Our blogs
- Adventures in Wonderland by Richard Wintle
- Athene Donald's Blog by Athene Donald
- Blogging by Candlelight by Erika Cule
- Confessions by Richard P Grant
- Deep Thoughts and Silliness by Bob O'Hara
- Mind the Gap by Jenny Rohn
- Nicola Spaldin's Blog by Nicola Spaldin
- No Comment by Steve Caplan
- Not ranting – honestly by Austin Elliott
- Reciprocal Space by Stephen Curry
- The End of the Pier Show by Henry Gee
- Trading Knowledge by Frank Norman
- The Occam's Typewriter Irregulars by Guest Bloggers
OT Cloud
- academia
- Apparitions
- book review
- Books
- Canada
- career
- careers
- Communicating Science
- communication
- Cromer
- Domestic bliss
- Domesticrox
- education
- Equality
- Gardening
- Guest posts
- humor
- Lablit
- Music
- nature
- Nostalgia
- Open Access
- personal
- Photography
- photos
- Politicrox
- Politics
- Research
- science
- Science & Politics
- Science-fiction
- Science Culture
- Science Funding
- Science Is Vital
- Scientific Life
- Silliness
- staring into the abyss
- students
- technology
- The profession of science
- travel
- Uncategorized
- Women in science
- Writing
- Writing & Reading
Author Archives: Athene Donald
Considering the Historical Context
At a talk I gave in Sheffield last week the local MP Meg Munn remarked on the fact that, being a non-scientist, she had learned a lot about how science is done from reading my blog (in particular this one, … Continue reading
Posted in History of Science, lectures, Newton, Teaching, Von Guericke
Comments Off on Considering the Historical Context
Getting the Writing Right
As one moves through life, there are many different types of writing one needs to master. Schooling may produce a standardised kind of essay which is of only limited use when it comes to writing one’s thesis. Many universities will … Continue reading
Posted in Communicating Science, references, Science Culture, self-delusion, Thesis
Comments Off on Getting the Writing Right
Virginia Woolf’s Messages for Today
Although I read many of her novels as a teenager, I only came to reading Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own somewhat late in life. I have recently reread it. On a second reading I am even more struck … Continue reading
Posted in A room of one's own, belonging, Equality, independence, International Women's Day, minorities
Comments Off on Virginia Woolf’s Messages for Today
Taking the Chair
I was interested to discover recently that candidates for the headship of a certain Cambridge college were required to chair a mock Governing Body meeting (this was not part of my own selection process at Churchill I should say). I … Continue reading
Posted in bores, committee meetings, Equality, Miss Triggs, Science Culture
Comments Off on Taking the Chair
There’s More to Us than Lab Coats
This book review first appeared in Times Higher Education on February 27th 2014 Are We All Scientific Experts Now? By Harry Collins Polity, 168pp, £35.00 and £9.99 ISBN 9780745682037 and 82044 Published 28 February 2014
Posted in book review, expertise, Harry Collins, media, Science policy, science wars
Comments Off on There’s More to Us than Lab Coats
What Does it Take to Get to the Top?
Readers of my blog will not need to be reminded that the numbers of women successfully climbing through the ranks to the top of the academic tree are small. The same is true of administrative staff: many women set out, … Continue reading
Posted in Equality, Meaning of Success, success, women at Cambridge, Women in science
Comments Off on What Does it Take to Get to the Top?
Being Prepared
I was a Girl Guide once, briefly, but I don’t think that’s where I learned that it’s wise to travel well supplied. It just seems to come naturally to me to fear the worst and so carry enough on one’s … Continue reading
Thinking about the Pipeline
A PhD should comprise both education and training. It should not be slave labour or done in blindness about where it might be leading. But I fear these statements don’t always apply. In the research grouping in which I sit … Continue reading
Posted in Career advice, careers, PhD, Science Funding
Comments Off on Thinking about the Pipeline
Getting Away with It
Do you feel this phrase describes you as you go through your professional life? Do you feel as if you’re a fraud and whereas everyone else knows what they are doing or deserve the position they have attained, you don’t? … Continue reading
Posted in academia, Impostor syndrome, progression, self-confidence, Women in science
Comments Off on Getting Away with It
Winston Churchill and Science
Yet another anniversary for Winston Churchill has just past, with the 49th anniversary of his death falling on January 24th. I am, inevitably, more conscious of this than I would have been in times past, but it is interesting to … Continue reading
Posted in bomb, Frederick Lindemann, HG Wells, History of Science, John Cockcroft
Comments Off on Winston Churchill and Science
