Monthly Archives: November 2015

Light Touch Metrics?

Posted on 30 November 2015 by Athene Donald

In the summer metrics looked like they had been substantially laid to rest for the Higher Education sector: The Metric Tide report, written at the behest of the (probably the about-to-be-late-lamented) HEFCE took many pages to point out that metrics … Continue reading →

Posted in James Wilsdon, REF, Sajiv Javid, Science Culture, TEF | Comments Off on Light Touch Metrics?

Chairing: Not as Easy as it Looks

Posted on 25 November 2015 by Athene Donald

If you are setting out on your career, how do you acquire leadership skills? If you think you’re a born leader how can you check it out or improve? As part of the commemorations around the 50th anniversary death of … Continue reading →

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What Does Equality Mean?

Posted on 19 November 2015 by Athene Donald

­­As the additions to my last post indicate, the University of York has backtracked on celebrating International Men’s Day – a celebration that would have taken place today. So now one part of the university is annoyed that anyone ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, International Men's Day | Comments Off on What Does Equality Mean?

In which we are funded: urinary infection in people with multiple sclerosis

Posted on 18 November 2015 by Jennifer Rohn

The big announcement! I wanted to thank the good folks at the Multiple Sclerosis Society for awarding me an Innovation Grant. With Government funding for research dwindling, life scientists rely increasingly on charities to help us answer the important questions … Continue reading →

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In which I embrace the literature

Posted on 17 November 2015 by Jennifer Rohn

Work from home I think I’ve earned a five-minute break. I’ve been working hard to ready myself ahead of a big interview for a significant funding scheme. I’m being subjected to a series of mock interviews, and I’ve been reading … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, Science Funding, Scientific thinking, staring into the abyss, The profession of science | Comments Off on In which I embrace the literature

On fungus

Posted on 15 November 2015 by rpg

As a cell biologist, yeasts spelt doom for crucial experiments. And as a gardener/amateur brewer, mildew and mould and other nasties can really ruin my roses/vines/beer. But there’s something about fungus, especially that not of the common or garden toadstool … Continue reading →

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Supporting Men, Supporting Women: We Need to do Both

Posted on 15 November 2015 by Athene Donald

I am not infrequently challenged about why I worry so much about women in academia when young men are being disadvantaged. This is seen to be particularly true in school exam results but also if one looks at the numbers … Continue reading →

Posted in appointment, bias, Ceci and WIlliams, Equality, International Men's Day | Comments Off on Supporting Men, Supporting Women: We Need to do Both

Some words when one is speechless

Posted on 15 November 2015 by Heather

The current use of “no words” in its semaphoric online sense seems to date back to five or ten years ago. To you, there may seem to be a great difference between five and ten years ago. To me, two … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest posts, idealism, intellectual, ivory tower, obscurantism, Paris, Politics, terrorism | Comments Off on Some words when one is speechless

Too many jobs, not enough quiet: In which I am spread too thin

Posted on 12 November 2015 by Jennifer Rohn

My group office, in a rare quiet moment To be in academia is to multitask. As a principal investigator in a big university, it is becoming increasingly apparent that investigation is not my principal role. Yes, I run a lab … Continue reading →

Posted in Scientific thinking, Teaching, The profession of science, Writing | Comments Off on Too many jobs, not enough quiet: In which I am spread too thin

Choosing your Path, Seizing Opportunities

Posted on 11 November 2015 by Athene Donald

I gave a talk today with this title at the Institute of Physics’ Careers Day ‘Taking Control of Your Career as a Female Physicist’. What I said is relevant to anyone setting out regardless of gender and, I suspect, regardless … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, failure, opportunities, resilience, Science Culture | Comments Off on Choosing your Path, Seizing Opportunities