Author Archives: Athene Donald

In Time of Crisis – Be Kind

Posted on 22 March 2020 by Athene Donald

In A Time of Crisis You might think that our present, extraordinary and challenging global circumstances might call for ‘patience, flexibility, practicality and ability to withstand misfortune’. All of those traits do indeed need to be practiced now as we, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, education, isolation, mental health | Comments Off on In Time of Crisis – Be Kind

Do We Need International Women’s Day?

Posted on 8 March 2020 by Athene Donald

It’s International Women’s Day. Another year when many of us are thinking how amazing it would be if we didn’t need such a day any longer, specifically celebrating women, because people of whatever gender, colour, age, health status….. were celebrated … Continue reading →

Posted in allies, equal pay, Equality, part-time, promotion, Women in science | Comments Off on Do We Need International Women’s Day?

Building Resilience Throughout a Career

Posted on 23 February 2020 by Athene Donald

How do you develop resilience? This was a question I was asked recently by a mid-career researcher. Not, please note, someone just setting out, but someone who was already well-established. This problem is ubiquitous and does not go away just … Continue reading →

Posted in long hours, Research, Science Culture, support, team size, trust | Comments Off on Building Resilience Throughout a Career

A Holistic CV

Posted on 16 February 2020 by Athene Donald

Just recently at a dinner for heads of the Cambridge colleges the issue of the toxic culture some research students find themselves in was raised. We all know the issues exist and, in this context, the question was what could … Continue reading →

Posted in DORA, mentoring, Research, Royal Society, Science Culture, toxic cultures | Comments Off on A Holistic CV

Hierarchies and the Power Imbalance

Posted on 9 February 2020 by Athene Donald

It is perhaps helpful, if depressing, that stories of harassment and bullying in many spheres now reach headline status.  Helpful because it means these issues get an airing instead of simply lurking in the long grass. Just this week there … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Paul Nurse, PhD students, Science Culture, Supervisor | Comments Off on Hierarchies and the Power Imbalance

It’s Not My Brexit Either

Posted on 2 February 2020 by Athene Donald

I am trying to decide whether to remove the Twitter ‘Scientists for the EU’ twibbon from my profile. I still am a scientist and I’m still pro EU, but there’s no longer quite the same message to be conveyed. Fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in ARPA, Brexit, ERC, EU, Science Funding | Comments Off on It’s Not My Brexit Either

No More Red Meat?

Posted on 17 January 2020 by Athene Donald

The terrifying and deadly fires in Australia are a grim reminder of climate change. Greta Thunberg should be a prick (indeed more than a prick) to everyone’s conscience, reminding us that each and every one of us has a part … Continue reading →

Posted in catering, Churchill College, sustainability, vegan | Comments Off on No More Red Meat?

Thinking about Your Workload

Posted on 10 January 2020 by Athene Donald

The first time I was asked to serve on a research council (standing) committee, when a young(ish) researcher, I did not seek my head of department’s position. I informed him, since it happened we worked closely together, but it did … Continue reading →

Posted in Alice Roberts, Athena Swan, Communicating Science, mental health, Science Culture | Comments Off on Thinking about Your Workload

Shenanigans with the Railways

Posted on 7 January 2020 by Athene Donald

Rules about railway tickets have clearly always been mysterious, as this Punch cartoon of 1869 makes clear.  “‘Station Master say, Mum, as cats is ‘dogs,’ and rabbits is ‘dogs,’ and so’s parrots; but this ere ‘tortis’ is an insect, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Northern, refund, trains, travel | Comments Off on Shenanigans with the Railways

How Long does it take to Gain Expertise?

Posted on 3 January 2020 by Athene Donald

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s right-hand man, currently is said to be set on shaking up the Civil Service. The three elements that are rumoured to be on the agenda are: Better training in data science, systems thinking and ‘super-forecasting; Staff … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Service, Dominic Cummings, Interdisciplinary Science, Science Funding, UKRI | Comments Off on How Long does it take to Gain Expertise?