Monthly Archives: April 2017

European Reflections from Padua

The ERC (European Research Council) last month celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Judging by the speeches and conversations on the day, ranging from  Commissioner Moedas and President Juncker to the ERC’s many grantees, it seems to be widely considered as rapidly … Continue reading

Posted in Brexit, Elena Piscopia, ERC, Science Culture, Science Funding, William Harvey | Comments Off on European Reflections from Padua

The March for Science: Can and should politics be absent?

Since the crowning of the current US administration, the scientific community in the US has not only been reeling from the proposed cuts to almost every type of scientific research in this country, but also from the quandary of what … Continue reading

Posted in #MarchforScience, education, March for Science, Occam, Research, science, scientists, truth, US | Comments Off on The March for Science: Can and should politics be absent?

Weather with you

Even before we moved to Gravesend, we knew of its “dodgy thermometer” from the weather forecasts on TV and radio. Gravesend was consistently the warmest place in the country, bucking the nation’s trends by a degree Celsius or two. In … Continue reading

Posted in code, Friday afternoon, html, Me, met office, personal, weather | Comments Off on Weather with you

Success does not preclude Humanity

Mental health on campus is frequently in the news. It is widespread, as it is within just about every other sector. If you haven’t suffered from a period of depression yourself, it is almost inevitable you know someone who has … Continue reading

Posted in depression, Meaning of Success, Science Culture, support, Women in science | Comments Off on Success does not preclude Humanity

The March for Science: advocacy masterstroke or PR misfire?

Last night made my way to an upstairs room at The Castle pub near Farringdon to participate in a debate organised by Stempra on the forthcoming March for Science. The panel (Photo by Anastasia Stefanidou) The question before the panel and … Continue reading

Posted in Science & Politics | Comments Off on The March for Science: advocacy masterstroke or PR misfire?

Making the most of our ASSET’s

When it comes to the reality of what it’s really like for women in academic science, it is always useful to have evidence up one’s sleeve to make a point as well as merely be able to relate anecdotes, personal … Continue reading

Posted in ASSET2016, HeforShe, Hong Kong, SAGE Australia, Science Culture, Sydney, Women in science | Comments Off on Making the most of our ASSET’s

Making the most of our ASSET’s

When it comes to the reality of what it’s really like for women in academic science, it is always useful to have evidence up one’s sleeve to make a point as well as merely be able to relate anecdotes, personal … Continue reading

Posted in ASSET2016, HeforShe, Hong Kong, SAGE Australia, Science Culture, Sydney, Women in science | Comments Off on Making the most of our ASSET’s

When Your PhD Goes Wrong

There is no point pretending that research often doesn’t pan out the way one hopes and dreams about. All kinds of things can go wrong in both the short and long term, and these are not always your own fault … Continue reading

Posted in electron microscopy, failure, Research, Science Culture, scoop | Comments Off on When Your PhD Goes Wrong

R2R – the Researcher to Reader conference

The R2R conference took place back in late February. It is an event more dominated than others (46%) by publishers – those on the business, strategy, and marketing side of the publishing industry. Smaller numbers come from libraries (15%), technology (12%) … Continue reading

Posted in Copyright and IP, Journal publishing, Open Access | Comments Off on R2R – the Researcher to Reader conference

Back to the cranes

Although it feels almost treason-like to momentarily hold my tongue and write a blog about unrelated to the war being waged on science and truth in the US, the annual crane-fest is as good a reason as any to distract … Continue reading

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