Latest posts

From legal highs to legal supplies?

Posted on 25 June 2013 by Philip Strange

“Within five minutes I was tripping my balls off, trying to call friends for help, but I couldn’t use my phone. My heart rate was going up and I started to panic. …. I found myself in the street. The first thing I remember is being grabbed by a police officer and not knowing why. Continue reading →

Posted in 25I-NBOMe, ACMD, drugs, Guest posts, legal highs, Les Iversen, LSD, NBOMe, New Zealand, Psychoactive Substances Bill, recreational drugs | Comments Off on From legal highs to legal supplies?

All Male Invited Speakers? It’s Complicated!

Posted on 24 June 2013 by Athene Donald

Some time ago I wrote about the complexities that may underlie all male short-lists for high-powered jobs. The scientific world is also full of justified angst about the disproportionate number of men who appear on conference platforms, particularly as invited speakers. A recent paper  has analysed the situation at one particular conference, the Eu Continue reading →

Posted in all male shortlists, Equality, Hannah Dugdale, invited speakers, Julia Schroeder, Royal Society, Women in science | Comments Off on All Male Invited Speakers? It’s Complicated!

In a twist

Posted on 23 June 2013 by Cath@VWXYNot?

About ten years ago, a Dutch friend told me one of the most epic “lost in translation” stories I’ve ever heard. I re-told the story many times over the next couple of years, but hadn’t thought about it for a long time… until last week, when I suddenly found myself telling it twice in five days, both times in the contex Continue reading →

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Dogsplaining #19

Posted on 23 June 2013 by Henry Gee

Using only her eyebrows, Heidi the Dog explains the causes of the First World War.
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Gender Issues in European Academic Science

Posted on 21 June 2013 by Athene Donald

This week has seen me travelling to Vienna and Bratislava for a meeting of the European Research Council’s Scientific Council. Travelling between the two cities along the Danube by fast boat provided a rare treat of a little relaxation fitted into the normally intense work of such a committee meeting. I am still learning the ropes, getting to Continue reading →

Posted in DFG, Equality, ERC, Isabelle Vernos, Matthias Kleiner, Women in science | Comments Off on Gender Issues in European Academic Science

Present tense

Posted on 21 June 2013 by Cath@VWXYNot?

It was my Dad’s birthday a couple of weeks ago, and after some thought and some time on the Amazon website I decided to buy him the History of the World in 100 Objects book; I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the radio series (via podcast, which I listen to while looking at a photo of the object in question on the website) and knew my Dad wo Continue reading →

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Perennial publicity hound

Posted on 21 June 2013 by Steve Caplan

Well here it is. I have finally managed the ultimate in publicity stunts: wangling an interview/feature story with the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Beware of TMI–for those of you who are not so savvy with the texting lingo, that’s “Too Much Information.”

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Posted in author, lab lit, publicity hound, Research, science, scientist, writer | Comments Off on Perennial publicity hound

On leakage

Posted on 19 June 2013 by rpg

Apparently there’s a word for it.

I did it once, when I went to work at a small (and doomed) startup company in Cambridge, back in the tail end of 1997. I did it again four and a bit years ago, when I left the lab for the last time and went to work for F1000.

Continue reading →
Posted in academentia, BIS, careers, leakage, Science Is Vital, The stupid, it burns, work | Comments Off on On leakage

Null Hypothesis

Posted on 19 June 2013 by Henry Gee

I am somewhat confused by a recent post in Teh Grauniad by our colleague Athene Donald. Part of my confusion stemmed from the fact that I had walked into an argument that was already in full swing – Donald’s piece had been a riposte by this item in which it was asked why the Royal Society was seeking opinions on whether one should make Continue reading →

Posted in antisemitism, Athene Donald, gender balance, racism, Royal Society, Science Is Vital, sexism | Comments Off on Null Hypothesis

Father’s Day

Posted on 16 June 2013 by Austin

I must admit I hadn’t noticed it was Father’s Day until I switched on the computer this morning, what with us being a notoriously ‘Something’s Day’-averse lot at Chez Elliott. I was, BTW, not woken with croissants and coffee. let alone a gift certificate for a year’s subscription to Private Eye (ah well – n Continue reading →

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