Author Archives: Athene Donald

Losing a Mentor

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Athene Donald

There are usually only a handful of people in anyone’s life who can honestly be said to have had a radical impact on how that life turns out. Yesterday I learned of the death of one of my key mentors, … Continue reading →

Posted in Research | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A Professorial Guide (Updated)

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Athene Donald

In the run up to Christmas I feel I should be posting something light, frothy and cheerful. But somehow a diet of the REF, the Strategy and Innovation review which prompted my last post, as well as more domestic upheavals and … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Culture, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

It’s All about Science Policy this Week: the Good and the Bad

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Athene Donald

There has been much activity on what could loosely be termed ‘Science Policy’ this week, including both the long-awaited/significantly delayed BIS Science and Innovation (S+I) Strategy document (entitled, optimistically ‘Our plan for growth’) and the outcome of the REF2014. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Funding | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Should I Be Discombobulated?

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Athene Donald

If I were Mary Beard I’m sure I could tell you about my particular current predicament with grace and self-deprecating humour. As it is my reaction is a severe case of impostor syndrome when perhaps I should be swanning around … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Culture, Uncategorized, Women in Science | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

On Sponsorship and Kindness

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Athene Donald

Academia is intrinsically competitive, full of the need to win grants – which necessarily implies winning out over nameless others – gaining promotion and trying to beat others to a hot result at the expense of colleagues in the game. … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Science Culture, Women in Science | Tagged , , | 4 Comments