Author Archives: Athene Donald

More Than Just Gender

Posted on 22 July 2012 by Athene Donald

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

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Posted on 13 July 2012 by Athene Donald

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?

In Defence of Academics

Posted on 8 July 2012 by Athene Donald

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

Writing the Wrong Stuff

Posted on 29 June 2012 by Athene Donald

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 →

Posted in below the line, CIF, Comment is Free, Communicating Science, journalism | Comments Off on Writing the Wrong Stuff

Real Women, Real Success Stories

Posted on 27 June 2012 by Athene Donald

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

Posted on 22 June 2012 by Athene Donald

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

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Athene Donald

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?

Posted on 13 June 2012 by Athene Donald

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

Posted on 8 June 2012 by Athene Donald

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