Latest posts

The rules

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Frank Norman

Rules can help us get by in life – everyone agreeing to drive on the left probably reduces the accident rate on roads quite a bit. But rules have a tendency to take over, a bit like Lord Acton’s dictum on power. Sometimes it seems as though The Rules have become an end in themselves, rather than a means of managing activities more effic Continue reading →

Posted in Open Access, Research Councils, rules | Comments Off on The rules

The Choices Not Taken

Posted on 30 November 2014 by Athene Donald

It is all too easy to think our lives are determined by the choices we make, and of course to a large extent that is true. But it is equally true that our lives are determined by what we actively decide not to do. We know that if we make a positive choice to pursue option A and it turns out badly then we probably made a bad decision. But this may b Continue reading →

Posted in decision-making, opportunity cost, Science Culture, tasks | Comments Off on The Choices Not Taken

Science in films: Decoding Annie Parker

Posted on 28 November 2014 by Steve Caplan

It’s been a long time since I’ve actually seen a film in a theatre; the appeal of lying in bed in front of a high-resolution laptop screen when I’m too tired to think, write or even read is too great. Especially in the chill of Nebraska nights.

A few such nights ago I found a brief synopsis for a film entitled “Decoding Anni Continue reading →

Posted in Annie Parker, BRCA1, breast cancer, Decoding Annie Parker, gene inheritance, geneticist, Helen Hunt, lab lit, Mary-Claire King, ovarian cancer, Research, science | Comments Off on Science in films: Decoding Annie Parker

Why do I Always come away from Meetings Feeling a Fool?

Posted on 23 November 2014 by Athene Donald

That was the plaintive question I saw recently on Twitter (actually not from anyone I knew). There is of course the possibility the person is a fool, but my guess is that they were simply feeling that they weren’t doing as well as they imagined everyone else was in achieving their aims/contributing/being heard. Here are ten possible scenarios Continue reading →

Posted in committee meetings, experience, preparation, Science Culture, speaking | Comments Off on Why do I Always come away from Meetings Feeling a Fool?

Copyright Infringement

Posted on 22 November 2014 by Stephen

This morning I received an email from a publisher inviting me to write a chapter for an ‘upcoming hardcover edited collection’ on a topic of research to which I have made a number of contributions over the years.

I politely declined because of the terms of the copyright transfer agreement that the publisher was good enough to provide up front. I ha Continue reading →

Posted in Open Access, Scientific Life | Comments Off on Copyright Infringement

In which we despair: show and tell is alive and well

Posted on 20 November 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

I have a theory about best-selling authors. Once they have finally made their breakthroughs, they tend to get lazy.

I have noticed that subsequent novels often become longer – just eyeball your collection of Harry Potters on the bookshelf and observe the chronological increase in spine widths, like a literary Fibonacci sequence. They also te Continue reading →

Posted in Lablit, Writing | Comments Off on In which we despair: show and tell is alive and well

Cuban heat in downtown Toronto

Posted on 20 November 2014 by Richard Wintle

On a day before a major snowfall on our neighbours just over the border in Buffalo, and an infuriating mix of snow and wind in Toronto:  some photos of Cuban-Canadian singer Adonis Puentes, and legendary Cuban Tres maestro Pancho Amat. With a sizzling band, a lunchtime slice of Latin music is just what the doctor ordered. Now Buffalo’s diggin Continue reading →

Posted in Adonis Puentes, First Canadian Place, Hobbies, Music, Pancho Amat, Photography, Toronto | Comments Off on Cuban heat in downtown Toronto

Over on the sister blog

Posted on 20 November 2014 by Erika Cule

Belle Jar

Your one-stop feminist magazine


Over on the sister blog, I have written about why images of women in science are important, in reference to #thatothershirt.

About the sister blog:

Belle Jar is a collaborative feminist project, committed to smashing patriarchal norms, one day at a time. Continue reading →

Posted in belle jar, thatothershirt, thatshirt, Women in science | Comments Off on Over on the sister blog

Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

Posted on 17 November 2014 by Athene Donald

The media is full of stories around men behaving inappropriately – or worse – currently. These range from #shirtstorm in the wake of Matt Taylor’s press conference regarding the successful landing of Philae (a sad distraction from the amazingly successful landing on the comet) to the video of a woman walking through New York subje Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, harassment, philosophy, SASSY, Science Culture, sexism | Comments Off on Where Can You Speak Out Safely?

Advanced photo technology

Posted on 15 November 2014 by Frank Norman

I do love the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, but when it comes to stories about science and technology or popular culture the presenters can be exasperating. This morning John Humphrey kept calling Philae the “Mars explorer” and seemingly no-one noticed or dared to correct him.

Then he introduced an item allegedly about some new photog Continue reading →

Posted in Froth | Comments Off on Advanced photo technology