Author Archives: Athene Donald

Why Can’t a Woman be more like a Man?

Posted on 27 February 2015 by Athene Donald

Last autumn there were some shocking figures released by the Royal Society regarding the new cohort of University Research Fellows (URFs): only two out of 43 were women. Many of us were very disappointed and depressed by these figures. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Paul Nurse, Royal Society, University Research Fellows, Women in science | Comments Off on Why Can’t a Woman be more like a Man?

Contemplating Education Matters

Posted on 22 February 2015 by Athene Donald

This past week it was announced that I would be assuming the Presidency of the British Science Association (the BSA, formerly simply the British Association or the BA). It is a great honour to be asked to follow in the … Continue reading →

Posted in British Science Association, DCMS, education, Vision for STEM education | Comments Off on Contemplating Education Matters

Music and Disease

Posted on 17 February 2015 by Athene Donald

When one is the parent of a small child it is well-known one catches every bug going, as their own uninitiated immune systems succumb to one cold after another which they can transmit, often with more serious diseases mixed in. … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, Camden School for Girls, LSSO, Micaela Comberti, viola | Comments Off on Music and Disease

I Wish I’d Known Then What I Know Now

Posted on 11 February 2015 by Athene Donald

There are many questions which are easily posed, to which I don’t find answers come easily. One of these is ‘who inspired you?’ (answer: no one very obviously); or ‘why did you decide you wanted to study physics?‘ to which … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Culture, self-confidence, skills | Comments Off on I Wish I’d Known Then What I Know Now

Style Matters

Posted on 5 February 2015 by Athene Donald

I was reading a reference recently and I noticed a sentence containing the word ‘responsible’ twice in the same sentence. I stopped reading and reached for the metaphorical red pen. It mattered not a whit in this context, but it … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, education, Research, style, Thesis, Writing | Comments Off on Style Matters

Stand Up and Be Counted

Posted on 29 January 2015 by Athene Donald

There are times in one’s life when it is important to stand up and be counted. This is a view expressed neatly in a recent blogpost by Hilda Bastian about 7 Tips for Women at Science Conferences  with her sub-heading … Continue reading →

Posted in criticism, Hilda Bastian, Science Culture, support, Thesis Whisperer | Comments Off on Stand Up and Be Counted

Am I a Lady?

Posted on 22 January 2015 by Athene Donald

I am of a generation that was brought up with (though most certainly not to laugh at) the joke ‘That’s no lady, that’s my wife’. Classist overtones? Undoubtedly, as well as inherent sexism: the word ‘lady’ to me is not … Continue reading →

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Science Policy and Impact: Lessons from History

Posted on 16 January 2015 by Athene Donald

REF, the Science and Innovation Strategy document (S+I) and the Nurse Review of the Research Councils  collectively mean that the UK HE world of science is stuffed full of current policy issues that matter to us all – never mind … Continue reading →

Posted in Eight great technologies, History of Science, Royal Society, Science and Innovation strategy, Science Funding, Science policy | Comments Off on Science Policy and Impact: Lessons from History

We’ve Come a Long Way But…

Posted on 11 January 2015 by Athene Donald

When it comes to women in science, the Athena Swan ‘brand’ is well established. By now, universities up and down the country are signed up to the Athena Swan Charter and many departments are seriously engaged with the process. Nevertheless … Continue reading →

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Resolving Your Way out of a Rut

Posted on 3 January 2015 by Athene Donald

I wonder how many of my readers have already broken their New Year’s resolutions, assuming they even bothered to dream them up in the first place. Daily visits to the gym and a diet excluding chocolate sound all very well … Continue reading →

Posted in breathing space, careers, new year resolutions, Science Culture | Comments Off on Resolving Your Way out of a Rut