Category Archives: promotion

The Need to Join the Dots

Posted on 2 February 2025 by Athene Donald

Last week, I attended an event organised by The Productivity Institute and, more locally, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, as part of National Productivity Week. The meeting’s theme was Innovation and Infrastructure in the East. Note, despite the recent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in academia, appraisal, ASSET 2010, Athena Forum, Austrian science, book review, careers, education, Equality, Evelyn Fox Keller, Further Education, gender, growth, natural history, NEETs, Opportunity Mission, Oxford-Cambridge Corridor, People, professional training, promotion, Women's Issues | Comments Off on The Need to Join the Dots

Invest in Women: Venture Capitalists and Female Entrepreneurs

Posted on 25 November 2024 by Athene Donald

Back in 2019, The Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship was published, spelling out just how bad the environment was for would-be female entrepreneurs. She was blunt in the opening words of her introduction “I firmly believe that the disparity … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in academia, Alison Rose, appraisal, ASSET 2010, Athena Forum, Austrian science, book review, careers, Equality, Evelyn Fox Keller, femtech, gender, History of Science, innovation, Invest in Women Taskforce, professional training, promotion, Science Funding, Women's Issues | Comments Off on Invest in Women: Venture Capitalists and Female Entrepreneurs

Unconscious Bias 2.0

Posted on 15 January 2022 by Athene Donald

‘Unconscious bias’ has become very much part of the conscious process that many organisations try to bring to bear on their decision-making, be it with regard to promotions or appointments. However, what do they mean by it and how do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in appointment committees, CV, Equality, promotion, publishing, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Unconscious Bias 2.0

Do We Need International Women’s Day?

Posted on 8 March 2020 by Athene Donald

It’s International Women’s Day. Another year when many of us are thinking how amazing it would be if we didn’t need such a day any longer, specifically celebrating women, because people of whatever gender, colour, age, health status….. were celebrated … Continue reading →

Posted in allies, equal pay, Equality, part-time, promotion, Women in science | Comments Off on Do We Need International Women’s Day?

Judging on Potential (or Not)

Posted on 22 July 2018 by Athene Donald

I was trying to lay my hands on a quote I heard recently on the radio about creativity by Wolfgang von Goethe to kickstart this blogpost, and instead (amongst 100’s of others of his quotes) I came upon this: ‘Girls … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Goethe, promotion, referees, Royal Society, Women in science | Comments Off on Judging on Potential (or Not)

No More ‘Male by Default’ Please

Posted on 8 March 2017 by Athene Donald

Another year, another International Women’s Day. This year the strapline is ‘be bold for change’. A good motto but many will feel that boldness is dangerous in the face of opposition or incomprehension. Incomprehension is perhaps commoner than one thinks: … Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, Equality, International Women's Day, leadership, promotion, Women in science | Comments Off on No More ‘Male by Default’ Please

The ‘Mine’s Bigger’ School of Science

Posted on 16 October 2016 by Athene Donald

I didn’t watch the second Trump-Clinton debate, but it is clear from all I’ve read that one of the former’s tactics to attempt to disconcert Clinton was to try to intimidate her physically – by sheer bulk and position on … Continue reading →

Posted in CV, diversity, Equality, ERC, grant income, h index, promotion, Science Culture | Comments Off on The ‘Mine’s Bigger’ School of Science

On Being Biased

Posted on 18 February 2016 by Athene Donald

The subject of unconscious bias training has risen swiftly up the agenda at many organisations with the recognition that we are, almost without exception, guilty of it. (If you think you’re exempt, try the Project Implicit tests.) Be it that … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, patronising, promotion, Stereotypes, Women in science | Comments Off on On Being Biased

Choosing the Right Criteria

Posted on 6 March 2015 by Athene Donald

A year ago Cambridge University launched its book ‘The Meaning of Success’ and published a letter calling on the HE community to consider what the sector values and should be promoting, figuratively and, when it comes to people, literally. This … Continue reading →

Posted in career progression, Equality, International Woman's Day, Meaning of Success, mobility, promotion, Women in science | Comments Off on Choosing the Right Criteria

Spreading the Word, Drop by Drop

Posted on 12 October 2014 by Athene Donald

There are times when I feel as if I’m talked out about gender. I know what the issues are, I’ve written and spoken about them often enough; I’ve dug up and read through some of the relevant papers (though that … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Ottoline Leyser, promotion, Science Culture, speaking out, Unconscious bias, Women in science | Comments Off on Spreading the Word, Drop by Drop