Latest posts

She blinded me with science

Posted on 22 July 2014 by rpg

Jenny is putting the finishing touches to a revised manuscript. I’m reading about a very interesting paper in my old field—and telling her about it.

Joshua is doomed, isn’t he?

Continue reading →
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Llongyfarchiadau!

Posted on 20 July 2014 by Athene Donald

…or ‘Congratulations’ in English. Up and down the country this is the time of year for graduation ceremonies. Proud parents, wider family and friends go along to watch their loved ones briefly smile and shake the (Vice)Chancellor’s hand, or something along those lines – such as being doffed with a hat made from John Knox’s b Continue reading →

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Cultural and academic boycotts: why the BDS movement is an embarrassment and a failure

Posted on 19 July 2014 by Steve Caplan

Recently, Pink Floyd founder and (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) BDS supporter Roger Waters publicly called on musician Neil Young not to perform in Tel Aviv, Israel. In his letter to Young, Waters wrote:

“That you would lend support to, and encourage and legitimize, with your             presence, a colonial apartheid regime, largely settled fr Continue reading →

Posted in academic boycott, anti-semitism, BDS, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Jews, none is too many, Palestinians, Roger Waters, the Guardian, The New York Times | Comments Off on Cultural and academic boycotts: why the BDS movement is an embarrassment and a failure

Shuffling Forward in Education

Posted on 16 July 2014 by Athene Donald

This week has been full of surprises in Whitehall. The departure of David Willetts was foreseen. Indeed, it has been predicted just about every time there has been a ministerial reshuffle in the recent past. He will be missed by many who thought he ‘got’ science – and other parts of the university sector too (although perhaps not the fi Continue reading →

Posted in education, michael gove, ministers, Nick Gibb, reshuffle, Royal Society, Vision for STEM education | Comments Off on Shuffling Forward in Education

In which everyday sexism depresses me

Posted on 15 July 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

Today, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, reshuffled his Cabinet in preparation for next year’s General Election. There was a lot of speculation that he would up the number of women in his inner circle, as he’s previously promised, and this is exactly what he did.

The media, desperate to stir up controversy wheneve Continue reading →

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Scientists: the same old villains and nerds

Posted on 15 July 2014 by Steve Caplan

Villains and nerds – that’s what scientists are, if you believe the media. At least the “big screen.” Finding myself in a state of near exhaustion this past month, I’ve taken the opportunity to watch a few films on ‘Netflix.’ Two very different films seem to further cement the public’s perception of w Continue reading →

Posted in films, geeks, lab lit, media, movies, nerds, public awareness, Research, science, scientists, villains | Comments Off on Scientists: the same old villains and nerds

Holiday Questions in Natural History

Posted on 13 July 2014 by Athene Donald

Last week I escaped to the Shropshire hills and blissfully allowed my brain to stop turning over matters concerning committee-work, exams, grants and other responsibilities past, present and future. Instead I have been exercising my limbs up and down the slopes of the Long Mynd and surrounding countryside and refreshing myself in local hostelries, Continue reading →

Posted in book review, neonicotinoids, ornithology, red kite, red kites, Science Culture | Comments Off on Holiday Questions in Natural History

Australia Tour 2014

Posted on 10 July 2014 by Stephen

It’s funny how one thing leads to another. The video of my Friday Evening Discourse at the Royal Institution last year caught the attention of a former colleague and produced an invitation to contribute a lecture to her plans to celebrate the International Year of Crystallography at the University of Western Australia in Perth this summer.

And then Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Protein Crystallography, science, travel, X-rays | Comments Off on Australia Tour 2014

Metrics, Fulfilment and Career Trajectories

Posted on 4 July 2014 by Athene Donald

“More effort should be done on understanding people paths. We are too much focused on processes and structures.” JP Bourguignon #esof2014

I was struck by this quote I saw on Twitter from the ERC President Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, because of course we don’t do this at all well. Too often at a departmental level we look at people al Continue reading →

Posted in academia, careers, CV, DORA, impact factor | Comments Off on Metrics, Fulfilment and Career Trajectories

My rights are bigger than your rights

Posted on 2 July 2014 by Sylvia McLain

or why corporations are now individuals

This past Monday, the US Supreme Court made a decision on Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.. Continue reading →

Posted in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Hobby Lobby, Inc., US Supreme Court | Comments Off on My rights are bigger than your rights