Author Archives: Athene Donald

Losing a Mentor

Posted on 29 December 2014 by Athene Donald

There are usually only a handful of people in anyone’s life who can honestly be said to have had a radical impact on how that life turns out. Yesterday I learned of the death of one of my key mentors, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ed Kramer, inspirational. mentor, polymer science, Research | Comments Off on Losing a Mentor

A Professorial Guide (Updated)

Posted on 23 December 2014 by Athene Donald

In the run up to Christmas I feel I should be posting something light, frothy and cheerful. But somehow a diet of the REF, the Strategy and Innovation review which prompted my last post, as well as more domestic upheavals and … Continue reading →

Posted in departmental committees, professors, Science Culture | Comments Off on A Professorial Guide (Updated)

It’s All about Science Policy this Week: the Good and the Bad

Posted on 18 December 2014 by Athene Donald

There has been much activity on what could loosely be termed ‘Science Policy’ this week, including both the long-awaited/significantly delayed BIS Science and Innovation (S+I) Strategy document (entitled, optimistically ‘Our plan for growth’) and the outcome of the REF2014. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Phd student training, Science Funding, Sir Mark Walport, Sir Paul Nurse, Strategy and Innovation | Comments Off on It’s All about Science Policy this Week: the Good and the Bad

Should I Be Discombobulated?

Posted on 12 December 2014 by Athene Donald

If I were Mary Beard I’m sure I could tell you about my particular current predicament with grace and self-deprecating humour. As it is my reaction is a severe case of impostor syndrome when perhaps I should be swanning around … Continue reading →

Posted in portraiture, role models, Science Culture, Tess Barnes, Women in science | Comments Off on Should I Be Discombobulated?

On Sponsorship and Kindness

Posted on 7 December 2014 by Athene Donald

Academia is intrinsically competitive, full of the need to win grants – which necessarily implies winning out over nameless others – gaining promotion and trying to beat others to a hot result at the expense of colleagues in the game. … Continue reading →

Posted in criticism, early career researcher, Equality, Science Culture, support, Women in science | Comments Off on On Sponsorship and Kindness

The Choices Not Taken

Posted on 30 November 2014 by Athene Donald

It is all too easy to think our lives are determined by the choices we make, and of course to a large extent that is true. But it is equally true that our lives are determined by what we actively … Continue reading →

Posted in decision-making, opportunity cost, Science Culture, tasks | Comments Off on The Choices Not Taken

Why do I Always come away from Meetings Feeling a Fool?

Posted on 23 November 2014 by Athene Donald

That was the plaintive question I saw recently on Twitter (actually not from anyone I knew). There is of course the possibility the person is a fool, but my guess is that they were simply feeling that they weren’t doing … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, experience, preparation, Science Culture, speaking | Comments Off on Why do I Always come away from Meetings Feeling a Fool?

Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

Posted on 17 November 2014 by Athene Donald

The media is full of stories around men behaving inappropriately – or worse – currently. These range from #shirtstorm in the wake of Matt Taylor’s press conference regarding the successful landing of Philae (a sad distraction from the amazingly successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, harassment, philosophy, SASSY, Science Culture, sexism | Comments Off on Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

What Makes a Breakthrough?

Posted on 12 November 2014 by Athene Donald

Until a few days ago, I’d never really thought very much about the Breakthrough Prize, a huge collection of prizes created by Mark Zuckerberg and friends. Or, more precisely a smallish collection of huge prizes, the big ones each being … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Breakthrough Prize, Communicating Science, Longitude Prize, Saul Perlmutter, Science Funding, YourLIfe | Comments Off on What Makes a Breakthrough?

When the Magic Falters

Posted on 7 November 2014 by Athene Donald

This autumn in Cambridge the weather has been rather kind. The trees around the College have been spectacular, reminding me of fall in New England, and until recently cycling has been possible without any sort of jacket as opposed to … Continue reading →

Posted in challenges, depression, education, exhilaration, Science Culture | Comments Off on When the Magic Falters