Author Archives: Athene Donald

The Perils of Procrastination

Posted on 29 April 2015 by Athene Donald

Voter registration in the UK showed just how many people are good at procrastination, with nearly half a million people registering on the last possible day. My email inbox is also a good indicator of people’s expectation that we are … Continue reading →

Posted in computers, lectures, preparation, Science Culture | Comments Off on The Perils of Procrastination

The Myth of the ‘Myth of Women in Science’

Posted on 21 April 2015 by Athene Donald

If you skimmed through some articles about women in science recently, you’d be forgiven for thinking ‘problem solved’. A recent study by Cecil and Williams, published in no less august a publication than PNAS, claimed women actually had a 2:1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, hiring, microinequities, tenure track, Women in science | Comments Off on The Myth of the ‘Myth of Women in Science’

On the Need for Shiny New Facilities

Posted on 16 April 2015 by Athene Donald

I’m off to open a new block at Brighton and Hove Sixth Form College tomorrow. A shiny new building to provide fresh classrooms and additional study space, something many schools would dearly love to have. A decent working environment is … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, education, practical work, school facilities | Comments Off on On the Need for Shiny New Facilities

Leadership (Churchillian style) and Policy

Posted on 12 April 2015 by Athene Donald

Churchill is often seen as the supreme leader, a man whose very voice inspired a nation and who held the country’s nerve during the Battle of Britain. Less often discussed is his leadership and behaviour at other times, although increasingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill College, CSaP, de Gaulle, policy-makers, Science policy | Comments Off on Leadership (Churchillian style) and Policy

Borrowing an Objective

Posted on 5 April 2015 by Athene Donald

Maybe it’s because I’m relaxed as it’s the Easter break, but when I received an email with ‘Borrowing an Objective‘ as its subject this week, my mind went into overdrive. I assumed someone was short of a goal, an aspiration … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, HE, Science Culture, targets, Universities | Comments Off on Borrowing an Objective

Is there a Point in Travel?

Posted on 31 March 2015 by Athene Donald

As my last post makes clear, I have been busy travelling recently. My trip encompassed visits to both New York and Boston, cities which in years past I have visited quite frequently. Boston is delightfully non-American: its streets are not … Continue reading →

Posted in airmiles, Boston, conferences, Hilda Geiringer, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Is there a Point in Travel?

Reminiscing On my Travels

Posted on 25 March 2015 by Athene Donald

I am often asked, what do College Masters do? Some people seem to think it is similar to being Warden of a Hall of Residence (i.e. sorting out broken light bulbs or disputes between neighbouring students), but it isn’t like … Continue reading →

Posted in alumni, Boston, Churchill College, Communicating Science, New York, Women in science | Comments Off on Reminiscing On my Travels

Words and Images

Posted on 20 March 2015 by Athene Donald

As my last post said, I have been sitting on a lot of committees recently and consequently reading a lot of references. I am pleased to observe that it has been the men round the table who have been complaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Alice Lee, Equality, GillianGehring, Hertha Ayrton, letters of reference, Women in science | Comments Off on Words and Images

10 Things to Make You a Better Committee Member

Posted on 13 March 2015 by Athene Donald

I seem to have been sitting through a lot of committee meetings recently, of diverse kinds. Every committee meeting has its own dynamic – a grant-awarding meeting is very different in form from that of some sort of a departmental … Continue reading →

Posted in committee work, paperwork, preparation, Science Culture | Comments Off on 10 Things to Make You a Better Committee Member

Choosing the Right Criteria

Posted on 6 March 2015 by Athene Donald

A year ago Cambridge University launched its book ‘The Meaning of Success’ and published a letter calling on the HE community to consider what the sector values and should be promoting, figuratively and, when it comes to people, literally. This … Continue reading →

Posted in career progression, Equality, International Woman's Day, Meaning of Success, mobility, promotion, Women in science | Comments Off on Choosing the Right Criteria