Category Archives: philosophy

The Dangers of Brilliance

Posted on 10 November 2024 by Athene Donald

As the detailed criteria of REF2029 are being worked through, the issue over the research culture part remains unclear. There are those who think research culture is an irrelevance in the pursuit of excellence, that it is a touchy-feely kind … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The separation of life and death

Posted on 15 April 2023 by Stephen

Who is that stranger in my father’s bed? Those sunken eyes The concave cheeks Salted with stubble The thinned grey hair Plastered to a narrow skull. I have lost the man I loved. In truth it had been a long … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Intelligent life: Isaiah Berlin

Posted on 18 November 2022 by Stephen

Thanks to the paucity of my education and cultural life I have come late to Isaiah Berlin, the noted philosopher and historian of ideas whose thinking provided such a guiding light to the 20th Century. But I’m definitely a fan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

Posted on 17 November 2014 by Athene Donald

The media is full of stories around men behaving inappropriately – or worse – currently. These range from #shirtstorm in the wake of Matt Taylor’s press conference regarding the successful landing of Philae (a sad distraction from the amazingly successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, harassment, philosophy, SASSY, Science Culture, sexism | Comments Off on Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

Unfinished Business

Posted on 11 January 2014 by Stephen

I’ve reached that age where my eye is drawn to the obituary column every time I open the newspaper. It hasn’t been a conscious move but, having arrived at my fiftieth year, I am increasingly aware of the hopes of … Continue reading →

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Just How Bad Is It?

Posted on 4 December 2012 by Athene Donald

It is easy to think that science is uniquely bad amongst the academic disciplines in the problems that some women may face. In the past few weeks I have visited various Universities to discuss some of the relevant issues and … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, Jenny Saul, philosophy, Science Culture, sexual harassment, Women in science | Comments Off on Just How Bad Is It?