Category Archives: Science Culture

Jealousy, Bullying, Harassment and Other Bad Behaviour

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Athene Donald

Recently I sat down to dinner with two old friends, one male,one female. Our conversation turned to harassment and what emerged was pretty grim. The man referred to an incident when an older and powerful woman had groped him during … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Culture | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Desolation of Success

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Athene Donald

Does this phrase strike a chord with you? Apparently, it first appeared in Peter Matthiessen’s book, The Snow Leopard, but I came across it quoted in Lindy Elkins-Tanton’s moving memoir Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman. As she … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Science Culture | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Desolation of Success

Persistence, Obstinacy and Red Lines

Posted on April 18, 2026 by Athene Donald

Persistence: such a positive word, nicely aligned with others such as resilience and self-confidence. All positives. But what do you think when you hear the word obstinacy? It conveys an edgy, tiresome quality. Perhaps someone who stops others doing what … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Culture | Tagged , | Comments Off on Persistence, Obstinacy and Red Lines

Taking the Chair (for the first time)

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Athene Donald

Sometimes things bring you up short in ways you weren’t expecting, and that happened this past week as I was trying to prepare for a talk. I’ve been asked to discuss my ‘leadership journey’ with a group of mid-career academics … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Science Culture | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Taking the Chair (for the first time)