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In which I ponder the new Two Cultures

Posted on 1 March 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

Given the recent trendiness of science/art/lit projects, and the grant money and audience interest they can pull in, CP Snow’s notion of ‘the Two Cultures’ is starting to feel a little bit antiquated. But I do sometimes wonder if a new division hasn’t quietly slipped in to take its place: science vs. journalism. If you squint into the distanc Continue reading →

Posted in Science journalism, The profession of science, Writing | Comments Off on In which I ponder the new Two Cultures

Tang

Posted on 29 February 2012 by Henry Gee

As you are no doubt aware I edit Futures, Nature‘s weekly foray into the many worlds of science fiction. This week’s example is a disturbing tale of computer love – just the thing for Alan Turing’s centenary year – and comes from Grace Tang, who in real life is a graduate student at Stanford. This is Ms Tang’s dé Continue reading →

Posted in from mars with love, futures, julian tang, Science-fiction, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Tang

Science: the bargain for funding

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Stephen

On the Guardian web-site today you will find a piece by myself and Imran Khan of CaSE which is a response to an attack on scientists for striking a faustian bargain with business.

Guardian Article

 

The attack was written by Ananyo Bhattacharya, who is the chief online editor for Nature and, funnily enough, a former PhD student of mine. Continue reading →

Posted in ananyo bhattacharya, Guardian, imran khan, science, Science & Politics, Science Funding | Comments Off on Science: the bargain for funding

What Next and How to Get There

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Athene Donald

Last week I visited Edinburgh University to participate in their inaugural ‘Innovative Learning Week’. Whilst many universities, though not my own, have study weeks or mid-term breaks, I haven’t come across the idea of teaching a different kind of teaching before. By all accounts it was a successful week, and those parts I saw were certainly innova Continue reading →

Posted in advice, CV, education, job interviews, Research Concordat, Science Culture | Comments Off on What Next and How to Get There

Some progress on Open Access

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Stephen

This morning there have been two very interesting developments on open access.

First, Doug Kell, Chief Executive of the BBSRC, responded on his blog to my open letter. His reply is detailed and goes some way to clarifying progress in the approaches that Research Councils will take to improve uptake of OA publishing options. I would encourage you to Continue reading →

Posted in BBSRC, Doug Kell, elsevier, Open Access, science | Comments Off on Some progress on Open Access

Hockey Pool, Week 21, wherein I fail to win

Posted on 26 February 2012 by Richard Wintle

Just a quick update on Cath’s annual hockey pool, dominated in recent years by, er, not me.

In week 21, Cath and I managed to make identical choices for all but three players – and her three different ones outperformed mine miserably. As a result, I’m still mired in third place, while modscientist and Cath duel for the top, swappi Continue reading →

Posted in Hobbies, hockey pool, miserableness, VWXPool | Comments Off on Hockey Pool, Week 21, wherein I fail to win

A roller coaster week…

Posted on 25 February 2012 by Steve Caplan

I am not usually one to walk around with a big grin on my face on Friday, glad to bid good-bye to the week at hand. No, I enjoy my work (most of the time), just as I enjoy the freedom that weekends provide for me to mop up any urgent work, and combine it with my own doings. But I admit I’m happy to see the back end of this week.

Why? Continue reading →

Posted in blackberry, e-mail, frustration, humor, iPhone, Lotus Notes, Outlook, Research, science | Comments Off on A roller coaster week…

Could this be…

Posted on 25 February 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

…the most useless list of spellcheck suggestions of all time?

tumourderived

(I’m sure a tamarind genome sequence is in the works, somewhere…)

…the worst possible weather in which to be running around collecting grant signatures from PIs in three different buildings? Continue reading →

Posted in career, drunkenness, English language, idiocy, photos, publishing, science, screenshots, Silliness, snow, technology, Vancouver | Comments Off on Could this be…

Self

Posted on 24 February 2012 by Henry Gee

It has been noted in these annals that I haven’t felt quite myself recently. However, last night, after having endured several days that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone, not even as an adventure holiday, I flipped 30mg of mirtazapine, took a nap, and woke up quite conscious that I was my ‘old self’ again, quite distinct from Continue reading →

Posted in benzedrine, citalopram, consciousness, daniel dennett, depression, drugs, mentl, mianserin, mirtazapine, Research, self, sentience, serotonin, Silliness, Writing & Reading | Comments Off on Self

The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #404

Posted on 24 February 2012 by Henry Gee

Captions invited. My own suggestion is ‘I think we’ve been stood up.’ Induction into the Grand Order of the Unicycling Girrafe (GOOFTUG) will follow any caption offered below that tickles the cockles.
IMG_5559

Posted in Canis Primus Croxorum, canis secundus croxorum, Domesticrox, Silliness | Comments Off on The Maison Des Girrafes Caption Competition #404