Dr Laura Humphreys

There is still time left to apply for the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants. The scheme supports UK-based postdoctoral – or equivalent – researchers in pursuing primary research in the humanities and social sciences. Apply now: https://bit.ly/4iwQQtI

@suryabowyer.com has introduced the SMG curators to the Anthropeum game by @mapoochoo.bsky.social today. It is super hard but SO GOOD! You guess the time/place of origin of objects. I've professionally embarrassed myself ("top 97%"!) but I'm determined to improve tomorrow! anthropeum.com

A small thing - but for those who regularly use British Newspaper Archive and were freaking out (as I was!) about having lost years of saved articles from the old 'folder' section - it is under 'My Research' ----> 'Bookmarks'. 🗃️

The wider issue is the peanuts UKRI is operating with. Under £10bn for the engine of the UK's research in ALL subjects should be a national disgrace. Jodrell Bank is a helpful example but we are losing so much across *every* research field. This underfunding will damage the UK for decades to come.

First National Trust background secured 🙏

Welcome to Taskmaster!!! Would you like to play a game?

YES

On his passing, a chance to share this amazing photo of David Hockney. Hockney in front of his painting of Henry Geldzahler, with Geldzahler himself. Oh, and it was taken by Cecil Beaton. You could write a book about this photo alone. collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co86...

An eclectic reading month but I wholeheartedly recommend both of these books. And in their way, they share something about the march of technology and how it can change the world. How to build a car by Adrian Newey and Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.

I don’t know what to tell you, man. I’m a medieval historian, and, in my field, if you don’t check your sources (and your sources’ sources) you are just asking to be taken for a ride by some bored 19th C. aristocratic English antiquarian with a penchant for inventing history.

This is blindingly obvious to many in the sector, but well worth saying. I'm glad we now have research to put into words what myself and many of my colleagues are experiencing every day - there are simply not enough of us to keep the show on the road! www.museumsassociation.org/museums-jour...

re-posting for the, uh, late afternoon crowd

Still one week to apply for this awesome Archivist post based in Wiltshire with an absolutely amazing collection. #Archives #Archivist #Wiltshire #Swindon

An exciting job opportunity with my team - come join us as the Science Museum Collection Archivist! 📒📚📼📜💾📔🗂️ Part time (4 days/80%), permanent, based at the Science and Innovation Park near Swindon. Happy to answer Qs/ chat about the role before you apply. ce0111li.webitrent.com/ce0111li_web...

Full-funded (home or international) collaborative PhD studentship (Kew and Royal Holloway, University of London) available. Deadline 8 May. Topic: ‘Just acquisitions? Law and ethics over time in Kew’s overseas plant collecting history’ #Skystorians

Still thinking a lot about AI & curatorial practice. It strikes me that while I often get AI hallucinating nonsense that is demonstrably untrue, it never just says "I don't know" Knowing - and admitting - the limits of our knowledge is such an important skill. Not just for curators - for everyone.

Gwen John: Strange Beauties at @amgueddfacymru.bsky.social is so worth a visit. Beautiful design with art text that pitches perfectly, and truly weird, captivating paintings. Well worth a trip to National Museum Cardiff for this one.

There are some tribbles in the Science Museum today. Five minutes later: The Science Museum is being evacuated as it fills up with tribbles. Five hours later: London declares a state of emergency Five days later: Welcome to Planet Tribble

The issue seems to be that if a significant proportion of people adopt AI writing, then an individual’s performance will be measured in terms of efficiency rather than skill, which means that the latter will almost automatically place you behind the curb. Or at least there’s a higher risk of that!

A question for #Museum and #Curator Bluesky - who else is thinking a lot about the value/ danger of using AI in writing and editing for museums? In exhibitions, galleries, talks, digital content, etc - I am finding myself staring into the distance worrying about it *a lot*.

PSA: there’s a new loading screen in Pokémon Go today 👇

Just got an email I have been dreading. The 10 Dahlias and other assorted bulbs I bought in the depths of winter just to feel something have been dispatched today. I now need to find time to plant up a small flower farm. Aaaaargh.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! A piece I wrote exploring some of the Welsh-made wonders in the Science Museum Group collections. Enjoy! Ysgrifennais i am rhai o'r pethau gwneud yng Nghymru yn y casgliadau y Grŵp Amgueddfa Gwyddoniaeth. Mwynhewch! #StDavidsDay #DyddGwylDewi bit.ly/4cmhv9A

One More Catch isn't just a site - it's also a newsletter! Get a free guide to the week ahead in Pokémon Go every Monday, plus features on the world of Pokémon, direct to your inbox by joining our mailing list: www.onemorecatch.site/newsletter/

To celebrate One More Catch's launch, we asked the biggest Pokémon fans we know what they want to see from Gen 10, which is almost guaranteed to be revealed on Friday:

Some news - today I’m launching One More Catch, an independent publication covering Pokémon Go and the next generation of Pokémon games: @onemorecatch.site

#HistoryEducation

*Finally* able to talk about the Star Trek @sciencemuseum.org.uk team-up we are organising for the 60th anniversary! Special events, world first film season, exclusive merch, props and costumes from the Paramount archives, and more! www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/star-trek-60

My new book treat arrived! Very excited by this one.

📢 Ri Freer Prize Fellowship📢 - 12-month fellowship for research on the history of science & technology, including heritage science. - Aimed at doctoral candidates in an unfunded writing-up year. - Get an £18,000 stipend & support to promote your research. Apply by 31st March 2026:

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

A vital piece of Cardiff History preserved at my Mum's house. RIP Capitol Centre food court, you were the best. #CardiffHistory #WelshHistory

Super proud of this one - sometimes in museums we get to do the right thing & correct a historical wrong. Honoured to have played a part in returning Preben Holger Larsen's remains to Denmark, and I hope sharing our methods helps other museums follow difficult research threads. bit.ly/4iZXCpX