The little conservation game that has its sights on helping ‘Big Game’
Professor Keith Somerville dons his safari jacket and pith helmet to check whether a new game can help succour conservation in a time of shrinking funds.
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Voices and votes: history of university representation
On 13 November, the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) and History of Parliament hosted ‘One person, multiple votes’, a panel discussion on the history of university seats in British politics, 1868–1950. The event marked the 150th anniversary of Robert Lowe’s election as the first MP for the University of London at the election of December 1868. […]
From fiction to truths: History Day has it all
Jordan Landes, research librarian at Senate House Library and a co-organiser of History Day, on what to expect at this year’s event. History Day has developed and changed since the first event in 2014. The innovation in 2018 is the introduction of shorter lightning talks with attendees invited to drop in and learn about a […]
The ugly truth of Africa’s forgotten war dead
In the fifth of a series of scholarly articles marking the Armistice centenary, Marika Sherwood, from the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, on the lack of accurate data about the African men, women and children co-opted in a war that saw Britain and France carve up Germany’s former African colonies and become distant rulers of millions.
The decapitation of Sir Walter Raleigh: villain or victim?
On 29 October 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh, courtier, soldier, explorer, poet, historian, was beheaded. Four hundred years later to the month Dr Karen Attar, Senate House Library’s curator of rare books and university art, looks at the official contemporary justification for the execution.
Celebrating the 450th anniversary of the ‘Bishops’ Bible’
On 22 September 1568 Archbishop Matthew Parker wrote to William Cecil informing him of the completion of a new Bible translation. Four hundred and fifty years later, Dr Karen Attar, curator of rare books and university art at Senate House Library, takes a close look at ‘The holie Byble’ through copies held in the library.
#PoTW: Refugee protection in a hostile world?
The theme of the third annual conference of the Refugee Law Initiative – Refugee protection in a hostile world? – reflects on an apparent strengthening of long-standing currents of anti-refugee feeling and other forms of instability in the world. This trend raises urgent questions about its present and future impact on refugee protection globally, as well […]
The waters of the ‘Sublime State’: the Ottoman Empire and the sea
Dr Michael Talbot, one of this year’s BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council New Generation Thinker, explores the Ottoman Empire’s interactions with other powers and peoples.
Contemporary neglect of conscience is a mistake
Dr Dafydd Daniel, a Christian ethics lecturer at the University of Oxford and one of ten academics selected by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council as a New Generation Thinker, talks about his interest in the much-maligned ethical theory of rational intuitionism.
Corruption hindering South Africa’s anti-poaching operations
Image: White rhino in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa © Keith Somerville Professor Keith Somerville applauds South Africa’s war against rhino poachers, but cautions against complacency.