Author Archives: Austin

About Austin

Middle-aged grouchy white male. Hair greying but hasn't all fallen out yet. Spreading waistline ill-concealed by baggy jumper.Semi-extinguished physiology researcher turned teacher. Known for never shutting up. Father of two children (aged 6 and 2) who try to out-talk him. Some would call that Karmic Revenge.

Imperial measures – but measuring for what?

In which we get a glimpse of the future. And it isn’t very comforting. Somewhere else in the Blogoverse, I recently wrote that: “In Universities up and down the UK, University managers are considering the implications of the Government’s funding … Continue reading

Posted in Science policy, The Life Scientific | 15 Comments

Errm… let there be light?

In which I postulate a philosophical question… …to which the correct answer is, and will probably continue to be: “Nah. More like a whole load of hot air” Those of you who used to hang about on Nature Network, where … Continue reading

Posted in Procrastination, Science-fiction | 4 Comments

If you can’t march, write

I’m afraid I am not going to make it to the “Science is Vital” march on Saturday, so as a penance I have done two things today – spammed all my work colleagues (again) with an email exhorting them to … Continue reading

Posted in Science policy, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

DNA – letters, stories, and narratives 60 years on

One of the great “behind the scenes” histories / stories / arguments / legends of 20th century science is back in the news again this week, with the publication in Nature of an article about the re-discovery of a large … Continue reading

Posted in History, The Life Scientific | 12 Comments

The grass may be green somewhere, but the blue skies here look pretty dark

The science Interwebz here in the UK have been abuzz today with reaction to Vince Cable’s statements on this morning’s Radio 4 Today programme (listen here). Cable’s remarks were a trail to a speech he is delivering today, his first … Continue reading

Posted in Grumbling, History, Science policy | 8 Comments

Do some science, you !*!!

Back a few days now from several weeks of holiday beyond the reach of broadband – yes, such places do still exist, even in Northern Europe – and am re-adjusting slowly. I feel rather de-inspired blogwise, though. It may be … Continue reading

Posted in Humour, Procrastination, The Life Scientific | 10 Comments