Author Archives: Athene Donald

Mentors, Friends and Saying No

Posted on 8 April 2012 by Athene Donald

Who needs mentors? It is clear that when setting out on a career, having supportive mentors can be immensely helpful: people who you can turn to for advice when decision crunch-time comes, or who provide pointers about things you should … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, committee work, decision-making, Science Culture | Comments Off on Mentors, Friends and Saying No

The Man of Science and the Man of Letters

Posted on 5 April 2012 by Athene Donald

I have just spent a few days in Lichfield, which you might not think of as a key cultural centre, but it happens to be closely associated with two giants, in the form of Erasmus Darwin and Samuel Johnson, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Anna Seward, Erasmus Darwin, History of Science, Lichfield, Samuel Johnson | Comments Off on The Man of Science and the Man of Letters

Quantitative Skills for All

Posted on 31 March 2012 by Athene Donald

What do social scientists need to know about science and maths? What should schools and universities be doing to make sure they have the necessary skills? This was at the heart of a recent meeting at the British Academy, where … Continue reading →

Posted in 1958 cohort, British Academy, education, John MacInnes, social science, statistics, Wolf Report | Comments Off on Quantitative Skills for All

Is (or was) your PhD an Ordeal?

Posted on 27 March 2012 by Athene Donald

If you answered yes to the question in the title, a recent report suggests you may be a chemist, and more specifically a female chemist.  A study carried out by the UKRC for the RSC about the PhD experience for … Continue reading →

Posted in career intentions, macho culture, Research, RSC, Science Culture, UKRC, Women in science | Comments Off on Is (or was) your PhD an Ordeal?

Taking Precautions

Posted on 22 March 2012 by Athene Donald

I have been reading the biography of Barbara Wootton by Ann Oakley. Baroness Wootton was a remarkable woman  (or, as the title of the book says, A Critical Woman), with an astonishing number of firsts to her name. Born in … Continue reading →

Posted in Baroness Wootton, lecturing, mishaps, Science Culture | Comments Off on Taking Precautions

Apple(s), Tomatoes, Willetts and Public Engagement

Posted on 16 March 2012 by Athene Donald

It’s National Science and Engineering Week in the UK, or at least it is for most places. In Cambridge we celebrate it with a fortnight, and call it a Festival because there is just so much to squeeze in.  Many … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Science Festival, Communicating Science, David Willetts, food manufacturing, Outreach, Science Funding | Comments Off on Apple(s), Tomatoes, Willetts and Public Engagement

Dangerous Assumptions

Posted on 11 March 2012 by Athene Donald

Last week I was put in touch with a reporter from my local newspaper, the Cambridge News, who was writing a story about the University’s Annual Report. They seemed concerned about the lack of women academic staff (and ethnic minorities) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceci and WIlliams, Equality, first impressions, Unconscious bias, Wenneras and Wold, Women in science | Comments Off on Dangerous Assumptions

That Dratted Tenure Clock

Posted on 7 March 2012 by Athene Donald

Almost exactly a year ago I posted a blogpost on the back of wading through papers for a promotion panel. I’m buried in the paperwork again this year, but I’d like to put a very different emphasis on what I … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, maternity leave, paternity leave, promotions, tenure clock | Comments Off on That Dratted Tenure Clock

What Price Work Experience?

Posted on 3 March 2012 by Athene Donald

What do students know about life beyond academia? I touched on this in my last post, and this week two reports have been published which are relevant to this theme and the overall ‘student experience’, loosely interpreted. Vitae published a … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, education, Research, Sir Tim Wilson, Vitae, work experience | Comments Off on What Price Work Experience?

What Next and How to Get There

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Athene Donald

Last week I visited Edinburgh University to participate in their inaugural ‘Innovative Learning Week’. Whilst many universities, though not my own, have study weeks or mid-term breaks, I haven’t come across the idea of teaching a different kind of teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, CV, education, job interviews, Research Concordat, Science Culture | Comments Off on What Next and How to Get There