Author Archives: Athene Donald

To Confront or Not to Confront

Posted on 12 May 2012 by Athene Donald

Just over a year ago I pressed the ‘publish’ button on a post with some trepidation. I felt I was exposing some inner anxieties that maybe were better not exposed. Your collective response to the post in question ‘I can … Continue reading →

Posted in complaints, Equality, inappropriate behaviour, misogyny, Women in science | Comments Off on To Confront or Not to Confront

Collini and Science

Posted on 6 May 2012 by Athene Donald

A couple of months ago Stefan Collini published his book ‘What are Universities for?’ to much interest. This book was reviewed in many places including here on OT by Erika Cule, although overall the reviews were pretty mixed. Peter Conrad … Continue reading →

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Conferences and Courage

Posted on 2 May 2012 by Athene Donald

Exactly a year ago I wrote about the annual High Polymer Research Group Conference, held at the edge of the Peak District. Over the years I have watched it transform from an inward-looking cliquey organisation, where I initially sat right … Continue reading →

Posted in conference attendance, questions, Science Culture, speaking up, Women in science | Comments Off on Conferences and Courage

How Many Arms do you Have?

Posted on 27 April 2012 by Athene Donald

I was amused  by the throwaway comment Bettany Hughes made in her recent TV programme Divine Women  about the Hindu Goddess Kali’s many arms being ideal for multitasking. Academics of all ages would benefit from growing a few more limbs, … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, multi-tasking, Science Culture, stress | Comments Off on How Many Arms do you Have?

10 Things You Should Know about Election to the Royal Society

Posted on 20 April 2012 by Athene Donald

There has been much consternation today in the Twittersphere –  and no doubt elsewhere too  – about the fact that there were only two women this year in the list of 44 new Fellows elected to the Royal Society. It … Continue reading →

Posted in election, Equality, FRS, Royal Society, Women in science | Comments Off on 10 Things You Should Know about Election to the Royal Society

Why We Need to Start Young

Posted on 18 April 2012 by Athene Donald

Recently the Royal Society of Edinburgh released its report looking at the position of women in STEM in Scotland and what ought to be done by their Government; it also looked more broadly at the situation across the UK.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, Delusions of Gender, Equality, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Tapping all our Talents, Women in science | Comments Off on Why We Need to Start Young

With Fresh Ears, Eyes and Hands

Posted on 15 April 2012 by Athene Donald

In the run-up to Easter I happened to catch part of a broadcast of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. This is a work I was steeped in as a teenager, attending the annual Bach Choir’s performance at the Royal Festival Hall … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, freedom, Interdisciplinary Science, Research, supervision | Comments Off on With Fresh Ears, Eyes and Hands

Breaking into the Lab

Posted on 12 April 2012 by Athene Donald

What follows is a book review which first appeared in Times Higher Education on April 12th 2012 Breaking Into the Lab: Engineering Progress for Women in Science By Sue V. Rosser New York University Press 264pp, £23.99 ISBN 9780814776452 Published … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, leaky pipeline, US universities, Women in science | Comments Off on Breaking into the Lab

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