Author Archives: Athene Donald

50 Years Is Not Long Enough

Posted on 2 July 2019 by Athene Donald

Last weekend I returned to Girton College to join the celebrations for 150 years since its Foundation (albeit the college was originally situated in Hitchin). This was the college of my undergraduate and postgraduate years. When I entered the college … Continue reading →

Posted in admission to degrees, Churchill College, education, Equality, Girton College, Philippa Fawcett, Women in science | Comments Off on 50 Years Is Not Long Enough

Unconscious Bias Training Isn’t a Magic Wand

Posted on 22 June 2019 by Athene Donald

This week saw a sober assessment of the impact – both positive but also depressingly negative – of schemes to improve gender equality. As the Athena Swan Review Group wrestles with how to improve their own awards, it is important … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, bullying, Equality, implicit bias, Science Culture, training | Comments Off on Unconscious Bias Training Isn’t a Magic Wand

Where is the HE Sector Going?

Posted on 16 June 2019 by Athene Donald

There is a lot going on in the HE policy world, from the Augar Review of post-18 education and funding, to the publication of the UKRI (and its constituent parts) Delivery Plans. Yet all this is set in the context … Continue reading →

Posted in CDTs, education, John Kingman, Research, Royal Society, Science Funding, strategy, UKRI, Venki Ramakrishnan | Comments Off on Where is the HE Sector Going?

The Matilda Effect and Jean Purdy

Posted on 10 June 2019 by Athene Donald

There are well-known instances of women in science being apparently overlooked for a Nobel Prize: Jocelyn Bell Burnell, springs to mind, as do Lisa Meitner and Rosalind Franklin (if one ignores the inconvenient fact that she was dead by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill College Archives, Equality, IVF, Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards, Women in science | Comments Off on The Matilda Effect and Jean Purdy

Examining Season

Posted on 7 June 2019 by Athene Donald

Students, you may want to look away now as I’m going to give away some of the secrets of exam marking, as I’ve discovered them over more years than I care to remember. Firstly, it is extremely boring. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in education, marking, students | Comments Off on Examining Season

A Crisis in Mental Health in Academia?

Posted on 27 May 2019 by Athene Donald

It will surprise no one in academia to know that it is an environment that is stressful, frequently precarious and there never seem to be enough hours in the day. The HEPI report on mental health issues in academia by … Continue reading →

Posted in education, HEPI, Liz Morrish, suicide, well-being | Comments Off on A Crisis in Mental Health in Academia?

Letting It Go

Posted on 19 May 2019 by Athene Donald

To many people Steve Shirley is an early entrepreneur in software development who made a fortune; a woman who rebranded herself with a man’s name in order to avoid being ignored by the blue chip companies she wanted to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Angela Saini, autism, Charlotte Proudman, Equality, mental health, Steve Shirley | Comments Off on Letting It Go

Letting It Go

Posted on 19 May 2019 by Athene Donald

To many people Steve Shirley is an early entrepreneur in software development who made a fortune; a woman who rebranded herself with a man’s name in order to avoid being ignored by the blue chip companies she wanted to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Angela Saini, autism, Charlotte Proudman, Equality, mental health, Steve Shirley | Comments Off on Letting It Go

Friends with Benefits

Posted on 12 May 2019 by Athene Donald

A recent study shows – in Switzerland at least – that nominated referees judge grants more favourably than those unconnected with the applicant. I’m afraid I didn’t find the conclusion of the study a surprise. Additionally I suspect that having … Continue reading →

Posted in ERC, grants, Matthew effect, panels, referees, Science Culture, Science Funding | Comments Off on Friends with Benefits

Telling A Life Story

Posted on 5 May 2019 by Athene Donald

It has been a while since I last posted on my blog. In part that was down to the Easter holidays, but more than that I think it was a combination of the exhaustion of the previous term, coupled with … Continue reading →

Posted in CV, family, resilience, Science Culture | Comments Off on Telling A Life Story