Latest posts

Flowers for Algae-non?

Posted on 13 August 2016 by Steve Caplan

I am delighted to report that I am now happily entrenched in my new environment–just 2 miles west of my previous home–here at the western edge of the city of Omaha. “Chez Ginger,” as we have named our new place (after Ginger the dog), came from a desire of an already-suburban midwest family to live in close proximity of walk Continue reading →

Posted in algae, algal bloom, lake, omaha, science, wildlife | Comments Off on Flowers for Algae-non?

Playing to Your Strengths

Posted on 10 August 2016 by Athene Donald

With many fresh graduates on the market seeking jobs, the Independent recently ran an article on interview tips. They were at the basic level. Fair enough for those people who’ve never had to endure such an experience before: be on time, don’t panic, do your research, be positive not aggressive and answer the questions. One can’t fault these wise s Continue reading →

Posted in careers, interview panels, job interviews, Science Culture | Comments Off on Playing to Your Strengths

ReCon 2016 – my favourite small conference

Posted on 9 August 2016 by Frank Norman

ReCon has become my favourite small conference about publishing and research. It’s held each June in Edinburgh. I attended it in 2015 and really enjoyed it. There were stimulating presentations on non-trivial topics, and plenty of interesting conversations over coffee and lunch. So I went again this year with high expectations that were not disappo Continue reading →

Posted in conference, data visualisation, Information skills, Journal publishing, Research data, Research tools, scholarly communications, software tools | Comments Off on ReCon 2016 – my favourite small conference

Women on the Platform

Posted on 4 August 2016 by Athene Donald

Too often one hears of — or attends in person — conferences where all (or nearly all) of the invited and keynote speakers are male. It is dispiriting every time one comes across such an occasion. It isn’t as if people have not had their attention drawn to this form of unconscious bias when a programme is drawn up, since it is so often highlighted, Continue reading →

Posted in burden, committees, conference, keynote speaker, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on Women on the Platform

ICYMI No. 6: What is the meaning of Brexit?

Posted on 4 August 2016 by Stephen

Today EMBO Reports has published my commentary on the implications for scientific research of Britain’s recent decision to leave the EU. Although it should be freely available, the piece is  temporarily stuck behind a paywall. So, for those without a subscription, here is the full text. I’ll update this post once the paywall has been li Continue reading →

Posted in ICYMI, international, Science & Politics, Science policy | Comments Off on ICYMI No. 6: What is the meaning of Brexit?

Self promotion

Posted on 31 July 2016 by Erika Cule
Self-promotion via Bad Science Jokes

Self-promotion
via Bad Science Jokes

I do find the trope that women do not self-promote tiresome. If I self-promote, does this mean that I am not a woman? ?

It is not in my nature to do disco moves in a lab, but I do admit to having done some stuff. Continue reading →

Posted in Meta, self-promotion; women in science, Women in science | Comments Off on Self promotion

Being Stern about Portability

Posted on 28 July 2016 by Athene Donald

Most people seem to think the Stern Review of the REF (Building on Success and Learning from Experience), published today, has done a fine job, with (if my Twitter stream is to be believed) the exception of the issue of the portability of outputs. The interpretation being put on it is that this will somehow disadvantage early career researchers (EC Continue reading →

Posted in ECRs, Lord Stern, REF, Research, research outputs | Comments Off on Being Stern about Portability

Keeping Track

Posted on 24 July 2016 by Athene Donald

I am a great believer in Post-it notes.  Every room in which I work (perhaps embarrassingly there are three: in the Department, the College and my home in the Master’s Lodge) has torn off Post-it notes scattered around and a selection of virgin pads of different sizes to hand. This is how I scribble down those tasks I mustn’t forget to do. I don’t Continue reading →

Posted in office tidiness, post-it notes, Science Culture, to do list | Comments Off on Keeping Track

Why Side-line the Women?

Posted on 20 July 2016 by Athene Donald

‘I bumped into my supervisor on the stairs when I was with X [my fellow postdoc]. I might as well have been invisible, he didn’t address a word to me. It really hurt.’

So wrote a young female postdoc during an extremely miserable couple of years working in the USA. Continue reading →

Posted in job share, mommy track, motherhood, part-time, Women in science | Comments Off on Why Side-line the Women?

Politicians, Leadership and Academia

Posted on 14 July 2016 by Athene Donald

We now have a new Prime Minister. A woman. I well remember  a young relative saying to me as Margaret Thatcher stood down ‘Was it possible to have a male prime minister?’ Well yes, and history tells us this is rather commoner than a woman.  Over the past couple of weeks looking at our political ‘leaders’ fail to lead has been an unedifying process. Continue reading →

Posted in emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, leadership, Science Culture, TEF | Comments Off on Politicians, Leadership and Academia