Monthly Archives: July 2014

It’s the Individual Who Makes a Difference

Posted on 31 July 2014 by Athene Donald

Mentors are often highlighted as being crucial to success. People who look out for you, advise you when you’re feeling confused or lost, who point you towards opportunities you might otherwise have missed and who are there to offer encouragement … Continue reading →

Posted in Lord (Jack) Lewis, mentoring, parenting, Science Culture | Comments Off on It’s the Individual Who Makes a Difference

Marooned on the Island

Posted on 30 July 2014 by Richard Wintle

Not a desert island, mind you. Oh no – this “island” is a thin strip of land between pit lane and the front straight, the province of a select few photographers who absolutely need to take photographs of cars in … Continue reading →

Posted in bloody weather, Hobbies, Honda Indy Toronto, Photography, racing, rain | Comments Off on Marooned on the Island

That’s the way science works

Posted on 25 July 2014 by Steve Caplan

There have been a lot of articles published in newspapers around the world discussing a recent PLoS ONE paper published on July 23 by Harris and Provoust entitled “Jealousy in Dogs.” Ginger, in a reflective, non-jealous mode For those who … Continue reading →

Posted in animal behavior, behavior, canine, dog, dog sense, dogs, impact, jealousy, PLOS ONE, Research, science, Scientific method | Comments Off on That’s the way science works

Parental Leave and Sexism

Posted on 25 July 2014 by Athene Donald

Parental Leave and Sexism There’s been a bit of a twitterstorm about the story of a ‘techie mom’ who overheard a conversation between two presumed IBM executives on the subject of hiring women. Their view was, don’t do it: they … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, maternityleave, misogyny, paternity leave, techie, Women in science | Comments Off on Parental Leave and Sexism

Disturbing the natural order – the case of neonicotinoid insecticides and farmland birds

Posted on 23 July 2014 by Philip Strange

A swift   One of my favourite nature writers is Mark Cocker who has the ability to capture a scene or an idea in a few hundred words. Despite his immense knowledge he never loses his sense of awe and … Continue reading →

Posted in bees, birds, center for food safety, conservation, farmland birds, George Monbiot, Guest posts, imidacloprid, insectivorous birds, Kenneth Allsop, mark cocker, neonicotinoids, netherlands, radboud university, swift, yellow wagtail | Comments Off on Disturbing the natural order – the case of neonicotinoid insecticides and farmland birds

Advice on presentations: I’m not as clever as you think

Posted on 23 July 2014 by Stephen

I spent the last two days in Leicester at Translation UK, a two-day conference that is an annual gathering for scientists working on all aspects of translation — the protein synthesis kind. The conference is friendly and informal. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Comments Off on Advice on presentations: I’m not as clever as you think

In which I heart academia

Posted on 22 July 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

Say what you will against life in the upper echelons of higher education. By all means complain about the low pay, the long hours, and the increasingly desperate funding situation. Above all, rail against the crushing career insecurity, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in The profession of science | Comments Off on In which I heart academia

She blinded me with science

Posted on 22 July 2014 by rpg

Jenny is putting the finishing touches to a revised manuscript. I’m reading about a very interesting paper in my old field—and telling her about it. Joshua is doomed, isn’t he?

Posted in Don't try this at home, science | Comments Off on She blinded me with science

Llongyfarchiadau!

Posted on 20 July 2014 by Athene Donald

…or ‘Congratulations’ in English. Up and down the country this is the time of year for graduation ceremonies. Proud parents, wider family and friends go along to watch their loved ones briefly smile and shake the (Vice)Chancellor’s hand, or something … Continue reading →

Posted in graduation, Photography, Science Culture, Swansea University | Comments Off on Llongyfarchiadau!

Cultural and academic boycotts: why the BDS movement is an embarrassment and a failure

Posted on 19 July 2014 by Steve Caplan

Recently, Pink Floyd founder and (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) BDS supporter Roger Waters publicly called on musician Neil Young not to perform in Tel Aviv, Israel. In his letter to Young, Waters wrote: “That you would lend support to, and … Continue reading →

Posted in academic boycott, anti-semitism, BDS, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Jews, none is too many, Palestinians, Roger Waters, the Guardian, The New York Times | Comments Off on Cultural and academic boycotts: why the BDS movement is an embarrassment and a failure