Monthly Archives: May 2022

What I Read In May

Posted on 29 May 2022 by Henry Gee

Emma Healey: Elizabeth Is Missing I actually read this (and Little Egypt, below) in April, but squeezed it in at the very end during a weekend in which I had to see a man about a dog (no, really) so … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in an officer and a spy, Charles Dickens, conclave, dreyfus affair, elizabeth is missing, emma healey, fatherland, ghost, kazuo ishiguro, lesley glaister, little egypt, martin chuzzlewit, pompeii, robert harris, Salt Publishing, the fear index, the remains of the day, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on What I Read In May

A Diversion into History of Science

Posted on 29 May 2022 by Athene Donald

As a physicist, I may enjoy reading popular history books, but I don’t expect to get involved with history. Coming to Churchill College has given me a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Archives here and how they are … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Archives, Maggie Thatcher, Mary Astell, Rene Descartes, Women in science | Comments Off on A Diversion into History of Science

Getting Involved with Policy-making

Posted on 22 May 2022 by Athene Donald

Last week I presented evidence to the Commons’ Science and Technology’s Select Committee enquiry into Diversity and Inclusion in STEM. I don’t want to rehearse my arguments, which can be read in the transcript of the full morning’s session (or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Brilliance, Diane Coyle, policy-making, Science and Technology Select Committee, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Getting Involved with Policy-making

Hocus Pocus

Posted on 18 May 2022 by Henry Gee

Greetings, Pop Pickers. Music fans of a certain vintage will recall with a wry smile the tune Hocus Pocus by the Dutch prog rock band Focus, in which the inspired lunacy of organist, vocalist and flautist Thijs van Leer met the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Focus, G&T, Hocus Pocus, Jan Akkerman, Music, rock, Silliness, Thijs van Leer | Comments Off on Hocus Pocus

Brilliance and Diversity

Posted on 15 May 2022 by Athene Donald

A couple of weeks ago I attended the annual conference of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, and a fascinating day it was. Everyone in the hall seemed delighted to be back to meeting in person, but there were several … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in conferences, Diane Coyle, education, Equality, manels, Stereotypes | Comments Off on Brilliance and Diversity

Parliamentary Activity

Posted on 2 May 2022 by Athene Donald

This week has brought some curious interventions into the STEM landscape in Parliament. I will return shortly to the much-publicised, if seemingly ill-informed remarks about girls and Physics made by Katherine Birbalsingh – a headteacher and the Government’s social mobility … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Interdisciplinary Science, Katherine Birbalsingh, Ottoline Leyser, Science and Technology Select Committee, Science Culture, Science Funding, UKRI, Women in science | Comments Off on Parliamentary Activity