Category Archives: Women in Science

Is (or was) your PhD an Ordeal?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Athene Donald

If you answered yes to the question in the title, a recent report suggests you may be a chemist, and more specifically a female chemist.  A study carried out by the UKRC for the RSC about the PhD experience for … Continue reading →

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

Dangerous Assumptions

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Athene Donald

Last week I was put in touch with a reporter from my local newspaper, the Cambridge News, who was writing a story about the University’s Annual Report. They seemed concerned about the lack of women academic staff (and ethnic minorities) … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

Quotas, Good and Bad

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Athene Donald

I have always felt that the idea of quotas –  for increasing the number of women on FTSE100 Boards, for instance – is a bad idea because it implies women need help in order to get themselves into positions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

What Am I Doing Here?

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Athene Donald

This past week reminded me of the seeming ubiquity of impostor syndrome, even in the visibly successful and apparently supremely confident. Or at least, this statement is true as it pertains to women. One outcome of what follows is I … Continue reading →

Posted in Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 81 Comments

How Hard Do You Work?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Athene Donald

Career progression and promotion require that you tick all the right boxes when panels scrutinise your CV.  If you are trying to optimise your chances of advancing up the greasy pole, this requires that you know what the boxes are … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments