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

It’s in my guilt box…

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Sylvia McLain

A variant on the impostor syndrome (as blogged by Athene Donald) A few weeks ago I bumped into one of my colleagues at the University – he is in a different Department and is a young (ish) PI like myself. … Continue reading →

Posted in Impostor syndrome, Science research | Comments Off on It’s in my guilt box…

A thing of beauty – the Schlenk line

Posted on 24 January 2012 by Sylvia McLain

I am now the proud owner of a Schlenk line – actually it is not a mere Schlenk line but a hybrid – 1/2 high vacuum line, 1/2 Schlenk. And it is a thing of beauty…. Just look at it

Posted in high vacuum equipment, Schlenk, science equipment | Comments Off on A thing of beauty – the Schlenk line

When do you ‘make it’ ?

Posted on 21 January 2012 by Sylvia McLain

When I was young I had dreams of being an astronaut or a famous athlete. I figured I could go to the Moon or win Wimbledon and then I would have ‘made it’ and could spend the rest of my … Continue reading →

Posted in science careers | Comments Off on When do you ‘make it’ ?

Help, Industry save the UK science funding [2]

Posted on 18 January 2012 by Sylvia McLain

(oh and yes I still blog) I was going to write about Willetts and his speech – but really I missed the boat. I was going to write about a paper I published a few years back to let folk … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Society, David Willetts, RCUK, Science Funding, scipolicy, Start Up Britain | Comments Off on Help, Industry save the UK science funding [2]

New Occam’s year resolutions (happy birthday to us…) [7]

Posted on 13 December 2011 by Sylvia McLain

Not only is it birthday 1 for Occam’s Typewriter but last week was my literal birthday. So maybe a good time to reflect about what I can do differently in the New Year. I have a new job since I … Continue reading →

Posted in Occam's Typewriter | Comments Off on New Occam’s year resolutions (happy birthday to us…) [7]

C’mon kids play nice [12]

Posted on 4 December 2011 by Sylvia McLain

or how to politely (if strongly) disagree so I read the Womanspace article that has raised a furror on the blogosphere lately… I didn’t like it, it does seem to rely on the standard gender stereotypes that have been going … Continue reading →

Posted in Womanspace | Comments Off on C’mon kids play nice [12]

All about shes (and hes) [9]

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Sylvia McLain

I recently watched the wonderful classic All About Eve – Best Picture at the Oscars in 1951. Its a great film if you like the classics, the language is spectacular ( I am always amazed at the language in good … Continue reading →

Posted in Bette Davis, Stereotypes, stereotypes in science | Comments Off on All about shes (and hes) [9]

Its the right idea….almost [2]

Posted on 14 November 2011 by Sylvia McLain

Peter Thiel who invented PayPal and presciently invested in Facebook has announced that he is giving money though a scheme called ‘Breakout Labs’ where independent researchers and start-up companies will be funded philanthropically through a grant-proposal process and that any … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakout Labs, funding, Peter Thiel, Philanthrocapitalism, Philanthroscience, Science Funding | Comments Off on Its the right idea….almost [2]

On Science careers for post-docs…. [7]

Posted on 1 November 2011 by Sylvia McLain

and some PIs are good guys (really) I have been reading about David Willetts round table discussion from both Athene Donald and Jenny Rohn. These two fellow Occam T bloggers have been writing about science careers (particularly with respect to … Continue reading →

Posted in Athene Donald, David Willetts, Jenny Rohn, science careers, Science Is Vital | Comments Off on On Science careers for post-docs…. [7]

Bad review, good review, peer review, Parliamentary review [2]

Posted on 5 October 2011 by Sylvia McLain

Are neutrinos faster than light? This is a big question at the moment since they have been ‘observed to be’ by a group of researchers recently. I myself am sceptical, Jon Butterworth wrote an excellent blogpost about this which points … Continue reading →

Posted in fast neutrinos, Parliamentary peer review committee, peer review, superfast neutrinos | Comments Off on Bad review, good review, peer review, Parliamentary review [2]