Monthly Archives: August 2026

Mentors in Passing

Posted on 23 August 2026 by Athene Donald

Recently I was approached by a young woman after a talk, requesting we met so I could give her some advice. In fact, I suspect she didn’t actually want advice, so much as reassurance that what she had in mind … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in advice, careers, mentoring, sponsor | Leave a comment

In which generative AI interferes with scientific training – potentially

Posted on 23 August 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

I have recently written about the perils of scientists relying on generative AI for writing. But the topic isn’t going away, and every day, more alarm bells seem to go off. Two opposing opinion pieces on this topic were published … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in academia, AI, Nostalgia, Research, Scientific thinking, The profession of science, Writing | Leave a comment

Steamboat Ladies

Posted on 14 August 2026 by Athene Donald

The University of Cambridge has not had a very good week or two in the media. I’m not going to enter that fray given how much has already been written and I’m a long way away from the details of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in BA, degrees, education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Cambridge, Women in science | Leave a comment

The Dissing of Summer Lawns

Posted on 9 August 2026 by Henry Gee

Prolonged drought has turned everyone’s lawns to stubble. I wonder how many people have wondered why they bother to have lawns at all, and, what with climate change, whether lawns will be sustainable? Consider: back in the Olden Days, ordinary … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Domesticrox, Gardening, lawns, shrubbery | Leave a comment