Academic life

Typography expert’s rules for making messages easier to read elicit both praise and claims of pedantry

We talk student protests, forgotten heroes and lessons from history with Northwestern University’s next provost

A leading exploration geologist has died

Attributes of top scientists mapped in new paper

Seven scholars relate how they stepped back or stepped in as they saw fit, while one contributor’s daughter describes the flip side

Fellow scholars pay tribute to the thinker who transformed our understanding of the contemporary world with his concept of ‘liquid modernity’ 

The Olympian and chancellor of Oxford Brookes University talks about camaraderie between athletes, competition in the HE sector, and how her academic and athletic careers have complemented each other

From giving up Bremoaning and plastic cutlery, to publishing 10 papers in one year and sketchnoting, scholars share their goals for 2017

From respect and metrics to mistakes and biscuits, management scholar John Hendry offers advice

Keep it brief, tailor to the job requirements and do not mention your hobbies. Our panel of top university administrators offer some tips on how to write a top-notch CV

Universities should be providing students with the skills to understand and handle media manipulation, say academics behind a new study

Education adviser to president says ‘lifetime affiliation’ to universities could be model for future learning

Analysis casts doubt on fears that ‘publish or perish’ culture undermines quality

Research-intensive universities may not be matching rhetoric with actions on teaching support

Chances are you’ll get at least a bit of ‘spam dressed as lamb’ this Christmas

Study into the experiences of universities’ top teaching faculty is revealing about the real priorities, says Holly Else

Although the term still resonates with scholars, it means less and less in today’s academy, says Bruce Macfarlane

Comic strips present a rich, varied – and surprising – picture of life on campus, researchers have found, but also may explain prejudices

We talk to the new chancellor of Bath Spa University about censorship, Brideshead Revisited and why campuses should be a place for outrage

Jack Grove asks whether Father Christmas could learn from recent ‘Santa studies’ research

The most popular Times Higher Education stories of the last year revealed

Glen Wright reveals the best #AcademicsWithCats of 2016

The incoming dean of arts and humanities at UCL speaks about tuition fees, snobbery in film studies and making Margaret Thatcher likeable

A leading expert on corporate crime and social responsibility, who also wrote extensively about the funny side of the law, has died

Mark Readman offers a guide to help selfish academics ensure that everyone at a conference knows they are very special indeed

Our panel of leading university administrators explain how applicants should approach a meeting of this kind at their institution

Off to an academic conference? Helena Ledmyr offers some tricks to getting the most out of attending a scholarly gathering

Provost says institution 'must do better' as independent researchers find focus on excellence has had 'negative impact' alongside top results

New analysis suggests university offers should take greater account of where students went to school

Key recommendation of Stern review is adopted to help reduce workload for institutions

Junior academics can access services without physically visiting premises, writes Holly Else

Physical stores on and off campus are facing down threats such as Amazon’s Berkeley book ‘hangar’ by evolving, argues Andrew Thacker

We talk with the new president of the European University Institute about the politicisation of British universities, being a European citizen (whether you like it or not) and having no regrets

Many early career researchers have ‘not gone to the library for years’, according to report

Lincoln Allison, Eric Thomas and Richard Larschan reflect on the ‘next phase’ of the scholarly life

Landmark exhibition explained the significance of university research to the public

University staff may often write letters of recommendation in a very gendered way, warns Dame Athene Donald

We talk with this year’s winner of the THE Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award about the decline of student politics, what Michael Gove is getting wrong and bacon sandwiches

Renowned chemist and administrator, known for his financial acumen and attention to detail, oversaw the creation of Cardiff University

US study finds biomedical PhDs from certain ethnic minorities are less likely to understand the ‘hidden’ rules of succeeding in science

The Universities Superannuation Scheme’s stake in former cluster bomb manufacturer Textron is an inappropriate use of savings, campaigners say

Momentum is building for fossil fuel divestment in UK and US universities, while American institutions are cutting ties with ‘racist’ private prisons industry

Five top European academics offer advice on how to mentor, manage and expand a research team

Curt Rice's election night party turned sour, but the morning after provided much-needed reassurance

China's university sports body hopes to convince parents and students that play teaches valuable life lessons

Researcher sent thousands of emails trying to get paper published

Male scholars turn to alcohol to stave off impostor feelings

Our experts reveal how they seek to choose the right person for the job when faced with a pile of flawless CVs and glowing references

We talk about armed police, rowing and challenging stereotypes with the first police officer to head an Oxbridge college

Funding conference attendance out of your own pocket? Don't worry – there are ways to make back the cash through other academic activities. Catherine Fletcher explains.

Fictional professors from film, TV and literature have been reported to new watchlist of 'anti-American' academics

One year shaved off time to degree under new national framework

Requesting a log of daily activity means that trust between the institution and the scholar has broken down, says Toby Miller

Make appointing a chief scientific adviser on the EU ‘a priority’, Westminster committee tells the government

We talk with the UN medal winner about the commercialisation of research, the merits of transnational scholarship and why scientists are like used-car dealers

Claire Taylor wants ‘education is never wasted’ to become the mantra for a higher education sector that is struggling to communicate its value to the public

In the first of a new series of articles, leading academics and university administrators will share tips on how to get ahead in higher education. Here, those involved in hiring explain how to handle a Skype interview

We talk women’s equality and emancipation, the necessity of HE investment in developing countries and eureka moments in the Himalayas with the new head of the Asian University for Women

What links the anxious, fearful undergraduate and the anxious, fearful academic? Pervasive precarity, argues Matthew Vernon

As push-pull factors exert their force on scholars in the UK, the Article 50 ruling buys universities more time to argue their case against a shifting EU backdrop