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Author Archives: Maria Pretzler
Critical Reading, Online Scare Stories – and the Death Star
Yesterday, a petition from avaaz started going round the internet. It spread very rapidly, through twitter and Facebook. Many generally thoughtful, concerned people passed it on, some with words of anger or concern, urging others to sign the petition as … Continue reading
Welsh Higher Education Madness
During the last few days universities have been concentrating on Clearing, the process whereby students can find places in university courses in the days after they receive their A-level results, and change their plans if their A-levels are significantly different … Continue reading
Open Access Publishing – but who will pay?*
Today’s Guardian front page offers an encouraging headline: Free access to British scientific research within two years. The idea is that by 2014 all publications of all research which has been funded by the British taxpayer has to be accessible … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Education, Universities
Tagged academic journals, open access, publishing, REF, research, research assessment
6 Comments
London 2012 and the Pastoral Idyll
(Do shepherds dream of idyllic sheep?) Danny Boyle’s set for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony A few weeks ago, when the design for at least part of the Olympic opening ceremony was revealed, I was nothing short of appalled. … Continue reading
British Academia: abandoning the next generation
The fate of young academics in UK universities looks increasingly bleak: the chance to reach paid employment as an academic in the Arts and Humanities increasingly depends not only on talent and a willingness to work hard, but also on … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Universities
Tagged Academic careers, internships, postdoctoral research, young academics
4 Comments
What the Church of England is really saying about same-sex marriage
Guest post by Alan Renwick, Reader in Comparative Politics, University of Reading @alanjrenwick Confused about the Church of England’s arguments concerning same-sex marriage? Here is a brilliant executive summary which which knows how to read between the lines. Alan Renwick … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Guest Post, Politics, Religion
Tagged Alan Renwick, Church of England, equal marriage, Guest post, same-sex marriage
4 Comments
Subject to a right royal confusion
(with thanks to Don Kranz, whose blog is a real inspiration, for luring me out of work-induced blog hibernation!) It’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, and a time to think about the role of the monarchy, and the role it plays in … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Democracy, Life in the UK, UK Citizenship
Tagged Citizenship, Diamond Jubilee, Monarchy, Queen, republicans, subjects
1 Comment
Greek Treasures: ancient and modern
I just came across this opinion piece in the LA times of 26th February by James Romm, a scholar I admire greatly. But here he offers an example of highly emotional rhetoric which is historically unjustified. At the same time, his article … Continue reading
Posted in Exploring the Past, History, Inventing the Past, Remembering the Past
Tagged Ancient Athens, Greece, Greek crisis, Parthenon, Pericles, Thucydides
2 Comments
Let’s hear it for constitutional amendments (or: the Demands of Democracy)
It’s rather early on a Sunday morning, and I am already on the train to Cardiff, determined to get there in time to vote on a few constitutional amendments. Yes, it’s that time of year again – it’s a Liberal … Continue reading
A heroic trip to Swansea’s Quadrant Bus station
Last Tuesday (21st February), BBC Radio 4′s pm programme broadcast a memorable interview. It was part of their ‘take a leap’ campaign, challenging people to do something extraordiary on 29th February and tell the programme all about it. The interview … Continue reading