Category Archives: Women in Science

Mrs Handley and the Whippets (Learning to be Difficult)

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Athene Donald

No, not the name of a pop-group (although it might be quite a good one), but an episode from my early life. In later life I’m sure people had me in the category of those difficult women I wrote about … Continue reading →

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Difficult Women

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Athene Donald

Tributes poured in following the death of Jane Goodall, with stories of her remarkable life and doings, the way she set out new paths in research and lived a different kind of life. The quoted remark of hers that most … Continue reading →

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Being WISE

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Athene Donald

When I set off for University, I wasn’t surprised to find there weren’t many women on my course: there were only three Cambridge colleges that admitted women back then (i.e. no coeducational colleges at all), so of course I would … Continue reading →

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Atomic Human – or Atomic Man?

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Athene Donald

I’m not convinced by the idea of AI throwing everyone out of jobs or taking over the world, but I thought I should read up some thoughtful writing on the subject, so I turned to Neil Lawrence’s 2024 book (recently … Continue reading →

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Is Ballroom Dancing like Academia?

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Athene Donald

One of my secret loves is watching each series of Strictly Come Dancing. It is a feel-good vibe we all need in these dark geopolitical days, however much I don’t care how many sequins are sewed on by hand.  So, … Continue reading →

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