Category Archives: Science Funding

It’s Not My Brexit Either

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Athene Donald

I am trying to decide whether to remove the Twitter ‘Scientists for the EU’ twibbon from my profile. I still am a scientist and I’m still pro EU, but there’s no longer quite the same message to be conveyed. Fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Funding | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

How Long does it take to Gain Expertise?

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Athene Donald

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s right-hand man, currently is said to be set on shaking up the Civil Service. The three elements that are rumoured to be on the agenda are: Better training in data science, systems thinking and ‘super-forecasting; Staff … Continue reading →

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

Post-Election Christmas Reading List

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Athene Donald

The general election is now done and dusted. The UK’s future is determined, for good or ill. Scientists (along with everyone else) now must work out how to interact with the new policies, new ideas and – if some of … Continue reading →

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

Travelling Hopefully to 2.4% GDP

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Athene Donald

David Willetts, for a number of years the Minister of State for Universities and Science, now an FRS, President of the Advisory Board for a think-tank (Resolution Foundation) and writer (most recently, A University Education), has just published a pamphlet … Continue reading →

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

Sausage Machines in the Academic Lab

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Athene Donald

There was a bit of a spat over Twitter last week regarding how many hours students (and postdocs) should be expected to do at the bench. This originated in a tweet from a professor of chemistry but I don’t think … Continue reading →

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