Author Archives: Athene Donald

Some Things Never Change

Posted on 5 September 2011 by Athene Donald

One of the enjoyable consequences of carrying out reading tasks for publishers, is that often one can be paid ‘in kind’ with a miscellaneous collection of books up to some market value considerably more than any cheque they might otherwise … Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Sedgwick, David Elliston Allen, History of Science, Life in Science, Science Culture, Thomas Huxley | Comments Off on Some Things Never Change

Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Posted on 1 September 2011 by Athene Donald

This book review first appeared in Times Higher Education on September 1st 2011. Knocking on Heaven’s Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking Illuminate the Universe and the Modern World By Lisa Randall Bodley Head, 464pp, £20.00 ISBN 9781847920690 Published 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, Higgs Particle, Large Hadron Collider, Lisa Randall, Research | Comments Off on Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Where is Physics Barbie?

Posted on 25 August 2011 by Athene Donald

This article first appeared in Times Higher Education on 25th August 2011. The title is as it appears there. Diversity matters, be it in the make-up of Parliament, among our television presenters or in our boardrooms. It matters in science … Continue reading →

Posted in A level choices, career choices, cultural stereotypes, education, Equality, toys, Women in science | Comments Off on Where is Physics Barbie?

Funders get Tough

Posted on 16 August 2011 by Athene Donald

This post is not, as UK readers might think from the title, a tirade about one of our Research Councils’ shortsightedness.  On the contrary, it is a plaudit for a UK ministry, who are showing admirable steel on behalf of … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, Department of Health, Equality, Research, research funding, Science Funding, Women in science | Comments Off on Funders get Tough

Numeracy

Posted on 12 August 2011 by Athene Donald

Do we have a numerate workforce? I’m afraid it is far too obvious the answer is no. I’m not just talking about the relatively low numbers of students taking maths A level, as detailed here in the recent Royal Society … Continue reading →

Posted in ACME, education, maths education, primary school teachers, Vorderman report | Comments Off on Numeracy

Whoever Said Life Is Fair?

Posted on 7 August 2011 by Athene Donald

Any parent will be familiar with a child’s endless whine that ‘it isn’t fair’ – that their sibling got the larger slice of cake or that their classmate’s bedtime is half an hour later than theirs. And the parent’s logical … Continue reading →

Posted in Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships, Equality, funding, Science Funding, the Royal Society, University Research Fellowships, Women in science | Comments Off on Whoever Said Life Is Fair?

Do You Recognize this Person?

Posted on 3 August 2011 by Athene Donald

Since it is the vacation, and few committee meetings are being held, I thought now might be a good moment to revisit the characteristics of Committee Chairs I promised a little while ago . Given the timing, my colleagues are … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, decision-making, efficiency, Science Culture | Comments Off on Do You Recognize this Person?

An Influx of Visitors

Posted on 30 July 2011 by Athene Donald

This week I found myself standing on the platform at Ely, changing trains there on a day when the trains were actually behaving for once. It was a beautiful summer’s evening, and staring out at the green fields across from … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycles, Cambridge, Cambridge life, foreign language students, road-sense | Comments Off on An Influx of Visitors