A year ago today I set finger to keyboard for the first time to start my blog. When I did it I had no real idea of what my focus was going to be, but I had a sort of sense that I wanted to write something. A friend, a blogger on entirely serious scientific matters, encouraged me saying ‘go on, it will be fun!’. I’ve no idea what he thought I was going to write about either, but he was right, I’ve had lots of fun this past year. Having got so far as to ask advice from my friendly, local computer officer (thank you Owen, you wrote the very first comment on my blog too as I recall) about how one set such a thing up I thought I had better proceed. It was a touching vote of confidence that on the Monday following that conversation Owen actually checked to see if I had got myself set up.
My first thoughts were that I would write about interdisciplinary science primarily. I even asked a couple of other scientists who work at the physics-biology interface if they would like to join in and we might all write about papers that took our fancy in this field. Neither of them responded to my email, so that idea bit the dust, at least in that particular form. But I always knew that one of the strands was going to be about ‘women in science’ and, for that reason, I was very clear that I was going to write under my own name. Only by identifying myself can people judge whether I can lay claim to any authority in what I write about and if, having survived in the system for all these years and experienced whatever vagaries life has thrown at me, the ‘voice of experience’ is of any use for others.
Sometimes I feel my seniority actually means that people too easily assume that I have no feeling for what it is like to be junior. Occasionally people have implied I have no sympathy for women in science. I find these responses to what I have written very strange, although no doubt it merely highlights that, however hard one tries to write clearly, things can be misunderstood. Certainly one of the things I have enjoyed most about doing this blog has been the opportunity to write things that aren’t in standard peer-reviewed journalese, of the sort our favourite journal beginning with N wants to receive. I’ve loved rediscovering the joy of composition, as opposed to simply stating what one has done, and what one can infer from the evidence in some dry-as-dust passive voice form. When I took my 11 plus, all those years ago, and was subsequently being interviewed by my prospective headmistress, it is amusing to recall it was my English skills that she lauded, not my maths. ‘A budding Shakespeare’ was the phrase that sticks in my mind. She was wrong, my worst O Level grade was in English and I dug my heels in about doing English Literature at all, but maybe I’ve found my (written) voice finally after many decades. I cannot think it is simply coincidence that over the past year I have written a couple of things for Times/Eureka and several for the THE (two of which are yet to appear), having had no exposure in such publications at any point previously.
Although once or twice, as I say, I feel my messages may have been misunderstood, much more often I have been really heartened by the responses of people – in written comments, on Twitter or just in conversation at chance meetings at different sorts of events. Women in particular tend to say how valuable they have found it that a senior woman will speak out about things that worry them too, or that it is useful to know that other people have experienced setbacks or awkward situations. So, I would like to think I am not just talking to myself, but that there is some point – as well as fun – in keeping this blog going. I was amused to find, when Physics World wrote up my blog, the comment was made that
we get the impression that its author has been itching for an outlet for her opinions for years.
If true, I wasn’t aware of the fact myself. But perhaps that was a tactful way of saying I am opinionated, which probably goes without saying.
I started off as a free-standing blogger, but was amazed and delighted to receive an invitation from the much more experienced Jenny Rohn to join Occam’s Typewriter as it was formed, although technically I think my own blog did not become live till a day or two after OT’s birth. This is a happy home of scientists writing about life in science, rather than purely about the details of their research.
During this past year I have taken on new responsibilities relating to school education and public engagement, and it is becoming increasingly clear to me how little school children (or their parents) understand about what scientists do or what makes us tick. OT, as it stands, can’t serve that purpose, but we should miss no opportunity to make our lives seem accessible, interesting and fun to pupils for whom school science teaching touches no chord. Perhaps that is why I have written so much about impact, loosely defined, because as scientists we should feel no absolute entitlement to public money without justifying ourselves; we need to demonstrate we are giving something back to society for the money they are willing to pay us (at least they would in an ideal world) for having the fun we all do with our science. This is not about economic impact, but about sharing our knowledge much more broadly.
Finally, I have had fun with my anonymous characterisations, one might say character assassinations, notably of committee members. That one of these posts provoked a Gilbert and Sullivan little list in response, and another a cartoon display I take as great compliments. I shall be watching out for other situations where I can let my imagination run riot with the inner life and motivations of people I work with. You have been warned!
Happy blog-birthday! I didn’t realise you had only started blogging a short while before comming to OT. You certainly seem at home in the medium.
Do you think that ignorance about what scientists do is a more important issue than ignorance about science itself?
It is interesting that you found the energy of your blogging lies more in the policy area than in writing about science itself, though that wasn’t your original intention in setting out to blog.
The fact that I absolutely adore your English typing voice makes writing a comment all the more complicated, so I will keep it simple.
I thought you were a wonderful and exceptional woman they day I met you and I´ve been utterly happy to have found this blog and your twitter finding your posts interesting, challenging, brave and, as you say, proudly opinionated.
Thanks for the effort and the time you share with us!
Happy Blogiversary
Thanks Thorny Christie and Anna for your good wishes
Frank, I think in terms of making science seem acessible and meaningful, having some idea of what scientists do is crucial. It’s probably part of the basis of ‘trust’, and I think some of the anxieties about that famous string of emails in Climategate came because the use of the word ‘trick’ means something different to practitioners of science and the general public. Conveying the excitement of science by talking about what one does is another vital part of the jigsaw. They both matter, possibly a given individual reacts more strongly to one than the other. But I think we ignore discussing what scientists do with schoolchildren at our peril. It can leave us looking too much like weirdos in white coats, because that is how we are so often portrayed in films etc. If that is how they think about scientists they won’t want to engage or listen – let alone pursue careers in science.
I know what you mean when you write of conveying the excitement of science by talking about what you do. I became a STEM ambassador for the first time earlier this year, which I found a stimulating experience. The only problem is answering the question that always comes up “How much do you earn?” Unfortunately, there do not seem to be any recent salary surveys for any of the professional bodies, like IoP.
That is a good point – the need need to take the “weirdo” out of science and inject a bit of normality. I was struck by something yesterday when observing a two parents on the tube with a boy and a girl aged around 8 years old.
To help pass the time the boy was doing some magic tricks, making coins appear out of his dad’s ear and that sort of thing. His mother was schooling him to perform other little tricks. At one point he said “But that’s not *real* magic!” and his mother said “Yes it is! That is how they all do it”. I think the boy was a bit dubious, but I thought to myself that perhaps in that moment a future skeptic, a rational scientist, was born.
If children can see that scientists, by doing ordinary things, can achieve exraordinary results and explain “magical” occurrences then they may increasingly accept rational explanations inm life.
Here’s to many more years of fascinating posts! I thought you had been blogging for years, based on the sheer professionalism and apparent ease at which you handle some very difficult and complex issues.
Cheers!
Steve
Yes, happy blog-day. I appreciate knowing what it is like to be a woman in science. All of us, men included, need to empathise and moreover challenge the severe prejeudice that is still very much a audible echo from the past (like my use of language? Not quite the bard…). So, in short I have enjoyed reading your blog and long may it continue.
Congratulations! I’m looking forward to more cartoonable blogposts (if you so wish, of course). I’m still trying to figure out a cartoon around your Dramatis Personae list…
I really enjoy reading your blog and find it a refreshing and frank perspective on life as an academic. I also appreciate been pointed in the direction of interesting literature and blogs by other academics, writers, etc.
In some ways your blog, and others, have become an online mentoring system! Not only does it provide access to the thoughts of an experienced academic but also to a wealth of other, often broad, opinions from your readers. Some people may have the privilege of such open dialogue in their own working environments, but for others this a treasured resource.
Please keep blogging. I will certainly keep reading!
Its great to have your articulate and thoughtful comment on gender equality issues, Athene – and of course other topics as well.
Thanks for all the kind words everyone. It is so encouraging to know people do find what I write useful (men and women!).
LornaD makes the point she sees this as part of her online mentoring system; it makes me think I should be asking readers for suggestions of topics. One of the other blogs I sometimes refer to (FSP) I know specifically sets out to pose academic questions and gets a great debate going (do you find all the students sit in the back row of the lecture theatre and how do you combat it? sort of thing) and I’ve tended not to go down that route. But perhaps some subtle or not-so-subtle hints about what I’m not covering might give me inspiration for posts, when my own inspiration is failing! No promises I’ll take them up though, unless I feel I have something useful to say.
Although I do think you’re opinionated — certainly in the neutral sense of having opinions and being willing to share them — the “itching for an outlet for her opinions” comment in my Physics World review actually stemmed from the fact that
a) your thoughts and arguments seemed pretty polished, as they would if you’d been mulling over an issue for some time before blogging and
b) unlike some new bloggers, you didn’t seem to be running short of interesting stuff to write about.
both of which are still true a year later. Happy anniversary!
Athene – I too want to add my congratulations and admiration. It is always enlightening to read your blog. I am so pleased you take the time to let us know your thoughts on topics that concern us all. Thinking about science, thinking about education and thinking about women in science are all part of what I would call (and what I actually sometimes study), ‘meta-cognition’. True to your Greek name, you are teaching us that ‘thinking about thinking’ is the right thing to do if you don’t want to loose sight of the bigger picture. It does set a counterbalance and overcomes the danger of getting lost in the daily details of science. I look forward to many more posts.
Like others, I too thought that you were a veteran blogger, not a one-year-old! Happy Anniversary.
It is nice to read about the passion and vulnerability of a senior woman physicist and to find that these are somehow your strengths! Very inspirational.
Happy blogiversary!