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Interviews and Expectations

Posted on 27 January 2013 by Athene Donald

Today I was very saddened to read a graphical account by a blogger writing under the name of Zinemin, of an interview for an academic post she really wanted that had gone horribly wrong. Her experience sounded appalling, and quite unlike any academic interview I have ever participated in (as interviewer or interviewee). Was she spectacularly unluck Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, job interviews, Science Culture, Unconscious bias | Comments Off on Interviews and Expectations

Canada then and now: If you are sick, see a doctor!

Posted on 26 January 2013 by Steve Caplan

I’ve been to Canada many times over the past few years, including a visit this summer to that stellar city of the prairies, the center of Canadian Siberia, Winnipeg. So cold, in fact, that while watching the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s weather map of all of Canada, Winnipeg came in at -39 degrees Celcius (like tax, wind chill factor Continue reading →

Posted in Research, science | Comments Off on Canada then and now: If you are sick, see a doctor!

In which science writer wanna-bes are given a chance at fame and glory

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

Are you a early-career cell biologist (PhD student or post-doc) in the UK with a flair for the pen? Do you like to communicate about your science using everyday words and sentences structures other than the passive voice? Or maybe you’re passionate about other areas of science outside your own lab, and would like to express them in a creative Continue reading →

Posted in Science Funding, The profession of science, Writing | Comments Off on In which science writer wanna-bes are given a chance at fame and glory

Raising Expectations: Funders Get Tough(ish)

Posted on 22 January 2013 by Athene Donald

About 18 months ago, Dame Sally Davies, the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, unilaterally raised the bar for Medical Schools wanting to apply to future rounds of funding through the Biomedical Research Centre scheme, demanding (in essence) that they obtain an Athena Swan Silver Award if they wanted their future applications to be successful. Sin Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, Equality, funding, RCUK, Women in science | Comments Off on Raising Expectations: Funders Get Tough(ish)

I AM CANADA (and so can you!)

Posted on 20 January 2013 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Those of you who share my appreciation of the peak of Western civilisation that is Twitter may have come across a series of accounts that represent a given country, with one citizen of that country taking over the account each week. I believe this trend started in Sweden, where the idea was actually initiated by the government and Stephen Colbert p Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, current affairs, drunkenness, personal, Silliness, snow, sport, technology | Comments Off on I AM CANADA (and so can you!)

Response to House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Call for Evidence on Open Access

Posted on 18 January 2013 by Stephen

In the UK the parliamentary House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology is conducting an enquiry into the implementation of the government’s policy on open access. Last Tuesday they took oral evidence from Dame Janet Finch (which you can watch here) and on 29th January they will be talking to more stakeholders including the mini Continue reading →

Posted in Finch Report, House of Lords, Open Access, RCUK | Comments Off on Response to House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Call for Evidence on Open Access

Looking Landwards

Posted on 18 January 2013 by Henry Gee

My pal Ian Whates gave up the rat race to do what he loved – write and publish SF. He’s been a regular contributor to the Futures SF series in Your Favourite Weekly Professional Science Magazine Beginning With N for some years now (that’s where our paths crossed) and a story of his even graces the current issue. His publishing hou Continue reading →

Posted in ian whates, Looking Landwards, NewCon, Science-fiction, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Looking Landwards

Like butter over too much bread….

Posted on 17 January 2013 by Sylvia McLain

Beginning of the year Forbes published its Ten Least Stressful Jobs of 2013. Number 1? University professor with a helpful salary guide – median (US) salary $62,000/year – just in case someone decides they might want to change jobs immediately. Leaving out all of the climbing up the ladder (or pole) it takes to be a professor, I am no Continue reading →

Posted in academics, stress in academics | Comments Off on Like butter over too much bread….

In which we feel the estrogen love

Posted on 17 January 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

Yesterday was a mixed day for women in science. Bright and early in the morning, I sat plugged into Skype waiting for the BBC World Service to interview me about subconscious bias against female scientists. The news hook was a piece that had appeared in the Guardian a few days earlier from an anonymous female professor talking about the most recent Continue reading →

Posted in careers, The profession of science, Women in science | Comments Off on In which we feel the estrogen love

Undue Influence?

Posted on 16 January 2013 by Athene Donald

If the newspapers are to be believed – and that’s a big if – then television has an awful lot to answer for when it comes to which university courses are over-subscribed. In quick succession last week, stories were run in the Independent claiming that the sudden increase in UCAS applications for midwifery courses was down to the BBC Series ‘Call th Continue reading →

Posted in Brian Cox, careers, Careers advice, degree choice, education | Comments Off on Undue Influence?