Category Archives: seminars

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

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

How far should students go in striving for professionalism?

Posted on 23 April 2019 by Steve Caplan

What is the beginning of eternity and the end of time? Sometimes the simplest answer is actually the right one: in this case, the letter “e.” Having served as chair of my departmental graduate and admissions committee, professionalism is an … Continue reading →

Posted in dissertation, education, jobs, PhD, professionalism, Research, science, seminars, students | Comments Off on How far should students go in striving for professionalism?

Drinking Habits of the Academic

Posted on 25 February 2016 by Athene Donald

Do we, poor misguided academics drink too much? I am sure many of us could do with drinking less but I was surprised to see the Guardian’s Academics Anonymous complaining that Russell group universities ply everyone with too much alcohol. … Continue reading →

Posted in alcohol, Phd student training, Science Culture, seminars | Comments Off on Drinking Habits of the Academic

Permission Given

Posted on 8 February 2016 by Athene Donald

This is a post about professional anxiety and what might be done to alleviate it. Consider who asks questions after departmental seminars or conference talks: too often it is the usual suspects (although my impression is that this is getting … Continue reading →

Posted in committees, Science Culture, seminars, speaking up, Women in science | Comments Off on Permission Given

The Ghost of Oneself on the Web

Posted on 11 November 2013 by Athene Donald

Comedians complain about it, so I don’t see why I shouldn’t too. They complain because U-tube, iPlayer etc mean that their jokes can’t be repeatedly recycled the way they were in the good old days. Once they’ve told one that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in accuracy, biography, Communicating Science, Science Culture, seminars, Uta Frith | Comments Off on The Ghost of Oneself on the Web

Recycling Talks

Posted on 3 November 2013 by Athene Donald

You know that sinking feeling. You have a talk, at a conference or another university, coming up in fewer days (possibly even hours) than you feel comfortable with and the temptation is great to dig into the files and simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, early career researcher, Powerpoint, presentation, Research, seminars | Comments Off on Recycling Talks

Practice, Practice, Practice: Getting that Talk Right

Posted on 18 April 2013 by Athene Donald

As my last post noted, my mind is inclined to go for a walk during seminars if I’m not careful. Recently these wanderings provoked me to consider all the pitfalls of seminar-giving – by young and old alike. Experience doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in public speaking, Science Culture, seminars | Comments Off on Practice, Practice, Practice: Getting that Talk Right

Should I buy a lottery ticket?

Posted on 22 July 2012 by Steve Caplan

I’m not a gambler, but every once in a while a weird coincidence strikes–sometimes so weird that I wonder about my “luck,” and with such a rare and unusual event unfolding, whether it would be more likely for me to … Continue reading →

Posted in coincidence, humor, invitations, lottery, Research, science, seminars, Strange but true | Comments Off on Should I buy a lottery ticket?