Category Archives: committee meetings

Taking the Chair

Posted on 16 December 2017 by Athene Donald

Robert Mackintosh recently wrote an article in the THE about how to chair a meeting. This is a topic that I have dealt with before on my blog in light-hearted vein – describing those chairs you really hope you never … Continue reading →

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The ABC of panel scoring: Anchoring, Bias and Committee Procedures

Posted on 20 January 2017 by Athene Donald

Academic life is particularly full of rank ordered lists, even if they are frequently not transparently available. From undergraduate examinations to professorial promotions, from REF (and in future TEF) marks to grant-awarding panels, the scores matter. Anyone who has ever … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, decisions, rank-ordered lists, Research, Science Funding | Comments Off on The ABC of panel scoring: Anchoring, Bias and Committee Procedures

To Chair or not to Chair

Posted on 19 November 2016 by Athene Donald

I have been kicking around the university scene so long that I forget how mysterious some parts of my life may seem to those just starting out. I was rather startled to be asked by a student over dinner the … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, Francis Cornford, Science Culture | Comments Off on To Chair or not to Chair

How Not to Chair a Committee

Posted on 15 March 2016 by Athene Donald

Whether as a student or a professor (or indeed at any level in between) I would suspect there isn’t a reader of this blog who hasn’t had to sit through a meeting of some type or other where the Chair … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, incompetence, Science Culture, sexism | Comments Off on How Not to Chair a Committee

Moving Beyond a Silo Mentality

Posted on 6 October 2015 by Athene Donald

Wherever I turn currently I seem to come up against the questions that assessing interdisciplinary research throws up. Nature recently had a special issue highlighting some of the challenges and rewards, but taking a very broad brush approach. Its editorial … Continue reading →

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Why do I Always come away from Meetings Feeling a Fool?

Posted on 23 November 2014 by Athene Donald

That was the plaintive question I saw recently on Twitter (actually not from anyone I knew). There is of course the possibility the person is a fool, but my guess is that they were simply feeling that they weren’t doing … Continue reading →

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Leadership by Gravitas or Passion?

Posted on 21 June 2014 by Athene Donald

A couple of years ago I blogged about my feelings about leadership and role models. The difference is clear and whereas then I felt OK about being considered one of the latter I had issues with regarding myself as a … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, innovation, leadership, passion, Science Culture | Comments Off on Leadership by Gravitas or Passion?

Leadership by Gravitas or Passion?

Posted on 21 June 2014 by Athene Donald

A couple of years ago I blogged about my feelings about leadership and role models. The difference is clear and whereas then I felt OK about being considered one of the latter I had issues with regarding myself as a … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, innovation, leadership, Science Culture | Comments Off on Leadership by Gravitas or Passion?

Taking the Chair

Posted on 2 March 2014 by Athene Donald

I was interested to discover recently that candidates for the headship of a certain Cambridge college were required to chair a mock Governing Body meeting (this was not part of my own selection process at Churchill I should say). I … Continue reading →

Posted in bores, committee meetings, Equality, Miss Triggs, Science Culture | Comments Off on Taking the Chair

Do You Recognize this Person?

Posted on 3 August 2011 by Athene Donald

Since it is the vacation, and few committee meetings are being held, I thought now might be a good moment to revisit the characteristics of Committee Chairs I promised a little while ago . Given the timing, my colleagues are … Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, decision-making, efficiency, Science Culture | Comments Off on Do You Recognize this Person?