Author Archives: Athene Donald

Heroines and Role Models [11]

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

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Nerves? You?

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]

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

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The Gift of Pink [19]

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]

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

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Are We Nearly There Yet? [9]

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]

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]

Appraising the Future

Back in those distant days of the Thatcher Government, various changes to the way academics worked were introduced, whose details are rather lost in the mists of time (or at least lost in the mists of my memory). One consequence … Continue reading

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All Human Life is There (Happy 1st Birthday OccamT)

The first part of this statement was once the proud motto of the now deceased and unlamented News of the World. In a friendlier vein, compared with many of the ignorant witch hunts they pursued and the dirt they used … Continue reading

Posted in Blogging, Occam's Typewriter, Science Culture | Comments Off on All Human Life is There (Happy 1st Birthday OccamT)

Lecture Theatre Habits

Last week I attended Anniversary Day at the Royal Society, during which there was a discussion meeting for Fellows, as well as the President’s Annual Address given in an open forum. This venerable body is 351 years old now, and … Continue reading

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