Author Archives: Athene Donald

Being Exceptional

Posted on 3 January 2024 by Athene Donald

One of the books I read over Christmas was the 2023 book by Kate Zernike, The Exceptions. It is a story about that committed band of sixteen female scientists at MIT, led by Nancy Hopkins, who built up the evidence … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Kate Zernike, MIT, Nancy Hopkins, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Being Exceptional

Not Being in the In-Crowd

Posted on 14 December 2023 by Athene Donald

Recently I was preparing a talk about work scientists may do that is not simply research and it has provoked me to think about when I fell into doing policy work, or at least moving out of the lab itself. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food Physics, grant panels, maternity leave, Research, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Not Being in the In-Crowd

Skills and Post-16 Education

Posted on 3 December 2023 by Athene Donald

In his Anniversary Day address to the Royal Society’s Fellowship last week, the President, Adrian Smith, drew attention to the state of our education system, recognizing that the Prime Minister’s intent to “reform the education system to include some form … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Augar Review, Dave Phoenix, education, Further Education, Kelly Vere, T Levels | Comments Off on Skills and Post-16 Education

Conversations in Amazing Libraries

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Athene Donald

Remarkably, I have been in three magnificent rooms of books in the last week, starting off with the Wren Library in Cambridge’s Trinity College. The first photo (which I admit I have taken from Diane Coyle’s Bluesky feed) gives an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, Diane Coyle, Mary Somerville, Royal Institution, Tabitha Goldstaub, Women in science, Wren Library | Comments Off on Conversations in Amazing Libraries

Talking to Strangers

Posted on 12 November 2023 by Athene Donald

I was struck by an article in the Guardian written by Catherine Carr about the pleasure she derives from talking to strangers, which forms the basis of her podcast ‘Where are you going?’ (disclaimer, I’ve never listened to it or, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in advice, Greyhound bus, Ithaca, Science Culture, therapy, Women in science | Comments Off on Talking to Strangers

The Things You Don’t Know You Know

Posted on 5 November 2023 by Athene Donald

It is very easy, at any stage in a career, to look at your peers and think they have everything solved while you are wandering around in the dark. This is, of course, an illusion. They will be looking at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in experts, Science Culture, Simon McDonald | Comments Off on The Things You Don’t Know You Know

Being Festive about Women in STEM

Posted on 29 October 2023 by Athene Donald

Last week I attended an event at Murray Edwards College, a Women in STEM Festival. Dorothy Byrne, their President though not herself a scientist (she studied Philosophy at Manchester), had done a fantastic job in bringing together a wide range … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Chi Onwurah, Dorothy Byrne, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Murray Edwards College, Women in science | Comments Off on Being Festive about Women in STEM

Voice: Finding Yours

Posted on 23 October 2023 by Athene Donald

Last week I was the protagonist in the curious ritual called a ‘post-prandial’ talk at my College (Churchill). In other words, after the whole Fellowship had met for the formal governance activity known as ‘Governing Body’, and after dinner (prandium … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, Carol Gilligan, Communicating Science, giving talks, Maggie Thatcher, Women in science | Comments Off on Voice: Finding Yours

Beyond the Comfort Zone

Posted on 16 October 2023 by Athene Donald

Last week started off in unfamiliar ways. I’ve written before about the challenges of doing something for the first time, and this week I had two consecutive days of things that felt stressful and unusual to me. These issues of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, Labour, New Scientist Live, Peter Kyle, Science Funding | Comments Off on Beyond the Comfort Zone

New Scientist Live and Other Talks

Posted on 30 September 2023 by Athene Donald

It’s the start of a new term in Cambridge and this weekend the streets around the city will be full of nervous looking parents trying to find somewhere to park to unpack their anxious looking children. (One of the many … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Carol Monaghan, Not just for the boys, talks, Women in science | Comments Off on New Scientist Live and Other Talks