Author Archives: Athene Donald

The Viva Experience

I’ve seen a few posts around recently from anxious PhD students approaching their vivas in fear and trepidation or discussing the experience in the immediate aftermath. For instance, here is @hapsci discussing things after the event in a state of … Continue reading

Posted in Research | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Once Absence of Impact used to be the Fashionable Thing to Claim

Up and down the land, academics from Vice Chancellors down are sweating over 3 letters: REF. This dread acronym, standing for the Research Excellence Framework, must be absorbing a fantastic number of hours of time for many people and it … Continue reading

Posted in History of Science, Research, Science Culture | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Changing the Departmental Mind-set

Another bumper batch of Athena Swan awards have just been announced: ever more universities and departments are participating. With the hint of financial consequences looming from RCUK funders for those STEM departments that don’t demonstrate commitment to improving the climate … Continue reading

Posted in Science Culture, Uncategorized, Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Practice, Practice, Practice: Getting that Talk Right

As my last post noted, my mind is inclined to go for a walk during seminars if I’m not careful. Recently these wanderings provoked me to consider all the pitfalls of seminar-giving – by young and old alike. Experience doesn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Science Culture | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Feeling Feverish

Last week I was hit by some nebulous virus (I assume) that left me feverish and under the weather without actually confining me to bed. My brain turned to mush and even answering simple emails felt a challenge, a situation … Continue reading

Posted in Communicating Science, Science Culture | Tagged , , | 5 Comments