Author Archives: Athene Donald

The Human Face of the Carbon Queen

Posted on 3 April 2022 by Athene Donald

In my Twitter feed, there has been much publicity about the recent biography of US physicist and electrical engineer Millie Dresselhaus, Carbon Queen, by Maia Weinstock. Dresselhaus’ lifetime of research spanned over five decades, studying many different forms of carbon, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Maia Weinstock, Millie Dresselhaus, MIT, Nancy Hopkins, Research, Women in science | Comments Off on The Human Face of the Carbon Queen

Indications of Direction of Travel at UKRI

Posted on 21 March 2022 by Athene Donald

I have been reading the recent publication from UKRI, their strategy document for the next five years. In UKRI’s relatively brief history, this is the first such document it has produced, because it is only now that they have any … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, diversity, Excellence, porosity, precarity, Science Culture | Comments Off on Indications of Direction of Travel at UKRI

Accrual of Disadvantage

Posted on 8 March 2022 by Athene Donald

Another year, another International Women’s Day. Sometimes I get frustrated that so much action happens on this one day of the year, and isn’t distributed uniformly throughout, so that the discussions, the highlighting, the signposting – all those necessary actions … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in citations, CVs, Equality, Matilda effect, student assessments, Unconscious bias, Women in science | Comments Off on Accrual of Disadvantage

A University Education and a Lifetime of Debt

Posted on 27 February 2022 by Athene Donald

Finally, the response to the Augar Review, for which we have been waiting for the rather splendid number of 1001 days, has been released. I will not accuse the Government of choosing a good day to bury bad news, because … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Augar Review, careers, education, Further Education, Levelling Up, lifetime loan entitlement | Comments Off on A University Education and a Lifetime of Debt

In Academia, Pats on the Back are Rare

Posted on 15 February 2022 by Athene Donald

How are you doing? I don’t mean either mentally or physically, but are you keeping up with the Jones’? Are you doing as well as you should for the stage of career you’re at, and how do you know? The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in appraisal, mentors, Science Culture, support | Comments Off on In Academia, Pats on the Back are Rare

Let’s Hope We Can All Stick to Science

Posted on 8 February 2022 by Athene Donald

There was a collective sigh of relief when it was announced that the UK would commit to Association for Horizon Europe. We knew the details had to be worked out, but we assumed the commitment was as good as a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in ERC, Horizon Europe, Science Funding, Switzerland | Comments Off on Let’s Hope We Can All Stick to Science

Getting the Skills Right for Successful Levelling Up

Posted on 30 January 2022 by Athene Donald

We await the Levelling Up White Paper. It is not easy to read the tealeaves of this turbulent political time to work out when the delay is likely to be terminated, although the last rumour I heard has it down … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in A levels, Core Maths, education, michael gove, qualifications, technicians | Comments Off on Getting the Skills Right for Successful Levelling Up

Strong Women, Wise Words

Posted on 23 January 2022 by Athene Donald

Today I read two interviews with academic leaders, strong women both working in decidedly male-dominated fields. Their experiences are salutary and their advice worth taking to heart, much of it applying regardless of gender. Firstly, and more famously at least … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in economics, luck, Minouche Shafik, Rama Govindarajan, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Strong Women, Wise Words

Unconscious Bias 2.0

Posted on 15 January 2022 by Athene Donald

‘Unconscious bias’ has become very much part of the conscious process that many organisations try to bring to bear on their decision-making, be it with regard to promotions or appointments. However, what do they mean by it and how do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in appointment committees, CV, Equality, promotion, publishing, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Unconscious Bias 2.0

Cynical and Irritable

Posted on 9 January 2022 by Athene Donald

‘This is not an era in which good things are taken at face value. We are cynical, irritable and tired, and if there is a bad intention to be read into anything, someone will scratch away at it until they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in committees, pandemic, resilience, Science Culture | Comments Off on Cynical and Irritable