Category Archives: science funding

In which the postdoc sell-by date continues to shrivel: The MRC comes to its senses

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Jennifer Rohn

How do you judge the worth of a researcher? In particular, can you tell how excellent she is by how quickly she gets from point A to point B in her career? The funding bodies used to think speed was … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, science funding, Staring into the abyss, The profession of science, Women in science | 1 Comment

In which UK science funding faces a sudden new peril

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin recently mocked the United Kingdom for being a “small island” to which no one paid any heed. He is clearly not familiar with the UK’s impressive scientific reputation on the world stage: with just 1% … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, science funding, Science is Vital | 3 Comments

In which we reach the brink – chemists add their voices

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

As 26 June draws nigh, I’m starting to get a little nervous about the outcome of the UK Treasury’s decision on the 2015-2016 budget, which will decide how much public spending will be allocated to the science budget. Science is … Continue reading →

Posted in science funding, Science is Vital | 4 Comments

In which I dream of going viral

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

In a post I wrote over on the Guardian yesterday, I made the comparison between early-career researchers and unknown musicians: But how does a younger scientist with a shorter track record, whose “excellence” might not yet be apparent, get his … Continue reading →

Posted in Health and safety gone mad, science funding, The profession of science | 14 Comments

In which science writer wanna-bes are given a chance at fame and glory

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

Are you a early-career cell biologist (PhD student or post-doc) in the UK with a flair for the pen? Do you like to communicate about your science using everyday words and sentences structures other than the passive voice? Or maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in science funding, The profession of science, Writing | Comments Off on In which science writer wanna-bes are given a chance at fame and glory

In which science policy suits up

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

What must Britain do to retain its global scientific reputation in a changing world? This evening at the Royal Society, various men of science, industry and politics gave us their opinion (“UK Research: Building Bridges, Building Prosperity”). These included the … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy, Politics, science funding, Science is Vital, The profession of science | 17 Comments

In which we look to the horizon: science is more vital than ever

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

When Science Is Vital joined with hundreds of other organizations to successfully fend off threatened cuts to the science budget in 2010, the next Spending Review seemed aeons away. By now, of course, most scientists in Britain have heard the … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy, Politics, science funding, Science is Vital | 3 Comments

In which science funding gets personal

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

We are usually one step removed from the science that we fund. As taxpayers, we delegate to government bodies the decision about where and how much cash is allocated. Even if we give to specific charities, we can’t control which … Continue reading →

Posted in science funding | 5 Comments

In which science careers get a fair hearing

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

Once again I revisit the question broached by Science is Vital in our recent report Careering Out of Control? A Crisis in UK Science Careers. Last week I participated in a round table discussion about this very issue co-hosted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Policy, science funding, Science is Vital, The profession of science | 24 Comments

In which we lay hands on an oil tanker

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

Many of you have probably heard about the Science Careers campaign that we at Science Is Vital are currently running – which is also the reason I have not blogged for a few weeks. I’m a little in shock right … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Policy, science funding, Science is Vital, The profession of science | 9 Comments