Author Archives: Athene Donald

You Don’t Know the Rules? You Are Not Alone!

Posted on 18 December 2013 by Athene Donald

Are you one of those people who think there must be a ‘right’ way of doing every task, or are you prepared to muddle through making it up as you go along? A reader of my recent post on Being … Continue reading →

Posted in convention, mentors, Science Culture, uncertainty | Comments Off on You Don’t Know the Rules? You Are Not Alone!

Climbing the Ladder

Posted on 12 December 2013 by Athene Donald

It has been a while since I wrote about the challenges facing those setting out on the academic ladder. Those who, having got past their PhD viva are now starting to progress through the ranks of an Early Career Researcher … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, CV, experience, postdocs, Science Culture | Comments Off on Climbing the Ladder

On being Feisty and Unconventional

Posted on 7 December 2013 by Athene Donald

Women in science seem to fare less well than men based on practically any measure. The reasons for this are many and various; they are also much discussed yet progress remains slow. To take as a specific example, why are … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Woodward, Claarte Vinkenburg, Curt Rice, Equality, ERC, Leadership Foundation, Teresa Rees, Women in science | Comments Off on On being Feisty and Unconventional

Women in Science: Why Can’t this Problem be Fixed?

Posted on 2 December 2013 by Athene Donald

The newspapers these days run almost daily stories about sexism and women being disadvantaged in one way or another (plus the occasional response that it is men that are being hit hardest by current circumstances). For women in STEM the … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, ERC, funders, leaky pipeline, Londa Schiebinger, Science and Technology Select Committee, stereotype threat, Women in science | Comments Off on Women in Science: Why Can’t this Problem be Fixed?

Where’s an Industrial Policy When You Want One?

Posted on 27 November 2013 by Athene Donald

A little while ago I had the pleasure of hosting the visit of Chukka Umunna (Shadow Business Minister)  to the University of Cambridge to discuss the UK’s industrial strategy or, perhaps more accurately, its lack thereof.  Over a sandwich lunch … Continue reading →

Posted in Chuka Umunna, industry, Policy, Richard Jones, Science Culture, Science Funding | Comments Off on Where’s an Industrial Policy When You Want One?

Courage, Inadequacy and Taking the Plunge

Posted on 22 November 2013 by Athene Donald

It’s almost two years since I wrote about the dangers of looking at people you respect through rose-tinted glasses. That post was prompted by a relatively junior scientist losing their nerve after they had directly challenged something I’d said and … Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, Impostor syndrome, Mrs Moneypenny, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Courage, Inadequacy and Taking the Plunge

Tackling the Intangible

Posted on 17 November 2013 by Athene Donald

A couple of weeks ago I attended a brief talk given by Baroness Ruth Deech at a careers evening for law students at Newnham College (all female). Her talk was followed by others from two recent graduates from the college … Continue reading →

Posted in Baroness Deech, Equality, Science Culture, women in medicine, Women in science, working environment | Comments Off on Tackling the Intangible

The Ghost of Oneself on the Web

Posted on 11 November 2013 by Athene Donald

Comedians complain about it, so I don’t see why I shouldn’t too. They complain because U-tube, iPlayer etc mean that their jokes can’t be repeatedly recycled the way they were in the good old days. Once they’ve told one that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in accuracy, biography, Communicating Science, Science Culture, seminars, Uta Frith | Comments Off on The Ghost of Oneself on the Web

Why are Scientists off the Radar?

Posted on 7 November 2013 by Athene Donald

There are those who believe that one should never have “women-only” lists of anything and that even the venerable BBC programme Woman’s Hour should be banned because there isn’t a Man’s Hour on Radio 4. This viewpoint has it that all … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Communicating Science, lists, media | Comments Off on Why are Scientists off the Radar?

Recycling Talks

Posted on 3 November 2013 by Athene Donald

You know that sinking feeling. You have a talk, at a conference or another university, coming up in fewer days (possibly even hours) than you feel comfortable with and the temptation is great to dig into the files and simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, early career researcher, Powerpoint, presentation, Research, seminars | Comments Off on Recycling Talks