Author Archives: Athene Donald

Surviving the Postdoc Experience – or Not

Last night I talked at an RSC/IOP event launching a report (Mapping the Future: Physics and Chemistry Researchers’ Experiences and Career Intentions) based on a survey of 776 postdocs. The report illustrates some interesting differences between the cultures experienced in … Continue reading

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

Real Life Barbie Dolls

Have you come across the T shirts with the encouraging words I’m too PRETTY to do MATH blazoned across them in cute pink lettering? No, nor had I until they were brought to my attention by a member of the … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, Science Culture | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

Charles Darwin’s Grandfather

My friends know that Erasmus Darwin is one of my heroes. Much less well known than his grandson Charles, and whose work is of course far more ephemeral, nevertheless he is a true Renaissance Man – or more strictly an … Continue reading

Posted in Communicating Science, History of Science | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

I can hear you’re getting emotional

In the comments for my last post, J0ns1m0ns remarked that he thought the issue of mode of speaking at committee meetings was perhaps a bit of a red herring, but I fear inappropriate remarks and behaviour persist and shouldn’t, indeed … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, Science Culture, Women in Science | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

Progress at MIT

This week saw the publication of a report from MIT entitled: A Report on the Status of Women Faculty in the Schools of Science and Engineering at MIT, 2011. This is a follow up report to an earlier ground-breaking report … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments