Monthly Archives: June 2019

Unconscious Bias Training Isn’t a Magic Wand

Posted on 22 June 2019 by Athene Donald

This week saw a sober assessment of the impact – both positive but also depressingly negative – of schemes to improve gender equality. As the Athena Swan Review Group wrestles with how to improve their own awards, it is important … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, bullying, Equality, implicit bias, Science Culture, training | Comments Off on Unconscious Bias Training Isn’t a Magic Wand

Where is the HE Sector Going?

Posted on 16 June 2019 by Athene Donald

There is a lot going on in the HE policy world, from the Augar Review of post-18 education and funding, to the publication of the UKRI (and its constituent parts) Delivery Plans. Yet all this is set in the context … Continue reading →

Posted in CDTs, education, John Kingman, Research, Royal Society, Science Funding, strategy, UKRI, Venki Ramakrishnan | Comments Off on Where is the HE Sector Going?

The Matilda Effect and Jean Purdy

Posted on 10 June 2019 by Athene Donald

There are well-known instances of women in science being apparently overlooked for a Nobel Prize: Jocelyn Bell Burnell, springs to mind, as do Lisa Meitner and Rosalind Franklin (if one ignores the inconvenient fact that she was dead by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill College Archives, Equality, IVF, Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards, Women in science | Comments Off on The Matilda Effect and Jean Purdy

The Renaissance and Preformation

Posted on 8 June 2019 by Steve Caplan

This is a tale of woes, and oh, what a tale. And it all begins with some introspection as to whether we, as human beings, are “preformed.” If we venture back a mere 350 years or so, to the time … Continue reading →

Posted in army, internet, Malpighi, microscope, morality, Preformation, Renaissance, Research, science | Comments Off on The Renaissance and Preformation

Examining Season

Posted on 7 June 2019 by Athene Donald

Students, you may want to look away now as I’m going to give away some of the secrets of exam marking, as I’ve discovered them over more years than I care to remember. Firstly, it is extremely boring. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in education, marking, students | Comments Off on Examining Season