Author Archives: Sylvia McLain

About Sylvia McLain

Girl, Interrupting aka Dr. Sylvia McLain used to be an academic, but now is trying to figure out what's next. She is also a proto-science writer, armchair philosopher, amateur plumber and wanna-be film-critic. You can follow her on Twitter @DrSylviaMcLain and Instagram @sylviaellenmclain

Is it hip to be square?

Posted on 26 May 2012 by Sylvia McLain

One of my all-time favourite novels is Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. It’s not what you think. Its about Circus Freaks.

Posted in Evidence-based thinking, Geek, Geek love | Comments Off on Is it hip to be square?

‘The death of british science’? Really ?

Posted on 15 May 2012 by Sylvia McLain

I almost don’t feel I can comment -but of course I am going to anyway. Today I watched, or rather half-watched via twitter and other media outlets, the protest about ‘the death of British science’. The protesters, about 100 strong, … Continue reading →

Posted in Death of British Science, Death to British Science, Science Funding, Science Is Vital, Science policy | Comments Off on ‘The death of british science’? Really ?

To equate or not to equate

Posted on 7 May 2012 by Sylvia McLain

One of our jobs, working in academia, is giving talks. I don’t mean teaching, but rather presenting research. Lately I have had a spate of talks to give, largely as a result of being new in my Department.

Posted in Maths, science communication | Comments Off on To equate or not to equate

On being wrong – or not completely right

Posted on 29 April 2012 by Sylvia McLain

Stephen J Gould is one of my heroes, one of my favourite scientists. One of his best books, in my opinion, is The Mismeasure of Man – which was written in part to challenge the use of IQ tests, phrenology … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, richard dawkins, Stephen J Gould | Comments Off on On being wrong – or not completely right

Communication, communication, communication

Posted on 19 April 2012 by Sylvia McLain

Alice Bell wrote a provocative piece in Times Higher Education, ‘Wider open spaces’, where she calls for science communication to be MORE open, rather than just opening access to specialist journals. The open access ‘movement’ (for lack of a better … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Access, science communication | Comments Off on Communication, communication, communication

Why can’t we write like other people write?

Posted on 24 March 2012 by Sylvia McLain

Another blog about scientific writing appeared on Friday by Adam Ruben. It contains all of the standard complaints, albeit in a humorous way, about why scientific writing is basically dull, turgid and opaque. Adam concludes that: But there’s a reason … Continue reading →

Posted in nmr, NMR spectroscopy, science writing | Comments Off on Why can’t we write like other people write?

Received Wisdom – Who do you trust?

Posted on 15 March 2012 by Sylvia McLain

Science met the Media on Tuesday at the Royal Institution. It was an interesting event where science journalism was discussed between scientists and journalists. To me, the discussion was mostly journalists talking to journalists – more than scientists and journalists, … Continue reading →

Posted in riscimedia, science and the media, science communication, Science journalism | Comments Off on Received Wisdom – Who do you trust?

Oxford Dons – Leave the internet alone!

Posted on 7 March 2012 by Sylvia McLain

So we all know the story about Baroness Susan Greenfield and the internet and how she thinks it might be causing autism (among other things) where she famously said: “It could be the case that this different environment is changing … Continue reading →

Posted in internet, richard dawkins, Susan Greenfield | Comments Off on Oxford Dons – Leave the internet alone!

Lady liberty: my new glove box

Posted on 23 February 2012 by Sylvia McLain

A few weeks ago I blogged about my new Schlenk Line and now there is a new addition to the lab. My newest piece of BIG kit arrived Monday (unannounced). After a few weeks of tender, at most Universities if … Continue reading →

Posted in Glove box, MBraun, science equipment, Statue of Liberty | Comments Off on Lady liberty: my new glove box

Why am I writing this?

Posted on 8 February 2012 by Sylvia McLain

On scientific publication I have been working on some publications, you know those results-based things that scientists write, submit, are peer-reviewed and with a bit of luck get published in a fantastic journal and then with not as much luck … Continue reading →

Posted in George Whitesides, how to write a paper, peer review, peer-review publishing, scientific publishing | Comments Off on Why am I writing this?