Category Archives: Communicating Science

Hunstanton Sand

Posted on 11 February 2024 by Athene Donald

I’ve just started reading a book called The Spirit of Enquiry by Susannah Gibson, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, an interesting society of which I was once a committee member (as well as a prize-winner). I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Sedgwick, Chladni's plate, Communicating Science, lectures, standing waves | Comments Off on Hunstanton Sand

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

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

Nerves? We (Nearly) All Have Them

Posted on 25 June 2023 by Athene Donald

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

Anxious Times

Posted on 21 May 2023 by Athene Donald

I can still remember anxiously waiting for my first paper to appear. It must have been in 1976, because I know I had submitted the paper under my married name, although at the time the wedding was still some weeks … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in bookshops, Communicating Science, criticism, Not just for the boys, reviews, Science Culture | Comments Off on Anxious Times

To Travel or Not to Travel?

Posted on 27 July 2022 by Athene Donald

Now the academic year has come to an end, it is possible to start to reflect on the year past and what next year might, and I emphasise might, look like. This year has not been as full of Covid-stresses … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in carbon budgets, Communicating Science, conferences, hybrid meetings, Science Culture, Zoom | Comments Off on To Travel or Not to Travel?

Scientists Who Stand Up to be Counted

Posted on 3 January 2022 by Athene Donald

In the UK the pandemic is rushing towards its second anniversary, changing, but no less dangerous for the life we used to think was ‘normal’, and indeed our very lives. During this time, as a scientist I have had confidence … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in abuse, Communicating Science, David Spiegelhalter, Devi Sridhar, pandemic, Sander van der Linden, Science Culture | Comments Off on Scientists Who Stand Up to be Counted

Self Confidence Amidst a Pandemic

Posted on 11 December 2021 by Athene Donald

I am sure readers share my gloom at the necessity of re-introducing tighter restrictions in our lives as Omicron spreads. It’s almost two years since the virus first swam into public view in the UK, twenty-one months since academics rapidly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, ECRs, Omicron, Science Culture, seminars, webinars, Zoom | Comments Off on Self Confidence Amidst a Pandemic

Vaccines, Emotion and the Status of Women

Posted on 17 October 2021 by Athene Donald

I’ve been catching up with some reading this weekend: a year’s worth of (hard copy) THE issues, picked up now I’m finally able to get back into my department, and Vaxxers – sub-titled The Inside Story of the Oxford Astrazeneca … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Cath Green, Communicating Science, families, Sarah Gilbert, vaccination, Vaxxers, Women in science | Comments Off on Vaccines, Emotion and the Status of Women