Author Archives: Athene Donald

Pecking Orders Aren’t All They Seem

Posted on 11 June 2023 by Athene Donald

The term, pecking order, may have been coined in relation to poultry, the office boy kicking the cat clearly fits more into the domain of offices, but we all recognize the tendency to know one’s place in a hierarchy and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Dorothy Byrne, heads of house, intimidation, Laurie Bristow, Roger Mosey, Science Culture, Simon McDonald | Comments Off on Pecking Orders Aren’t All They Seem

What Should I Say to my Kids?

Posted on 4 June 2023 by Athene Donald

As well as attending the Hay Literary Festival, I’ve been involved with a number of interviews and podcasts over the last couple of weeks relating to the publication of my book Not Just for the Boys: Why we need more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in education, Equality, Hay Festival, Maths, parents, School, Women in science | Comments Off on What Should I Say to my Kids?

Not Letting the Bad Guys Win

Posted on 28 May 2023 by Athene Donald

An editorial in Nature this week highlighted the widespread failure of academic institutions to deal with reports of wrongdoing and its consequences, published alongside an extensive set of articles about the problems associated with poor mental health in research labs … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, misogyny, Science Culture, speaking up, whistleblowing | Comments Off on Not Letting the Bad Guys Win

Anxious Times

Posted on 21 May 2023 by Athene Donald

I can still remember anxiously waiting for my first paper to appear. It must have been in 1976, because I know I had submitted the paper under my married name, although at the time the wedding was still some weeks … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in bookshops, Communicating Science, criticism, Not just for the boys, reviews, Science Culture | Comments Off on Anxious Times

On Being Unnerved – Get out your Velcro

Posted on 29 April 2023 by Athene Donald

Not infrequently I find myself having to give after dinner speeches in my College: to alumni as well as to different parts of the student body. The first time I had to talk to the Freshers, I suspect I was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in after-dinner speech, criticism, experience, Impostor syndrome, Science Culture | Comments Off on On Being Unnerved – Get out your Velcro

What does the Raab episode tell us about Academia?

Posted on 22 April 2023 by Athene Donald

The resignation of Dominic Raab in the latest Government bullying scandal, and the manner of it, demonstrates many of the challenges surrounding accusations of bullying in any sphere. Bullying is hard to define precisely; one person’s robust retort is another’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Dominic Raab, Science Culture, toxicity | Comments Off on What does the Raab episode tell us about Academia?

Waiting for Publication

Posted on 16 April 2023 by Athene Donald

As I get my hands on the first copies of my new book Not Just for the Boys: Why we need more women in science (publication date May 11th), and prepare for my first talk specifically about the book on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Diane Coyle, editing, Equality, Hannah Devlin, Latha Menon, Lisa Jardine-Wright, Not just for the boys, Paul Walton, podcasts, Women in science, Writing | Comments Off on Waiting for Publication

Diversity and Inclusion in STEM: What Will it Take?

Posted on 30 March 2023 by Athene Donald

Last week the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee produced its report into Diversity and Inclusion in STEM. It states in no uncertain terms that ‘Action must be taken that truly moves the dial’, recognizing that the issue of diversity … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Commons Select Committe, education, exclusione, Katherine Birbalsingh, Science Culture, Systemic Change, Women in science | Comments Off on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM: What Will it Take?

Renaissance Man?

Posted on 5 March 2023 by Athene Donald

This week the sad news of the death of physicist and erstwhile colleague Tom McLeish was announced, a soft matter theorist and committed interdisciplinarian – as well as a committed Christian. He is particularly associated with developing theories for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in ICI, interdisciplinary, Interdisciplinary Science, polymer melts, Research, Tom McLeish | Comments Off on Renaissance Man?

Contrasting fates of Cambridge and Burnley

Posted on 21 February 2023 by Athene Donald

It is depressing to learn that the Treasury is essentially constraining any capital spending from the Department of Housing, Levelling Up and Communities. Whereas when Michael Gove was appointed Secretary of State there might have been some optimism that he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Centre for Cities, education, Equality, Further Education, Shared Prosperity Fund, skills | Comments Off on Contrasting fates of Cambridge and Burnley