Category Archives: Nostalgia

In which human scientists are losing the battle

Posted on July 25, 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

This is the year that AI in science first began to scare me. (Disclaimer: I’m not talking about machine learning, which is a useful and powerful scientific tool. I’m using the term AI here as shorthand for Large Language Models.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, AI, Nostalgia, science funding, Scientific thinking, Staring into the abyss, Students, Teaching, Writing | 4 Comments

In which the road forks and the future splinters

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

It’s that time of year when prospective undergraduates are considering their various offers to study at university. As the Admissions Tutor for a large BSc programme, I’ve been spending a lot of time fielding hundreds of queries by email. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Careers, Nostalgia, Research, The profession of science, Women in science | Comments Off on In which the road forks and the future splinters

In which I come home

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been caught in the flurry of the early-spring conference season, crisscrossing continents to take part in that most ritualistic of scientific pastimes: networking, giving talks, sliding through poster sessions, drinking bad coffee from steel … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Domestic bliss, Gardening, Joshua, Nostalgia, Research, The ageing process, The profession of science, Work/life balance | Comments Off on In which I come home

In which sadness serves a purpose

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

It’s one of those weekend afternoons when the garden is almost too beautiful. Too much. I sit here under a blanket on a deck chair in the blustery wind, trying to write, but all the songbirds have forgotten I’m here … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Nostalgia, Staring into the abyss, The ageing process, Writing | 1 Comment

In which we build the perfect scientist

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

They say it takes a village to raise a child. But I’ve been wondering recently what it takes to raise an independent scientist. Specifically, I’m thinking of the “valley of death” between a postdoc and a well-functioning group leader with … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Careers, Domestic bliss, Nostalgia, Research, Staring into the abyss, The profession of science, Work/life balance | Comments Off on In which we build the perfect scientist

In which we’ve lost the scientific argument

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Jennifer Rohn

Today in the United States, researchers are marching in Washington DC and across the country in a Stand Up for Science National Day of Action. Their problems are admittedly a lot heavier than ours here in the UK, although a … Continue reading →

Posted in Nostalgia, Policy, Politics, Science is Vital, Science talking, Students, Teaching | 1 Comment

In which I thank my stars for country living

Posted on October 4, 2025 by Jennifer Rohn

When I first moved to London in 1997, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Long hours in the lab would spill into the evening streets and underground tunnels of a city so large that you could never experience it all. … Continue reading →

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In which I make contact

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Jennifer Rohn

Back in the late Nineties, I was interning at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. During the working week, I threw myself into the lab with all the evangelical fervour of a pilgrim who had finally reached her … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic bliss, Ham radio, Nostalgia | Tagged | Comments Off on In which I make contact

In which I dream

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Jennifer Rohn

Last night I dreamt I was pipetting. It was a beautiful Gilson p200, the classic model of my formative years. The precision instrument felt reassuringly heavy and solid in my right hand. Despite its age, the movements were smooth and … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Careers, Nostalgia, Research, Scientific thinking, The ageing process, The profession of science | Comments Off on In which I dream

In which we celebrate

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Jennifer Rohn

Christmas, I argue, is a space-time continuum where the past and present layer up like sediments on the Jurassic coast. At the appointed time, old traditions are unearthed out of storage to mingle with those spontaneously invented as you go … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic bliss, Joshua, Music, Nostalgia | 2 Comments