Tag Archives: UKRI

Parliamentary Activity

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Athene Donald

This week has brought some curious interventions into the STEM landscape in Parliament. I will return shortly to the much-publicised, if seemingly ill-informed remarks about girls and Physics made by Katherine Birbalsingh – a headteacher and the Government’s social mobility … Continue reading →

Posted in Interdisciplinary Science, Science Culture, Science Funding, Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Red Tape

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Athene Donald

The announcement of a review of bureaucratic red tape in universities may bring either a smile of relief or a hollow laugh. Why are universities (and funding bodies) so entangled in this nasty stuff? Is it because they love to … Continue reading →

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

In Praise of Technicians

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Athene Donald

I was a very ham-fisted PhD student. I repeatedly broke a delicate and crucial piece of apparatus during the early months of my research, to the extent that I almost quit the whole endeavour and withdrew from the labs for … Continue reading →

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

Research Culture, Fairness and Transparency

Posted on September 20, 2020 by Athene Donald

A week after the Science and University Ministers announced with respect to chartermarks such as Athena Swan “We have therefore asked the OfS, UKRI and NIHR to ensure that they place no weight upon the presence or absence of such … Continue reading →

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

Is Bigger Always Better?

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Athene Donald

Social distancing may have been reduced to 1(+)m – whatever that may mean – but that is still going to impose significant constraints on what a bench scientist can do. Fume cupboards in a line – how many of them … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Science Culture | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments