Category Archives: Universities

Twenty five years without parole

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Austin

In which I look back in… stunned disbelief? It has been a rather strange week here. The main reason, I think, is that last Wednesday, on Feb 1st, I passed a rather unnerving landmark – twenty-five years working for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting old, Grumbling, Physiology, Procrastination, The Life Scientific, Uncategorized, Universities | 27 Comments

Dedication? Or lack of imagination?

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Austin

Over in the comments at Athene Donald’s blog there is another of those extended discussions of UK science careers going on, prompted also by Jenny Rohn’s recent posts on fellowship schemes and the work of the Science is Vital campaign. … Continue reading →

Posted in Annoyances, Getting old, Science policy, The Life Scientific, Uncategorized, Universities | 18 Comments

Not much more than a decade until the bus pass*

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Austin

*assuming bus passes haven’t been abolished by then (see also a defence of bus passes here). ——————————————————————-   In which, in a post-academic-year reverie, I decide not to look forward, and try some looking back instead. So no surprise there, then. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chess, Family business, Nerdishness, Procrastination, The Life Scientific, Universities | 27 Comments

More family business

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Austin

Just a quick heads-up that my dad has posted an extended comment (or I’ve posted it for him) on the previous blogpost about his 7th decade of scientific publication. The comment has some links to more early 60s x-ray crystallography … Continue reading →

Posted in Family business, History, Humour, Procrastination, The Life Scientific, Uncategorized, Universities | 1 Comment

Board of the Kings

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Austin

In which I take stock, and decide to move on… The world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air. …Though that last smell could be me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chess, Getting old, Uncategorized, Universities | 15 Comments

No surprises likely on UK University fees

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Austin

To the surprise of pretty much nobody, either in the University or outside, my University has become the latest to announce that undergraduate tuition fees will rise to the full £ 9000 a year from 2012. [Formal announcement from the … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Science policy, Uncategorized, Universities | 7 Comments