Our blogs
- Adventures in Wonderland by Richard Wintle
- Athene Donald's Blog by Athene Donald
- Blogging by Candlelight by Erika Cule
- Confessions by Richard P Grant
- Deep Thoughts and Silliness by Bob O'Hara
- Mind the Gap by Jenny Rohn
- Nicola Spaldin's Blog by Nicola Spaldin
- No Comment by Steve Caplan
- Not ranting – honestly by Austin Elliott
- Reciprocal Space by Stephen Curry
- The End of the Pier Show by Henry Gee
- Trading Knowledge by Frank Norman
- The Occam's Typewriter Irregulars by Guest Bloggers
OT Cloud
- academia
- Apparitions
- book review
- Books
- Canada
- career
- careers
- Communicating Science
- communication
- Cromer
- Domestic bliss
- Domesticrox
- education
- Equality
- Gardening
- Guest posts
- humor
- Lablit
- Music
- nature
- Nostalgia
- Open Access
- personal
- Photography
- photos
- Politicrox
- Politics
- Research
- science
- Science & Politics
- Science-fiction
- Science Culture
- Science Funding
- Science Is Vital
- Scientific Life
- Silliness
- staring into the abyss
- students
- technology
- The profession of science
- travel
- Uncategorized
- Women in science
- Writing
- Writing & Reading
Author Archives: Athene Donald
Beyond the Comfort Zone
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
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
Educational Disadvantage
With many schools in England apparently in danger of crumbling around or upon pupils, the start of the new school year offers the potential, once again, of being disrupted for thousands of pupils. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, generati… Continue reading
Inefficiency as a Blessing in Disguise
In the process of tidying up my office I have managed to fill several large bins for recycling. I found many unremembered old reports. Indeed, sometimes I found multiple copies due to my incompetence in remembering where I filed the … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in comfort break, inefficiency, pandemic, Research, Science Culture, Writing
Comments Off on Inefficiency as a Blessing in Disguise
Historical Female Scientists?
One of the aspects of how my book (Not Just for the Boys: Why we need more women in science) has been received which surprises me the most, is the interest shown in the chapter on women who managed to … Continue reading Continue reading
Comments Off on Historical Female Scientists?
What’s Wrong with T Levels?
If you are an English reader, reading this blog, the chances are high that you studied (or are studying) A Levels before going to university. Alternative options are available post-16, but they are currently in a state of flux, whether … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in A levels, education, Further Education, Levelling Up, post-16
Comments Off on What’s Wrong with T Levels?
Bin the Past
My last post talked about binning a word, ‘boffin’, but currently I’m literally binning my past. As my former home of the Cavendish Laboratory prepares to move into its shiny new buildings, the Dolby Centre, I need to clear out … Continue reading Continue reading
Bin the Boffin
Speaking personally, I hate the label ‘boffin’. Maybe once upon a time it was seen as a positive, but not any more. The Institute of Physics is running a ‘Ban the Boffin’ campaign, as part of their Limit Less campaign … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in institute of physics, lumpy custard, media, Science Culture, Stereotypes, Women in science
Comments Off on Bin the Boffin
Nerves? We (Nearly) All Have Them
Recently I had occasion to watch a young adult preparing to make a presentation. They were incredibly nervous, but when it came to standing in front of the audience little of that was evident. Just a small amount of self-deprecating … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in Communicating Science, lectures, questions, Science Culture, seminars, timing
Comments Off on Nerves? We (Nearly) All Have Them
Innovation: New ideas and New people
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of delivering a public lecture with the above title in the beautiful interior of Hereford Cathedral. This unusual venue, a wonderful testament to the ingenuity of medieval builders, was chosen by the Engineering … Continue reading Continue reading
Posted in Engineering Professors Council, Hereford, innovation, Not just for the boys, Science Culture, skills, Women in science
Comments Off on Innovation: New ideas and New people
