Latest posts

The timers they are a-changin’

Posted on 12 September 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

When my parents were visiting earlier this year, my Mum asked me why I don’t wear a watch any more.

“I just use my iPhone”, I explained.

“But don’t you miss having a watch? Continue reading →

Posted in career, grant wrangling, personal, science, Silliness, technology | Comments Off on The timers they are a-changin’

In which fantasy informs reality – and saves the planet

Posted on 11 September 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

The discussion about what fiction can do for science is best encapsulated by the often heard, emblematic plea: Where’s my bloody jetpack, then?

Okay, so the technorati may still be earthbound on Segways while they wait for the price of a Virgin Galactic trip to dip below the stratosphere, but that doesn’t mean that we all don’t secretly hope that s Continue reading →

Posted in Lablit, Science-fiction, Writing | Comments Off on In which fantasy informs reality – and saves the planet

Suburban Wildlife: Texas Spiny Lizard

Posted on 9 September 2012 by KristiV

In spite of (or perhaps because of) another very hot, dry summer here, my suburban backyard is a small refuge for a variety of insects, birds, and reptiles. Among the largest of the reptiles I’ve seen recently is the Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus), which is about seven or eight inches in length, including the tail. A handsome and Continue reading →

Posted in art journals, compost, reptiles, Texas_wildlife, urban wildlife | Comments Off on Suburban Wildlife: Texas Spiny Lizard

Listen while you work

Posted on 9 September 2012 by Erika Cule

I feel sorry for PhD students who prefer to work in silence. Most students (and postdocs) will be assigned a desk in a shared office. Lab-dwelling students cannot realistically expect a quiet working environment. Jenny describes the sounds of science:


Posted in Fun, Listen, PhD, podcasts, work | Comments Off on Listen while you work

Evaluating scientists: take care

Posted on 8 September 2012 by Stephen

A resonant blogpost is the gift that keeps on giving. One of the latest comments in my Sick of Impact Factors polemic bemoaning the corrosive effects of journal impact factors on scientific lives provided a link to a quite wonderful paper.

I missed Alexis Verger’s comment when it dropped into my blog on August 31st. By the time I had caught u Continue reading →

Posted in Impact Factors, Ronald Vale, Scientific Life | Comments Off on Evaluating scientists: take care

Were You Inspired?

Posted on 7 September 2012 by Athene Donald

When someone sticks a microphone in front of you, it is all too easy for the truth to out, despite one’s media training. I have frequently been asked one particular question during interviews, but somehow this week I didn’t nuance my answer. Confronted with the question ‘who inspired you to become a scientist?’ out came the unconsidered answer ‘no Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Rutherford, Brian Cox, Communicating Science, Dara O Briain, Martin Rees, role model, Science Culture, Will Self | Comments Off on Were You Inspired?

A new really old version of The Elements

Posted on 7 September 2012 by Bob O'H

I hope you’re all fans out Tom Lehrer (“Mr. Lehrer’s muse [is] not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste.” – NYT, apparently). Well, via those Improbable Research (“Mr. Abraham’s muse [is] not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste. Continue reading →

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Running, motivation and toys

Posted on 6 September 2012 by Frank Norman

Mo Farah, double gold medal-winning distance runner, showed us this summer how important strategy is to winning a race. He runs the race from the back of the pack and then over the last 500m or so accelerates to the front to take first place. I decided to try the same tactic recently, running in Alexandra Park (home to Alexandra Palace).  I had no Continue reading →

Posted in Android, mapping, parkrun, Running | Comments Off on Running, motivation and toys

Key Questions for Open Access Policy in the UK

Posted on 5 September 2012 by Stephen

It’s not even two months since the tectonic plates shifted underneath academic publishing in the UK. But in the few weeks since the government’s response to the Finch report and the announcement of the new open access (OA) policy of the UK Research Councils (RCUK), the ground has settled. The contours of the new landscape can be more cl Continue reading →

Posted in Alma Swan, Open Access, Peter Suber, RCUK, Stevan Harnad | Comments Off on Key Questions for Open Access Policy in the UK

Useful resources for trainees

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

As part of my new role as the go-to person for everything related to my department’s trainees, I’ve put together a list of resources that I thought some readers might also find useful or interesting. The list is posted at GoogleDocs and includes websites, books and podcasts relating to the Canadian Common CV, proposal / thesis / manuscr Continue reading →

Posted in career, communication, education, grant wrangling, publishing, science | Comments Off on Useful resources for trainees