Author Archives: Athene Donald

Light Touch Metrics?

Posted on 30 November 2015 by Athene Donald

In the summer metrics looked like they had been substantially laid to rest for the Higher Education sector: The Metric Tide report, written at the behest of the (probably the about-to-be-late-lamented) HEFCE took many pages to point out that metrics … Continue reading →

Posted in James Wilsdon, REF, Sajiv Javid, Science Culture, TEF | Comments Off on Light Touch Metrics?

Chairing: Not as Easy as it Looks

Posted on 25 November 2015 by Athene Donald

If you are setting out on your career, how do you acquire leadership skills? If you think you’re a born leader how can you check it out or improve? As part of the commemorations around the 50th anniversary death of … Continue reading →

Posted in chairing, committees, leadership, Science Culture | Comments Off on Chairing: Not as Easy as it Looks

What Does Equality Mean?

Posted on 19 November 2015 by Athene Donald

­­As the additions to my last post indicate, the University of York has backtracked on celebrating International Men’s Day – a celebration that would have taken place today. So now one part of the university is annoyed that anyone ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, International Men's Day | Comments Off on What Does Equality Mean?

Supporting Men, Supporting Women: We Need to do Both

Posted on 15 November 2015 by Athene Donald

I am not infrequently challenged about why I worry so much about women in academia when young men are being disadvantaged. This is seen to be particularly true in school exam results but also if one looks at the numbers … Continue reading →

Posted in appointment, bias, Ceci and WIlliams, Equality, International Men's Day | Comments Off on Supporting Men, Supporting Women: We Need to do Both

Choosing your Path, Seizing Opportunities

Posted on 11 November 2015 by Athene Donald

I gave a talk today with this title at the Institute of Physics’ Careers Day ‘Taking Control of Your Career as a Female Physicist’. What I said is relevant to anyone setting out regardless of gender and, I suspect, regardless … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, failure, opportunities, resilience, Science Culture | Comments Off on Choosing your Path, Seizing Opportunities

Eradicating Gender Stereotyping: How can Athena Swan Awards Help?

Posted on 6 November 2015 by Athene Donald

There is nothing like seeing gender stereotyping through reverse eyes to highlight its stupidity. Women are used to intrusive, inappropriate questions about their looks and dress, even in professional situations (see this recent story about Russian astronauts for an example); … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, committees, leadership, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Eradicating Gender Stereotyping: How can Athena Swan Awards Help?

Lisa Jardine, Health and Sickness

Posted on 1 November 2015 by Athene Donald

Like so many others, I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Lisa Jardine last week. She seems to have been able to cross many disciplinary boundaries and make an impact on so many individuals and spheres, her … Continue reading →

Posted in hospital, injury, Lisa Jardine, People | Comments Off on Lisa Jardine, Health and Sickness

Asking the Right Questions

Posted on 25 October 2015 by Athene Donald

The quote from CP Scott, long-time editor of the (Manchester) Guardian, elegantly says ‘Comment is free, but facts are sacred.’ As a scientist I like gathering evidence, getting at the facts and so, when Paige Brown Jarreau asked me to … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, hypotheses, interviews, Science Culture | Comments Off on Asking the Right Questions

Career Trajectories: Not Always Straight and Easy

Posted on 18 October 2015 by Athene Donald

It is all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking anyone who has reached the top of their particular tree has travelled in a straight line from their teenage years on and have had the cards always stacked … Continue reading →

Posted in career breaks, career paths, Carol Robinson, education, Janet Smith, Manchester | Comments Off on Career Trajectories: Not Always Straight and Easy

Looking After the Ada’s of the Future

Posted on 11 October 2015 by Athene Donald

Ada Lovelace Day (on Tuesday) is not just a day for celebrating one remarkable aristocratic woman who dared to break the mould the majority of her female colleagues were content to slot into, it is a day to look forward … Continue reading →

Posted in #Just1Action4WIS, Ada Lovelace, Equality, ERC, microinequities, stereotyping, Women in science | Comments Off on Looking After the Ada’s of the Future