Category Archives: Universities

How Much Does the Scientific Ecosystem Change over Time?

Posted on 26 January 2025 by Athene Donald

Desmond Bernal was an outstanding crystallographer. Not himself a Nobel Prize winner, he set the likes of Dorothy Hodgkin and Max Perutz on their own successful paths to that accolade. A Communist, he fell from grace during the 50’s and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in CP Snow, deficit model, Desmond Bernal, Interdisciplinary Science, Londa Schiebinger, macho, Project Implicit, Sage, Science Culture, Science Funding, social media, The Social Function of Science, Unconscious bias, Universities | Comments Off on How Much Does the Scientific Ecosystem Change over Time?

Unreactive Audiences and Pertinent Questions

Posted on 19 January 2025 by Athene Donald

Given that it is now a decade or more since I was particularly involved in research, if I am asked to give a seminar – usually to students, sometimes undergraduates, sometimes and more commonly PhD students and early career research … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Praise and Possibility

Posted on 15 December 2024 by Athene Donald

Anyone who watched the final of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing will have heard words like ‘resilient’, ‘belief’ and ‘self-confidence’ thrown in the direction of the four finalists by the judges, with all contestants having been on a ‘journey’. It got … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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When to Say Yes

Posted on 30 November 2024 by Athene Donald

I’ve been writing this blog for more than fourteen years now, incredible though that sounds, at least to me. I rarely look back at what has gone before and if I do, it’s mainly to check I’m not repeating myself. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Forum, careers, committees, deficit model, Interdisciplinary Science, learning, Londa Schiebinger, macho, Project Implicit, Science Culture, Science Funding, social media, Unconscious bias, Universities | Comments Off on When to Say Yes

How Do you Spend your Time?

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Athene Donald

Those of us academics working in UK universities will be familiar with the requirement to fill in forms every so often, accounting for how we spend our working week. Somehow we are supposed to account for every minute of that … Continue reading →

Posted in form-filling, references, Science Culture, TRAC analysis, Universities | Comments Off on How Do you Spend your Time?

Borrowing an Objective

Posted on 5 April 2015 by Athene Donald

Maybe it’s because I’m relaxed as it’s the Easter break, but when I received an email with ‘Borrowing an Objective‘ as its subject this week, my mind went into overdrive. I assumed someone was short of a goal, an aspiration … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, HE, Science Culture, targets, Universities | Comments Off on Borrowing an Objective

Going against the grain—or rather corn

Posted on 3 January 2015 by Steve Caplan

For better or for worse, US College athletics are an integral part of US society. However, maintaining a spirit of good sportsmanship should be an essential part of any athletic program. College sports have a huge impact on US universities; … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, academics, coach, college sports, Cornhuskers, education, Football, Nebraska, profane language, sports, Universities | Comments Off on Going against the grain—or rather corn

Shame. Or should that be ‘Postdocalypse’?

Posted on 25 July 2013 by Austin

Not IUPS-related tonight – but something that should concern the people there – should concern *us*. Especially the people WITH senior positions. Scientific research has a lot going for it as a job.

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IUPS Part 1

Posted on 23 July 2013 by Austin

A dispatch from the IUPS conference in Birmingham. I have to admit to some trepidation when it comes to big international mega-conferences like the IUPS (International Union of Physiological Sciences). They have never entirely agreed with me. The first conference … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday DC

Posted on 19 July 2013 by Austin

It is a pleasure to wish a Happy Birthday today to my friend Professor David Colquhoun, who, as he reaches the palindromic age of 77, is still fighting the various fights for good science – and reality in general – … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting old, History, Pseudoscience, The Life Scientific, Universities | Comments Off on Happy Birthday DC