Category Archives: interviews

Asking the Right Questions

Posted on 25 October 2015 by Athene Donald

The quote from CP Scott, long-time editor of the (Manchester) Guardian, elegantly says ‘Comment is free, but facts are sacred.’ As a scientist I like gathering evidence, getting at the facts and so, when Paige Brown Jarreau asked me to … Continue reading →

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When Did You Decide to…..?

Posted on 19 August 2015 by Athene Donald

People seem to think that life travels in straight, orderly lines, with everything mapped out from birth. I have never felt that my life was like that and it is always startling when I find other people assume that I … Continue reading →

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Cambridge Admissions – Dispelling the Myths

Posted on 24 October 2014 by Athene Donald

Myths abound about admission to Cambridge, despite all attempts to put out some real hard facts (and similarly by Oxford). The interview process itself, which both universities use, seems to be shrouded in particular mystique. Cambridge has recently posted a … Continue reading →

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Is the Royal Society Treating Women Fairly?

Posted on 25 September 2014 by Athene Donald

This year’s announcement regarding successful applicants for Royal Society University Research Fellowships (URFs) has been hailed with deep suspicion by many. Out of 43 awards only 2 went to women and there is no getting around the fact that this … Continue reading →

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A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Prejudice Go Down

Posted on 17 April 2014 by Athene Donald

I wasn’t really paying attention to the radio. I was busy cooking, but it sounded to me as if the question Clive Anderson asked the film-maker Andrea Calderwood on Saturday’s episode of Loose Ends amounted to ‘how come a nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, interviews, Jenny Saul, Unconscious bias, Women in science | Comments Off on A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Prejudice Go Down

The Two Opposing Sides of the Desk

Posted on 15 June 2013 by Athene Donald

At different times in one’s life one is more likely to be an interviewer or an interviewee, but these things are never immutable. As it happens I have been the subject of several interviews recently, something which has made me … Continue reading →

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Interview Skills, Careers Advice and Social Mobility

Posted on 26 July 2011 by Athene Donald

Recently the Sutton Trust published an analysis of the relative successes different schools had in getting students into different universities: Oxbridge, the broader cohort of ‘top’ universities referred to as the Sutton 30, and universities overall.  One of the schools … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Equality, IAG, interviews, Oxbridge, role plays | Comments Off on Interview Skills, Careers Advice and Social Mobility