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
In Defence of Academics
I’ve been away on holiday for the past week, cowering beneath the clouds, storms and floods this Great British summer has been throwing at us and catching up with some reading. Consequently, I have had more time than usual to … Continue reading
Posted in academia, education, long hours culture, Science Culture, Simon Jenkins
Comments Off on In Defence of Academics
Real Women, Real Success Stories
I am not in the habit of reposting posts, but the timing of events means that it seems to be timely on this occasion . Last week we had the furore around the EU’s extraordinarily ill-judged video for their website … Continue reading
Posted in #realwomenforscience, Equality, L'Oreal For Women in Science, role models, Women in science
Comments Off on Real Women, Real Success Stories
Comment is Free, but Not Necessarily Sensible
Just as I was leaving my office at the end of last week’s typically frenetic activities, I was caught on the phone with an invitation to write a Comment is Free piece on women in science for last Sunday’s Observer. … Continue reading
Posted in Alice Roberts, Equality, Lesley Yellowlees, Observer, Women in science
Comments Off on Comment is Free, but Not Necessarily Sensible
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
Last week I spotted these words from Tolkien emblazoned on a poster (indeed several copies) on the walls of the tunnel which joins Imperial College and South Kensington Station. They seemed curiously apposite given what I had just been doing, … Continue reading
Posted in academia, careers, decisions, postdoctoral careers
Comments Off on Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
Do All Male Shortlists Matter?
I was challenged to write on this topic through Twitter, after Times Higher Education ran a story about the task of finding a new President and Provost to replace Malcolm Grant at UCL. The five names mentioned as ‘figures who … Continue reading
Posted in CSA, Equality, head hunters, positive action, shortlists, Women in science
Comments Off on Do All Male Shortlists Matter?
Red Ink, Green Ink
Exam marking being much on my mind, as discussed in the last post, I was thinking about the way we annotate the scripts as we mark. The practice I am familiar with (although I have no idea how standard this … Continue reading
Posted in Communicating Science, communication, exams, Thesis, Writing
Comments Off on Red Ink, Green Ink
How Not to Spend a Bank Holiday
While most of the country is thriving on a diet of bunting, boats on the Thames, nostalgia and street parties, many of us in Cambridge are struggling with more mundane matters. Exams. The University of Cambridge cannot afford, in its … Continue reading
Posted in Cambridge life, education, examinations, marking, practical classes, undergraduates
Comments Off on How Not to Spend a Bank Holiday
Who are You Calling a Geek?
In my last post, I threw out the fact that I didn’t feel the word ‘geek’ was necessarily going to encourage young girls to see science/engineering as a career for them, a point that was picked up both by my … Continue reading
Posted in adolescence, careers, education, Geek Manifesto, Women in science
Comments Off on Who are You Calling a Geek?
A Shocking Waste of Talent
This piece first appeared in Fabiana, the magazine of the Fabian’s Women Network, on May 21st 2012, in an issue devoted to Finding the Way to Growth. The whole issue can be found here. Much has been made of the … Continue reading
Posted in diversity, economy, Equality, Fabiana, innovation, leaky pipeline, Women in science
Comments Off on A Shocking Waste of Talent
Writing the Wrong Stuff
Previously on my blog I have discussed both the challenges of writing for different audiences and the difficulties for students to get on top of thesis writing with little prior experience to help. I have written from the point of … Continue reading →