Monthly Archives: March 2010

I’ve recently purchased a new flat, so the past week has featured a whirlwind of the usual routine-breaking activities – packing, schlepping, unpacking, painting, trips to Ikea and B&Q, switching over all the utilities and changing addresses. Having calculated that … Continue reading →

Why can’t we just speak plainly? The evils of jargon have been in the news recently, when local governments were taken to task for excessive use of management-speak in their literature. Coincidentally, the topic has also reared up in several … Continue reading →

Science is a fickle mistress. Anyone who’s been in the game as long as I have knows that experiments work only occasionally, and streaks of bad news are inevitable. In fact, I think it’s the mark of experience when you … Continue reading →

On my way into the lab yesterday, I noticed major construction works going on in the main university quad. I was struck by how small and dainty the bulldozer was – only about the size of a bicycle – and … Continue reading →