Latest posts

On Biological Modelling

Posted on 12 May 2013 by cromercrox

IMG_7106
No. 94. Coccoliths.
With apologies to rpg. But why should cell biologists have all the fun? Continue reading →

Posted in biological modelling, coccoliths, happy plankton, Nonsense, Science-less Sunday, Silliness | Leave a comment

My Life in Nebraska

Posted on 11 May 2013 by Steve Caplan

Years ago, when I still permitted myself a very tiny slice of time for television, I enjoyed the antics of Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer in the British comedy series, “As Time Goes By.” In particular, I wholly identified with the rather reclusive and mildly anti-social Lionel Hardcastle, author of the not-exactly-best-selling book,  Continue reading →

Posted in as time goes by, author, Books, libraries, Nebraska, norfolk, novels, promotion, science, self-promotion | Leave a comment

I blame the parents

Posted on 10 May 2013 by Austin

From time to time, I am given to wondering why I have achieved so little in life generally.

Answers suggested by my friends and family have included ‘laziness’ ‘not trying hard enough’ ‘lack of confidence’ ‘too unfocussed’ ‘too much procrastinating’ ‘laziness’ (again) ‘no Continue reading →

Posted in Family business, Getting old, Grumbling, Humour, Procrastination | Leave a comment

Planes

Posted on 10 May 2013 by cromercrox

When I moved from London to Cromer, colleagues were genuinely aghast, How, they asked, would I get to international meetings? “Norwich International Airport,” I replied. It’s 35 minutes’ easy drive from my door. Parking is plentiful, cheap, and all of a hundred-yard easy amble from the terminal. From Norwich you can get one Continue reading →

Posted in airports, Commutatis Maledictis, Cromer, Norwich International Airport, planes, Politicrox, Schiphol, travel | Leave a comment

Science: better messy than messed up

Posted on 9 May 2013 by Stephen

I am fascinated by the psychology of scientific fraudsters. What drives these people? If you are smart enough to fake results, surely you have the ability to do research properly? You should also be clever enough to realise that one day you will get caught. And you should know that fabricating results is a worthless exercise that runs completely co Continue reading →

Posted in Diederk Stapel, fraud, Impact Factors, Norovirus, Scientific Life, Structural Biology | Leave a comment

In which things flow naturally forward

Posted on 9 May 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

I’ve been pondering the impermanence of things lately.

Maybe it all started with the departure of a well-liked clinical researcher from our lab, an OB/GYN with a sense of the absurd who never failed to make us laugh. Now when we walk by his empty bench, it’s a reminder of the absence in our close-knit team – an absence so strong that it’s almost a Continue reading →

Posted in careers, Nostalgia, staring into the abyss, The profession of science | Leave a comment

The Viva Experience

Posted on 8 May 2013 by Athene Donald

I’ve seen a few posts around recently from anxious PhD students approaching their vivas in fear and trepidation or discussing the experience in the immediate aftermath. For instance, here is @hapsci discussing things after the event in a state of post-exam exhaustion and fellow OT blogger Erika Cule sought advice from her OT colleagues over twitter Continue reading →

Posted in exam performance, PhD, PhD thesis, Research | Leave a comment

My old new little friend – the Voigtländer VF-101

Posted on 6 May 2013 by Richard Wintle

Oh, goodness me. I’ve gone and bought a handful of old film cameras on Ebay. Six, exactly – purchased on the cheap with the understanding that they might not work. I think I’ve done alright – three apparently just fine, one with a minor but non-fatal issue, and two that are clearly defunct, at least until someone more skille Continue reading →

Posted in camera, Film, Hobbies, Photography, rangefinder, VF-101, Voigtländer | Leave a comment

It Has Not Escaped Our Notice #94

Posted on 6 May 2013 by cromercrox

In an anguished missive accompanying this picture, Professor Trellis of North Wales writes:

Have you noticed how existential DIY megamarts get on Bank Holiday weekends? All I wanted to do was get a new hasp for the shed door, and when I got it home I discovered the attached emblazoned on the wrapper…

JG dodgy barcode_5484

Either they need to get their collective Continue reading →

Posted in Professor Trellis of North Wales, quantum uncertainty, Silliness | Leave a comment

Let me give you some advice….

Posted on 5 May 2013 by Sylvia McLain

on advice

If I were to offer a new academic advice it would be to not be afraid to take advice from your colleagues; especially with respect to writing. I was talking to one of my collaborators the other day and they told me ‘I never let anyone in the Department read my grants before I submit them; I am too scared‘. I can definitely u Continue reading →

Posted in advice, science writing | Leave a comment

Crawling around the back yard

Posted on 3 May 2013 by Richard Wintle

This is the kind of thing that happens when I’m waiting around all day for a plumber to appear to fix a leaky valve in the upstairs bathroom:

Earthworm

Yes, that’s a perfectly ordinary Earthworm, wriggling into the earth under a border stone in the back yard. Having run out of other things to occupy my time (ok, I confess – that should pro Continue reading →

Posted in backyard, nature, Photography | Leave a comment

Once Absence of Impact used to be the Fashionable Thing to Claim

Posted on 2 May 2013 by Athene Donald

Up and down the land, academics from Vice Chancellors down are sweating over 3 letters: REF. This dread acronym, standing for the Research Excellence Framework, must be absorbing a fantastic number of hours of time for many people and it is not something to be taken lightly. Many millions of pounds are at stake, as well as departmental honour. Some Continue reading →

Posted in History of Science, impact, Jan Golinski, REF, Research, Science Culture | Leave a comment

Now I Am Old, I Shall Play Purple

Posted on 1 May 2013 by cromercrox

This is the first generation of the truly ageing rock star. The Stones are still at it, fifty years on (proprietors M. Jagger & K. Richards, both 69.) David Bowie (66) has just released a new record which is reportedly excellent (I haven’t heard it myself. Continue reading →

Posted in deep purple, jon lord, Music, now what?!, review | Leave a comment

The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #51

Posted on 1 May 2013 by cromercrox

Suggestions welcome for suitably surreal titles for this bizarre installation recently discovered at the Maison Des Girrafes. You know the sort of thing: things like Oh Calcutta! Calcutta! or The Ghost Of Professor Trellis of North Wales, Which Can Also Be Used As A Sink Tidy.

Continue reading →
Posted in Apparitions, installation, Silliness, surrealism | Leave a comment

What’s in a name?

Posted on 30 April 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I had a boyfriend back in the day who wrote music semi-professionally. The best bit of composing a piece of music, according to the boy, was the creative process with another person – that toing and froing of thoughts and ideas that synthesized a great tune. His least favourite part was what happened after. Deciding who wrote what bit of Continue reading →

Posted in scientific publishing | Leave a comment