Monthly Archives: February 2012

Tang

Posted on 29 February 2012 by Henry Gee

As you are no doubt aware I edit Futures, Nature‘s weekly foray into the many worlds of science fiction. This week’s example is a disturbing tale of computer love – just the thing for Alan Turing’s centenary year – and comes … Continue reading →

Posted in from mars with love, futures, julian tang, Science-fiction, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Tang

Science: the bargain for funding

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Stephen

On the Guardian web-site today you will find a piece by myself and Imran Khan of CaSE which is a response to an attack on scientists for striking a faustian bargain with business.   The attack was written by Ananyo … Continue reading →

Posted in ananyo bhattacharya, Guardian, imran khan, science, Science & Politics, Science Funding | Comments Off on Science: the bargain for funding

What Next and How to Get There

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Athene Donald

Last week I visited Edinburgh University to participate in their inaugural ‘Innovative Learning Week’. Whilst many universities, though not my own, have study weeks or mid-term breaks, I haven’t come across the idea of teaching a different kind of teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, CV, education, job interviews, Research Concordat, Science Culture | Comments Off on What Next and How to Get There

Some progress on Open Access

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Stephen

This morning there have been two very interesting developments on open access. First, Doug Kell, Chief Executive of the BBSRC, responded on his blog to my open letter. His reply is detailed and goes some way to clarifying progress in … Continue reading →

Posted in BBSRC, Doug Kell, elsevier, Open Access, science | Comments Off on Some progress on Open Access

Hockey Pool, Week 21, wherein I fail to win

Posted on 26 February 2012 by Richard Wintle

Just a quick update on Cath’s annual hockey pool, dominated in recent years by, er, not me. In week 21, Cath and I managed to make identical choices for all but three players – and her three different ones outperformed … Continue reading →

Posted in Hobbies, hockey pool, miserableness, VWXPool | Comments Off on Hockey Pool, Week 21, wherein I fail to win

A roller coaster week…

Posted on 25 February 2012 by Steve Caplan

I am not usually one to walk around with a big grin on my face on Friday, glad to bid good-bye to the week at hand. No, I enjoy my work (most of the time), just as I enjoy the … Continue reading →

Posted in blackberry, e-mail, frustration, humor, iPhone, Lotus Notes, Outlook, Research, science | Comments Off on A roller coaster week…

Could this be…

Posted on 25 February 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

…the most useless list of spellcheck suggestions of all time? (I’m sure a tamarind genome sequence is in the works, somewhere…) …the worst possible weather in which to be running around collecting grant signatures from PIs in three different buildings?

Posted in career, drunkenness, English language, idiocy, photos, publishing, science, screenshots, Silliness, snow, technology, Vancouver | Comments Off on Could this be…

Self

Posted on 24 February 2012 by Henry Gee

It has been noted in these annals that I haven’t felt quite myself recently. However, last night, after having endured several days that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone, not even as an adventure holiday, I flipped 30mg of mirtazapine, took … Continue reading →

Posted in benzedrine, citalopram, consciousness, daniel dennett, depression, drugs, mentl, mianserin, mirtazapine, Research, self, sentience, serotonin, Silliness, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Self

The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #404

Posted on 24 February 2012 by Henry Gee

Captions invited. My own suggestion is ‘I think we’ve been stood up.’ Induction into the Grand Order of the Unicycling Girrafe (GOOFTUG) will follow any caption offered below that tickles the cockles.

Posted in Canis Primus Croxorum, canis secundus croxorum, Domesticrox, Silliness | Comments Off on The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #404

Lesser? Spotted? Well, that’s just the Professors

Posted on 23 February 2012 by Athene Donald

This piece first appeared in Times Higher Education on February 23rd 2012 in their Off Piste series. As a child and teenager, I spent many happy hours in cold, wet and uncomfortable conditions peering through my binoculars at small dots … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, birdwatching, Hampstead Heath, ornithology, Peoplewatching, Science Culture, subliminal messages | Comments Off on Lesser? Spotted? Well, that’s just the Professors