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
On Being Inefficient
Academia is a great place for being judged on outputs, and I’m not just referring to the kind of output relevant to the REF. But, be it papers written, worked examples provided, grants submitted or students tutored, we are expected … Continue reading
Posted in multi-tasking, PhD, PhD thesis writing, Research, Science Culture
Comments Off on On Being Inefficient
Sitting in my Corner
Today I find myself in the illustrious company of the well-known bloggers over at the Guardian Science Blogs. As Richard Grant and Stephen Curry already spelled out a week ago, we happy band of OT bloggers have a new outpost … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, Guardian, journalism, Science Culture
Comments Off on Sitting in my Corner
I Am Not A Bimbo
Not so long ago I read a distressed ‘rant’ about being catcalled in London, from a woman who seemed persistently to be subjected to it – and worse. Alice voiced her anger and her misery in detail and provoked a … Continue reading
Posted in demeaning, dinner conversation, Equality, patronising, social interactions, Women in science
Comments Off on I Am Not A Bimbo
Staffing Matters
How good are Universities as places of employment? The THE ran a couple of stories last week, headed ‘higher education staffing’, looking at the age distribution of academic staff, and the gender pay gap. I don’t think either of these … Continue reading
Posted in age distribution, Equality, gender pay gap, retirement, Times Higher Education
Comments Off on Staffing Matters
Uncertainty is Not Terminal….
…it applies to life and it applies to tackling science. It was the phrase picked out by one tweeter from the speech I gave at the University of Exeter a couple of weeks ago when receiving, with some nervousness, an … Continue reading
Comments Off on Uncertainty is Not Terminal….
Work-Life Balance for Whom?
Can women ‘have it all’ (i.e. have a family as well as a career) is a question frequently asked, and one Sally Feldman referred to in her article in last week’s Times Higher Education. Although the sub-title for her article … Continue reading
Posted in chidcare, paternity leave, Women in science
Comments Off on Work-Life Balance for Whom?
By Degrees
I’m reminded of the words of the Joni Mitchell song stating “I’ve looked at life from both sides now” as I consider my feelings regarding degree ceremonies. I think I have by now looked at graduation from just about every … Continue reading
Posted in ceremony, education, graduands, graduation, Latin, Universities
Comments Off on By Degrees
More Than Just Gender
Last week I attended an evening at the Royal Society, badged as a discussion between Vince Cable and the RS President Paul Nurse on ‘UK Research: building bridges, building prosperity’. In fact it wasn’t really a discussion at all, so … Continue reading
Posted in conference speakers, Equality, ethnicity, Royal Society, socio-economic status, tokenism, Women in science
Comments Off on More Than Just Gender
Standing on my Soapbox (in the Rain)
Standing on a soapbox may seem an odd thing for a scientist to do, but every year a bunch of women do just that in an attempt to capture the attention of passers-by on the South Bank in London. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Biological Physics, Communicating Science, goo, Interdisciplinary Science, proteins, Public Engagement, soft matter physics, Women in science
Comments Off on Standing on my Soapbox (in the Rain)
What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
When I was a child a common response, from boys only I suspect, to ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ was ‘An engine driver’. Even if a few girls shared the dream, I doubt they would … Continue reading
Posted in careers, Communicating Science, locomotive, National Railway Museum, steam
Comments Off on What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
