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Nick Mayhew

Lecturer in Russian, University of Glasgow
Before joining the University of Glasgow, I was a Lecturer in Russian at the University of Oxford (2021-2022) and an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Lecturer in Slavic Languages & Literatures at Stanford University (2018-2021). I received my PhD in Slavonic Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2018.

My research explores queer gender and sexuality in Russian, Ukrainian and Church Slavonic culture. As a gay man living in Moscow when Russia introduced its law against the "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations", I saw first-hand how culture, history and religion can be manipulated to fuel discrimination. My research is premised on telling queer counternarratives about Russian culture and especially religion, to shine light on a rich queer heritage too often obscured from scholarly perception.

I am particularly interested in bringing queerness to light in contexts that are usually deemed conservative and heteronormative, such as within the Orthodox Church. On the one hand, I am interested in thinking through how sexual minorities negotiate their relationships with cultural and religious traditions that have marginalised them, and on the other hand, I look at queerness inherent to the traditions themselves.

My publications focus mainly on the medieval and early modern periods, although I am moving increasingly into the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. I am also interested in the telling of cultural and historical narratives about gender and sexuality in the present, and in queerness in contemporary pop culture.

Vladimir Putin’s history war where truth is the first casualty

Feb 16, 2024 07:06 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The Kremlins decision to sanction several UK historians for their allegedly erroneous coverage of Russian history shows the extent to which Vladimir Putins regime is doubling down on its view of Ukraine as historically...

Economy

Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Prices for Asia as OPEC+ Eases Supply Limits

Saudi Arabia has lowered oil prices for its key Asian market as OPEC+ starts to ease production cuts. State-owned Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) will reduce the Arab Light crude price by 40 cents per barrel for April, a...

Gold Prices Steady Amid Dollar Weakness and Trade Policy Uncertainty

Gold prices remained stable in Asian trading on Friday, poised for a nearly 2% weekly gain as the U.S. dollar hovered near a four-month low. Investors remained cautious ahead of a key U.S. employment report that could...

European Stocks Slide as ECB Cuts Rates and U.S. Trade Uncertainty Weighs on Markets

European stock markets tumbled Friday following the European Central Banks latest rate cut and concerns over U.S. trade policy shifts. At 09:03 GMT, the Stoxx 600 fell 0.9%, Germanys DAX dropped 1.5%, Frances CAC 40...

China’s Trade Surplus Soars as Imports Plunge Amid U.S. Tariffs

Chinas trade surplus surged to $172.5 billion in the first two months of 2025, far surpassing the projected $143.1 billion. The unexpected 8.4% drop in imports, driven by weak domestic demand and escalating U.S.-China...

U.S. Plans Port Fees on Fleets Linked to China, Pressures Allies to Follow

The U.S. is preparing to impose port fees on ships tied to Chinese-built or Chinese-flagged vessels, aiming to revive domestic shipbuilding and counter Chinas dominance in global shipping. A draft executive order under...

Politics

USDA Eliminates Key Food Safety Committees, Sparking Oversight Concerns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has disbanded two advisory committees on food safety, raising concerns about oversight as the Trump administration moves to cut costs and reduce bureaucracy. The eliminated panels,...

Trump Admin Cuts $400M in Columbia University Funding Over Antisemitism Claims

The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing allegations of antisemitic harassment on and around its New York City campus. The...

Trump Pushes for Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Military Aid Freeze

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot discussed ending the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the State Department. Rubio reaffirmed President Donald Trumps commitment to negotiating...

Western Australia Votes in Key Election Ahead of National Poll

Voters in Western Australia cast their ballots on Saturday in a crucial state election, setting the tone for the upcoming national vote expected by mid-May. The contest is seen as a test for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese...

Trump Administration Fires Senior Justice Department Officials, Including Pardon Attorney

The Trump administration has dismissed at least two senior career officials from the U.S. Justice Department, including Liz Oyer, the head of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, and Bobak Talebian, who led the Office of...

Science

Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible studies of human anatomy still don’t get the recognition they deserve

Wikimedia, CC BY-SA The mere mention of Leonardo da Vinci evokes genius. We know him as a polymath whose interests spanned astronomy, geology, hydrology, engineering and physics. As a painter, his Mona Lisa and Last Supper...

One of the largest searches for alien life started 30 years ago. Its legacy lives on today

In February 1995, a small research organisation known as the SETI Institute launched what was then the most comprehensive search for an answer to a centuries-old question: are we alone in the universe? This Sunday marks...

South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s

Inkathazos glowing plasma jets are shown in red and yellow. The starlight from other surrounding galaxies can be seen in the background. K.K.L Charlton (UCT), MeerKAT, HSC, CARTA, IDIA, CC BY You may not know it, but right...

It’s science, not fiction: high-tech drones may soon be fighting bushfires in Australia

Picture this. Its a summer evening in Australia. A dry lightning storm is about to sweep across remote, tinder-dry bushland. The next day is forecast to be hot and windy. A lightning strike tonight could spark a fire that...

Earth is bombarded with rocks from space – but who gets to keep these ultimate antiques?

Every day, about 48.5 tonnes of space rock hurtle towards Earth. Meteorites that fall into the ocean are never recovered. But the ones that crash on land can spark debates about legal ownership. Globally, meteorite hunting...

Technology

Broadcom Soars on AI Demand, Raises Guidance Amid Nvidia Constraints

Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) surged over 12% in premarket trading after delivering strong fiscal Q1 results and upbeat guidance, fueled by soaring demand for its AI chips. The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.60 per...

Tesla Joins Wedbush’s ‘Best Ideas List’ Amid Major Innovation Surge

Wedbush Securities has added Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) to its Best Ideas List, citing an upcoming innovation cycle that could drive massive growth. The firm maintained its Outperform rating with a $550 price target,...

Meta to Launch Enhanced AI Voice Features with Llama 4, Eyes Premium Subscriptions

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) is set to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities with the upcoming release of Llama 4, introducing advanced voice features in the coming weeks, according to the Financial Times....

CoreWeave Denies AI Cloud Contract Issues Amid $35B IPO Plans

IPO-bound AI cloud startup CoreWeave dismissed claims of contract cancellations following a Financial Times report alleging Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) had pulled back from some agreements due to delivery issues. A CoreWeave...

Samsung Eyes Pro-Trump Successor for North America Public Affairs Role

Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) is reportedly seeking a new head for its North American public affairs division, aiming to appoint a candidate with ties to U.S. President Donald Trumps administration and the Republican...