Author Archives: Athene Donald

Social Scientist for the Day?

This week I attended what was probably my first serious social sciences/STS (variously Science and Technology Studies or Science, Technology and Society) conference in my life. I was only able to attend the first day and I came away not … Continue reading

Posted in Communicating Science, Science Culture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

What Can You Do in a Minute?

Responding to the simplest questions about life as an academic scientist seems to pose me serious problems. I have written before about the difficulty I have in answering the straightforward question ‘who inspired you?’ because I don’t feel as if … Continue reading

Posted in Communicating Science, Education | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Attacks on the Royal Society Miss the Point

This post was originally posted at ScienceGrrl. Another year, another occasion to thump the Royal Society for the make-up of its new fellows. This time it was Nature that screamed ‘Royal Society still trails the US National Academy in female … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Mentors: Does Age Matter?

Over the years I have benefitted significantly from mentors. Two in particular stand out: in Cambridge Sir Sam Edwards (whom I wrote about here) and, at that critical juncture when as a postdoc I quit the world of metals that … Continue reading

Posted in Science Culture | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Do You Believe It’s All Your Fault?

Currently I spend far more time giving talks around gender issues than about my science. I don’t know what I feel about this. I am, after all, a physicist not a psychologist or social scientist but increasingly I seem to … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments