Latest posts

Altmetrics: what’s the point?

Posted on 25 September 2012 by Bob O'H

A couple of weeks ago Stephen (of this parish) generated a lot of discussion when he complained about the journal impact factor (JIF). I must admit I feel a bit sorry for the JIF. It’s certainly not perfect, but it’s clear that a lot of problems aren’t with the statistic itself, but rather with the way it is used. Basically, peopl Continue reading →

Posted in The Society of Science | Comments Off on Altmetrics: what’s the point?

AC Grayling’s college: Cult of personality or value for money?

Posted on 24 September 2012 by Sylvia McLain

This same article is posted at Guardian Higher Education - here- apologies for the dual post, it’s my fault – I got my wires crossed with The Guardian!

So I am taking it off this post – as I think that is the right thing to do… sorry!

Posted in AC Grayling, NCH, New College of Humanities | Comments Off on AC Grayling’s college: Cult of personality or value for money?

Evolution In Pictures #3

Posted on 24 September 2012 by Henry Gee

Continuing the occasional series (started here by Dr S. S. of Cambridge) in which the word ‘Evolution’ or its derivatives are found in unusual, inappropriate or downright peculiar circumstances. This one pictured earlier today from the window of a café in Cromer. All contributions welcome. Continue reading →

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In which they don’t make authorship like they used to

Posted on 24 September 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

I recently had the pleasure of helping to judge the Max Perutz Science Writing Prize competition, held by the Medical Research Council in collaboration with the London Metro newspaper. The brief for aspiring young writers was to explain why their research mattered – in a manner that could catch the eye of a harried, half-asleep commuter picking up Continue reading →

Posted in Science journalism, Scientific papers, The profession of science, Writing | Comments Off on In which they don’t make authorship like they used to

Around Downe

Posted on 23 September 2012 by Stephen
End of season 1Field walkerAutumn fruitWoodgrain 2Woodgrain 1Tree wrestling with foliage
End of season 2George & Dragon Pub, Downe, Kent

Around Downe, Sept 2012, a set on Flickr.

I visited Downe yesterday. Darwin’s home village is quite close to where I live and we like to avail ourselves from time to time of the local environs and the local (which is called the George and Dragon). I had my camera with me. Continue reading →

Posted in Darwin, Downe, Photography, science | Comments Off on Around Downe

Are you speaking?

Posted on 22 September 2012 by Steve Caplan

Another hectic month of academic juggling, teaching, grant reviews, grant writing, manuscript reviews and handling, manuscript writing and submission, handling the affairs of the departmental graduate committee and concerns of incoming students, college wide graduate council (in which I was tagged to head a subcommittee looking into enhancing stude Continue reading →

Posted in gallaudet university, humor, joni mitchell, meeting, Research, science, speaker, talk to me | Comments Off on Are you speaking?

Heroic Genius or a Distraction from Reality?

Posted on 21 September 2012 by Athene Donald

This week I strayed from my occasional home on the Guardian blogs to a mainstream print newspaper, writing a piece for the Telegraph to follow on from the Stephen Hawking Grand Design programme launch I wrote about briefly before. My given brief was to write an article prompted by the programme, which provoked me to consider the lone heroic genius Continue reading →

Posted in big science, Communicating Science, education, Einstein, Newton, Primary School Curriculum | Comments Off on Heroic Genius or a Distraction from Reality?

Sex, Violence, Aliens, Violent Sex, Violent Sex with Aliens

Posted on 21 September 2012 by Henry Gee

Sales of my SF bonkbuster Siege of Stars and the first of its sequelae Scourge of Stars are pootling along nicely, and if either of you are remotely interested in what (if anything) goes through an author’s mind while he is writing, you might consider perusing this interview with Keith Brooke of the most estimable Infinity Plus webzine and pu Continue reading →

Posted in aliens, Science-fiction, sex, siege of stars, the sigil, violence, violent sex, violent sex with aliens, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Sex, Violence, Aliens, Violent Sex, Violent Sex with Aliens

Open Access Juggernaut Hits London

Posted on 21 September 2012 by Stephen

Everyone’s talking about open access (OA). It has been a year of dramatic developments in the drive to liberate access to the research literature and the blogosphere is buzzing with excited chatter.

Well, perhaps not everyone and not even the whole of the blogosphere. It’s important not to get too carried away. Continue reading →

Posted in Alma Swan, imperial college, Open Access, RCUK | Comments Off on Open Access Juggernaut Hits London

What is it like to be a Scientist?

Posted on 19 September 2012 by Stephen

It is a year to the day since the release of my film, “I’m a Scientist“, in which six different scientists talk openly about their lives in the laboratory and what makes them tick. The aim of the film is very much to cut through the myth that all scientists are heroes and geniuses.

To mark this first anniversary and to make the fi Continue reading →

Posted in genius, hero, I'm a scientist, Science & Media, video | Comments Off on What is it like to be a Scientist?