Author Archives: Athene Donald

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Posted on 12 January 2014 by Athene Donald

Dear Reader I am going to make a complaint. This is a complaint directed to many of you, but by no means all, so bear with me. I know I am not the only blog-writer who feels this way, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Communicating Science, discussion, Science Culture, twitter | Comments Off on No Comment

Bust the Heroic Myth in Science

Posted on 5 January 2014 by Athene Donald

‘Paul Nurse believes in heroes of science’ was a line in my Twitter feed one morning recently ‘and so do I’ continued Roger Highfield, who gave the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Prize Lecture  at the Royal Society on this very topic last year. … Continue reading →

Posted in heroes, Paul Nurse, Peter Higgs, Research, Roger Highfield, Science Culture | Comments Off on Bust the Heroic Myth in Science

Science, Poetry and Gender

Posted on 1 January 2014 by Athene Donald

Not so long ago I gave a talk in Oxford about why I believe it is important for the public not to feel so distanced from science and maths that they are comfortable saying ‘I never could do maths at … Continue reading →

Posted in Caspar Henderson, Communicating Science, Mary Midgley, Nicholas Harberd, richard dawkins | Comments Off on Science, Poetry and Gender

Seasonal Lists (and the REF)

Posted on 28 December 2013 by Athene Donald

The end of the year is, by custom, the time for lists. Lists of best (or worst) photos, opening book sentences, or celebrity fashion faux pas; lists of those who died or those who made their film/book/TV/sporting debuts. Think of … Continue reading →

Posted in New Year, REF, Science Culture, twitter | Comments Off on Seasonal Lists (and the REF)

Party Time

Posted on 23 December 2013 by Athene Donald

Since it’s the festive season, at least in my part of the world, it seems appropriate to post about parties, but what follows is far from confined to Christmas, or the associated office party. It could just as well be … Continue reading →

Posted in guests, Life in Science, Peoplewatching | Comments Off on Party Time

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?