Author Archives: Stephen

On the Freedom of Misunderstanding of Speech

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Stephen

“The Ruffian” is great title for Ian Leslie’s Substack given his predilection for roughing up lazy thinking. I first came across him as the author of “Conflicted”, an excellent book about how to disagree constructively, a practice he frequently deploys … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality Diversity & Inclusion, Science & Art, Science culture, Scientific Life | 4 Comments

Books of 2023

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Stephen

A combination of life’s distractions, ill discipline and slow reading mean that I have only managed to finish 11 books this year. I am almost embarrassed to admit to such a paltry tally. There are people who can rip through … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Comments Off on Books of 2023

Photos of 2023

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Stephen

I took over 2800 photos in 2023. Actually, I took a lot more because we went on safari in the summer and I have worked hard to cull as many shots that I could from that trip. Even so, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Science | 2 Comments

An open letter on EDI matters to the Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Stephen

The letter below started out as a ‘closed’ communication sent to DSIT on 11th October but in the absence of any response, despite two reminders, and the revelation in the meantime that the Secretary of State herself sometimes has  occasion … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality Diversity & Inclusion, Science & Politics | Comments Off on An open letter on EDI matters to the Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Kenya: Where the Wild Things Are

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Stephen

Everyone we knew who had been on safari told us they’d had such an amazing experience that I was worried our expectations for our trip to Kenya were being set too high. I needn’t have been concerned. For six days … Continue reading →

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Why Succession failed me – just

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Stephen

I have been trying to put my finger on why I have found Succession — HBO’s must-see series about fictional US media mogul Logan Roy and his dysfunctional family — to be at once utterly compelling and annoyingly dissatisfying. The … Continue reading →

Posted in TV review | Comments Off on Why Succession failed me – just

A day in Auschwitz

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Stephen

Last week I visited Auschwitz. I find myself hesitating to write or say anything because I can’t find the words to convey the horror of the place and, in any case, so much has already been written and said far … Continue reading →

Posted in History of Science | 1 Comment

The separation of life and death

Posted on April 15, 2023 by Stephen

Who is that stranger in my father’s bed? Those sunken eyes The concave cheeks Salted with stubble The thinned grey hair Plastered to a narrow skull. I have lost the man I loved. In truth it had been a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | 3 Comments

What’s the easiest way to become a less lazy photographer?

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Stephen

I’m thinking of becoming a less lazy photographer. Can you help? Long-time readers of this blog will know that I enjoy a bit of photography from time to time, since I have an annual tradition of posting my favourite photographs … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | 2 Comments

Books of 2022

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Stephen

Another year, another tweet thread of the books I read these past twelvemonth. Click on the images to access higher resolution versions which are just about legible, or better still, read the thread on Twitter. In 2022 I managed just … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Science | 2 Comments

Photos of 2022

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Stephen

Another year, another two thousand or more photographs, some of which I thought were quite good. There’s a little taster below but if you want to see the full set of 55 pictures that were my favourites from this year, … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Science & Art, Travel | 4 Comments

Intelligent life: Isaiah Berlin

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Stephen

Thanks to the paucity of my education and cultural life I have come late to Isaiah Berlin, the noted philosopher and historian of ideas whose thinking provided such a guiding light to the 20th Century. But I’m definitely a fan … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Science, Science culture | Comments Off on Intelligent life: Isaiah Berlin