Author Archives: Athene Donald

Making Hay

Posted on 31 May 2011 by Athene Donald

You know how it is with buses, you wait for ages and then 3 come along at once. Well that seems to be what has happened with me with debates. Not that I was consciously waiting for them, but certainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, debate, Hay Philosophy Festival, Human enhancement, Mary Warnock | Comments Off on Making Hay

Career Progression and the Research Landscape

Posted on 26 May 2011 by Athene Donald

Career progression for postdocs is a key issue that affects the health of our science base. It formed the basis for a discussion with Science Minister David Willetts at the Royal Institution this week, an event hosted by Evan Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, David Willetts, postdocs, Research, Royal Institution, Science Funding, scienceisvital | Comments Off on Career Progression and the Research Landscape

A Work in Progress

Posted on 18 May 2011 by Athene Donald

No science discipline now can (or should) be seen as a silo, content to keep its boundaries closed against marauders from elsewhere. This is just as true of physics as any of the other sciences. For me, working at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biological Physics, education, Interdisciplinary Science, IOP, undergraduate teaching | Comments Off on A Work in Progress

Kidding Yourself (The Impact Saga Continues)

Posted on 15 May 2011 by Athene Donald

This weekend I was persuaded by a member of my family to enter a local Parkrun. If, like me, you haven’t come across these before, I should say they offer weekly timed 5k runs at local venues. You just register, … Continue reading →

Posted in aspiration, Communicating Science, education, Outreach, pathways to impact statements, Research, Royal Society, school-teachers, Science Funding | Comments Off on Kidding Yourself (The Impact Saga Continues)

University Committees’ Dramatis Personae

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Athene Donald

A little while ago I wrote about those committee members who are ubiquitous but who never would be missed. The cast of characters I described before were those prevalent on grant-giving committees, for instance, and so tended to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in committee membership, committee structure, funding, little list, Science Culture, Science Funding | Comments Off on University Committees’ Dramatis Personae

The Power of Images

Posted on 6 May 2011 by Athene Donald

The low numbers of female role models to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers is often cited as a major problem in encouraging girls into science and then keeping them there. Comments on this blog have also remarked … Continue reading →

Posted in inspirational, Julia King, Robert Taylor, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Science Culture, UKRC, Women in science, Women of Outstanding Achievement | Comments Off on The Power of Images

Getting Philosophical

Posted on 2 May 2011 by Athene Donald

A month or two back, in the editorial for the edition of Eureka discussing science and the media on the back of an event at the Royal Society, it was written We should send chemistry graduates to poetry slams, physicists … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative medicine, Communicating Science, Hay Festival, Human enhancement, Interdisciplinary Science, John Harris, Mary Warnock | Comments Off on Getting Philosophical

Sagacity or Self-Centredness?

Posted on 27 April 2011 by Athene Donald

What should one talk about when asked to talk about one’s life, career path and general advice to a group of young persons? I use that awkward term advisedly to cover the range of categories that encompass schoolchildren, students, postgrads … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, career progression, careers, saying no, Science Culture, self-confidence | Comments Off on Sagacity or Self-Centredness?

Skeletons and Unconscious Bias

Posted on 24 April 2011 by Athene Donald

As scientists we like to believe that we seek and interpret evidence impartially. That has been the accepted position for generations. The reality is of course that we are sometimes influenced, unconsciously or otherwise, by received opinion, ‘experts’ or other … Continue reading →

Posted in accuracy, anatomy, History of Science, Londa Schiebinger, Marie D'Arconville, Science Culture, stereotyping, Unconscious bias, Women in science | Comments Off on Skeletons and Unconscious Bias