States of Precarity
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statesofprecarity.bsky.social
States of Precarity
@statesofprecarity.bsky.social
350 followers 630 following 46 posts
Research project exploring the experiences and effects of precarious employment within UK higher education geography departments.

Supported by the Royal Geographical Society and Antipode.
www.statesofprecarity.co.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
📯Call for help from our Warwick colleagues researching #academicfailure

@johnmacartney.bsky.social wants to speak with UK based academics (any career stage, contract, or department) about their experiences of "failure" or non-success in research.

Most of us have experienced this, so please help!
April 28, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by States of Precarity
ahjackman.bsky.social
💡Our @statesofprecarity.bsky.social project has been covered in
@sciencebusiness.net. 'Fixed-term academic contracts discourage ‘radical’ research' sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-fun... Thank you @davidmjourno.bsky.social for reaching out to the team
Fixed-term academic contracts discourage ‘radical’ research
The rise of fixed-term academic contracts means researchers are likely to play it safe in their choice of research topics, eschewing the kind of ambitious, radical discovery European policymakers want...
sciencebusiness.net
January 20, 2026 at 9:19 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Today, we are featured in Science|Business, promoting our #precarity findings to European policymakers, research funders, companies and universities.

Article: sciencebusiness.net/node/60789/p...
January 20, 2026 at 9:23 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Our report is cited in the Times Higher Education today. Thanks again to everyone involved in the project. #EndPrecarity
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/use-fix...
Use of fixed-term posts ‘stifling more critical research’
Scholars with short contracts seen as more likely to favour doing ‘safer’ work, with ‘serious ramifications’ for their disciplines
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:02 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Thank you to our incredible speakers, Lekan Adekola, Gillian Rose, Matilda Fitzmaurice and Jay Todd, who really made our report launch event. Thanks too, to everyone who attended and contributed.

Stay tuned for next steps.
January 15, 2026 at 11:22 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Today we launch States of Precarity in UK HE Geography.

Thank you to the 364 colleagues whose experiences shaped this work.

Download the report, share widely, and join us in advocating for change.

Launch event (1:00-2:30GMT):
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...

Read report:
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography
Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.
www.rgs.org
January 14, 2026 at 8:37 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
TOMORROW:
Report Launch and Discussion
1:00-2:30PM GMT

Guest Speakers:
Matilda Fitzmaurice (@matildaf.bsky.social)
Jay Todd (@jaytoddgla.bsky.social)
Lekan Adekola
Gillian Rose (@profgillian.bsky.social)

Register:
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
States of precarity in UK geography report launch
We're invitomh all geographers to the launch of the States of Precarity in UK Higher Education Geography report.
www.rgs.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:49 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Cuts, mergers, and redundancies risk hollowing out the discipline and eroding its interdisciplinary core. Geography’s future depends on confronting precarity head-on. Join us for our launch event on Wednesday!

www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
States of precarity in UK geography report launch
We're invitomh all geographers to the launch of the States of Precarity in UK Higher Education Geography report.
www.rgs.org
January 12, 2026 at 9:59 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Precarity isn’t just contractual. It’s about whether academic work allows people to live fulfilling, stable lives. Join us for our report launch event on Wednesday.

Speakers: Gillian Rose, Lekan Adekola, Matilda Fitzmaurice, Jay Todd

Register👇
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
January 9, 2026 at 10:18 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Why this report matters now: A collapsing HE funding model is deepening insecurity. Our findings show how precarity is reshaping the discipline.

Report:
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography
Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.
www.rgs.org
January 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Register:
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
January 7, 2026 at 10:36 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Join us for our report launch event next Wednesday, 1pm-2.30pm [Online]

Guest speakers:
Prof. Gillian Rose, Lekan Adekola, Matilda Fitzmaurice, Jay Todd

Register 👇
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
States of precarity in UK geography report launch
We're invitomh all geographers to the launch of the States of Precarity in UK Higher Education Geography report.
www.rgs.org
January 7, 2026 at 10:28 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Precarity is shaping what kinds of knowledge get produced. Risk-taking, interdisciplinarity, and radical research are increasingly difficult under insecurity.

Read more: www.rgs.org/research/hig...
States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography
Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.
www.rgs.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:54 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Happy New Year everyone - we have one week to go until the launch event for States of Precarity in UK HE Geography!

Join us to discuss the findings, their implications, and routes for action. Register: www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
States of precarity in UK geography report launch
We're invitomh all geographers to the launch of the States of Precarity in UK Higher Education Geography report.
www.rgs.org
January 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Signing off for Christmas now - Join us in January for our report launch event.

www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
States of precarity in UK geography report launch
We're invitomh all geographers to the launch of the States of Precarity in UK Higher Education Geography report.
www.rgs.org
December 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Precarity is having serious effects on the future of geography, with many PhD students facing a challenging job market.

Intersectional pressures make a big difference. Students from minoritized backgrounds reported further structural and cultural barriers.

Read more: www.rgs.org/research/hig...
December 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
43.8% of PhD respondents were unsure about staying in academia; 14.6% had already decided not to. The reason? Insecurity, mobility expectations, and an oversaturated job market.
December 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
PhD researchers told us that expectations of 4–10 years of insecurity shape how they experience their doctorates.

Anticipated precarity affects wellbeing long before the first academic job. #StatesOfPrecarity
December 16, 2025 at 10:34 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
We have created a series of shareable posters and template letters to help colleagues advocate for change in their institutions.

Access all resources here: www.statesofprecarity.co.uk/resources
Resources - States of Precarity
Publications, outputs, and other resources produced by the States of Precarity project, aimed at addressing the impacts of precarious employment practices within UK higher education geography departme...
www.statesofprecarity.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 8:32 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Probation periods have (unsurprisingly?) emerged as a major contributor to academic precarity, with many colleagues experiencing extensions, unclear expectations, and pressure to over-perform.

Full details: www.rgs.org/research/hig...
States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography
Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.
www.rgs.org
December 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
The psychological impacts of academic precarity linger long after permanent employment is secured.

Find out more about precarity's long term effects here:
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
December 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
Departments can make a difference to experiences of academic #precarity.

Transparency in contract use, clear mentoring structures, workload mapping, and inclusion of FTC staff in decision-making are key first steps.

Download our Action Plans to reduce precarity here:
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography
Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.
www.rgs.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by States of Precarity
ahjackman.bsky.social
Thank you for your ongoing support of the @statesofprecarity.bsky.social project, @profgillian.bsky.social.

Project report & action plans: www.rgs.org/research/hig...
Project launch event, online (14 Jan): www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
Project blog post: blog.geographydirections.com/2025/11/21/s...
December 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
71.7% of permanent staff who previously held FTCs still feel the long-term effects. Many describe ongoing anxiety, disrupted personal lives, and slower career progression.

Learn more: www.rgs.org/research/hig...
December 9, 2025 at 9:51 AM
statesofprecarity.bsky.social
I’ve moved four times in seven years. It’s exhausting. I don’t know if I can keep doing this.’
— FTC participant
#StatesofPrecarity

Read our report and recommendations 👇

www.rgs.org/research/hig...
States of precarity in UK Higher Education geography
Findings from a discipline-focused research project exploring the lived realities of precarious academic work within UK Higher Education geography.
www.rgs.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM