Nottingham www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-n...

Professor Alex Sanmark & PhD candidate Peter Randall presented their research supported by students from Viking and Early Medieval Studies at the Scottish Society for Northern Studies Day Conference. tinyurl.com/5h2ry4wr

Last night's @thinkuhi.bsky.social excellent Public Seminar by Tom Fairfax is now online. Families, Networks and Informants: The Making of Orkneyinga saga youtu.be/r2Tgd4HBkzI

Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon was talking #Orkney placenames recently at the Scottish Place Name Society Autumn Conference. #archaeology #history #ThinkUHI