Author Archives: Athene Donald

The Dangers of Disciplinary Diversity

Posted on 20 January 2012 by Athene Donald

One of the curious facts about our scientific disciplines is that they do tend to have their own flavour and culture, with things that are taken as the norm in one discipline seeming very alien to another. There are a … Continue reading →

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On Versatility

Posted on 16 January 2012 by Athene Donald

I should start off by thanking CherishtheScientist  for kindly nominating me for a Versatile Blogger award (see the emblem). The Veraatile Blooger Award I hadn’t heard of these before, but I’m honoured – so many thanks. I find myself still … Continue reading →

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Conveying the Wrong Message [1]

Posted on 12 January 2012 by Athene Donald

This article first appeared in Times Higher Education as an Opinion piece on January 12th 2012. Our academic lives are strongly influenced by those individuals who write letters of reference for us as we aim to move up the career … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, Equality, gendering, hiring, leakypipeline, reference letter | Comments Off on Conveying the Wrong Message [1]

Heroines and Role Models [11]

Posted on 8 January 2012 by Athene Donald

Recently I had a rather upset email from a younger colleague who was worried because she had publicly disagreed with me in a discussion and feared she had been ‘strident’.  What made it worse, she said, was that I had … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, aspirations, mentors, Research, Women in science | Comments Off on Heroines and Role Models [11]

Nerves? You?

Posted on 4 January 2012 by Athene Donald

A few weeks ago I was asked by my University’s press office to talk urgently to the Daily Mail, where a reporter was wanting some information comparing what life was like for women at Cambridge University in the past and … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, journalists, media, media training, quote | Comments Off on Nerves? You?

Resolving the Resolutions [10]

Posted on 1 January 2012 by Athene Donald

A year ago I publicly made some New Year’s Resolutions, and it is interesting to look back and see what my good intentions were and to what extent I’ve managed to stick with them. Resolution 1 I will ensure I … Continue reading →

Posted in cycling, diaries, email, New Year, refereeing, Science Culture | Comments Off on Resolving the Resolutions [10]

The Gift of Pink [19]

Posted on 27 December 2011 by Athene Donald

So, the presents are unwrapped, the turkey (or nut roast) consumed and the levels of alcohol in the blood perhaps beginning to recede.  It’s time to regroup, to start drawing up that list of good resolutions for 2012 and to … Continue reading →

Posted in Delilah, Equality, Hamley's, Laura Nelson, Lego friends, toys, Women in science | Comments Off on The Gift of Pink [19]

An Identification Guide to Professors [4]

Posted on 21 December 2011 by Athene Donald

As we head for Christmas, it is worth considering the people we’ve been surrounded by for the past year.  Some will have been a delight, others may have caused immense stress for a number of different reasons. So, time to … Continue reading →

Posted in departmental responsibilities, dramatis personae, Science Culture, university politics | Comments Off on An Identification Guide to Professors [4]

Are We Nearly There Yet? [9]

Posted on 18 December 2011 by Athene Donald

The Equality Challenge Unit has recently published its annual survey of statistical information about staff and students in UK universities (this year there are two reports covering separately all grades of staff and students) . There is a wealth of … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, ECU, Equality, gender pay gap, undergraduate population, Women in science | Comments Off on Are We Nearly There Yet? [9]

Science and the Law [7]

Posted on 15 December 2011 by Athene Donald

It’s the grey end of term and the dark time of the year when it is easy to feel that too many things have been left undone that should have been done.  The Christmas break is fast approaching and most … Continue reading →

Posted in education, neuroscience, Royal Society, statistics | Comments Off on Science and the Law [7]