Category Archives: Fun

Dénouement

Posted on 18 March 2013 by Erika Cule

Last week: The ever-helpful @OccamT crew are giving @erikacule viva (thesis defense) tips & anecdotes via email. Hope we haven’t scared her too much… 13 March 2013 6:32 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite @enniscath Cath Ennis @enniscath we’ll drive her to vodka … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, Life, PhD | 6 Comments

Science Online 2013 without the carbon footprint

Posted on 31 January 2013 by Erika Cule

Science Online 2013 kicked off yesterday in North Carolina. For those of us who are not able to make it to the conference in person, watch parties the world over facilitate virtual attendance. In the UK, Eva Amsen and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Listen while you work

Posted on 9 September 2012 by Erika Cule

I feel sorry for PhD students who prefer to work in silence. Most students (and postdocs) will be assigned a desk in a shared office. Lab-dwelling students cannot realistically expect a quiet working environment. Jenny describes the sounds of science: … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, PhD | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Londoners by Craig Taylor and the A to Z

Posted on 11 August 2012 by Erika Cule

I moved to London in 2005. After a few weeks living here I concluded that the two most useful things to give a new visitor to the capital would be an Oyster card and a London A to Z. Now, having … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Fun, Life | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

PhD Comics Movie Review

Posted on 6 November 2011 by Erika Cule

Piled Higher and Deeper – the popular PhD comic – has been made into a movie. The movie is touring campuses around the world. Find a screening near you, or watch the trailer: Imperial College Union‘s Graduate Student Association hosted … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, Life, PhD | Tagged | 15 Comments

Book Review – Misha Angrist Here is a Human Being

Posted on 7 August 2011 by Erika Cule

I was reading this book on a train. My friend and fellow passenger asked me what I was reading, and then, whether it was for work or for pleasure. I was momentarily flummoxed. There’s meant to be a difference? Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Fun | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review – Lewis Wolpert on aging

Posted on 29 April 2011 by Erika Cule

I first came across Lewis Wolpert via his textbook Principles of Development which, to my mind, struck the right balance between seriousness and humour. “Principles of Development” captured the sense of wonder Wolpert feels for his research area, developmental biology. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, Life | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

How to throw a pancake party

Posted on 10 March 2011 by Erika Cule

Tuesday night is not traditionally a great night for a party. Your invitees have recovered from the weekend, and who wants to go out on a school night? It is not my fault, though, that Shrove Tuesday falls midweek. Known … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Goodwill to all men

Posted on 21 December 2010 by Erika Cule

Teaching and research are not the only areas of Imperial College’s activity affected by spending cuts. Earlier this autumn, Imperial Volunteer Centre announced that due to reduced funding from a specific scheme administered by the Higher Education Funding Council for … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, PhD | Tagged | 7 Comments