Latest posts

Unconscious Bias and the Impact on Women entering Science

Posted on 3 June 2011 by Athene Donald

This is text of the talk I gave at the Howthelightgetsin Festival at Hay at the weekend. The talk was misleadingly entitled ‘Saving Science’ by the organisers, trailed as how women can ‘save’ science, but it is really about how unconscious bias hinders women during their careers, and why we need to do a better job of nurturi Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Project Implicit, role models, stereotype threat, Unconscious bias, Women in science | Comments Off on Unconscious Bias and the Impact on Women entering Science

Geek tourism

Posted on 3 June 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I’m back, and ready to lightly and cheerily distract people from their woes!

We had a great time in England – in fact, it was our most fun visit EVAH! I’m not quite sure why it was better than previous trips, but suspect it was partly due to a good combination of people, activities, and beer, and partly due to Mr E Man knowing man Continue reading →

Posted in blog buddies, book review, drunkenness, embarrassing fan girl, family, food glorious food, Medicine, nature, personal, photos, science, Silliness, travel, UK | Comments Off on Geek tourism

Biochemical Futures

Posted on 2 June 2011 by Stephen

The fourth edition of Voet & Voet’s Biochemistry, which is currently the recommended undergraduate text on our degree program at Imperial College, weighs three thousand and thirty-nine point two four grams. It has one thousand four hundred and eighty-two pages of text and pictures (page 945 is particularly good) divided into thirty-two ch Continue reading →

Posted in biochemistry, eBook, science | Comments Off on Biochemical Futures

“Rigged”- a complex educational experience

Posted on 1 June 2011 by Steve Caplan

A few years back when I was trying to teach my children how to play chess, I came across a really great teaching aid. It was called: “Fritz and Chesster“. I am reminded of this program now because when the child or adult would try and move the Bishop in an illegal fashion, a New York accented voice would pipe up and say, “diagonally, n Continue reading →

Posted in children, content, delivery, education, Hebron, home town advantage, judges, locals, logical flow, Modern Woodmen of America, Nebraska, oration, Research, rigged, science, self-confidence, small town, sour grapes, speech contest | Comments Off on “Rigged”- a complex educational experience

Another one

Posted on 1 June 2011 by rpg

Moth

This is a classic.

Posted in moth, Science-less Sunday | Comments Off on Another one

Flutterby

Posted on 31 May 2011 by rpg

Identify this.

Flutterby

Posted in butterfly, Science-less Sunday | Comments Off on Flutterby

Making Hay

Posted on 31 May 2011 by Athene Donald

You know how it is with buses, you wait for ages and then 3 come along at once. Well that seems to be what has happened with me with debates. Not that I was consciously waiting for them, but certainly three have come along this week. The first – with Willetts – formed the basis of my last post. Then over the weekend I was involved in two in quick s Continue reading →

Posted in Communicating Science, debate, Hay Philosophy Festival, Human enhancement, Mary Warnock | Comments Off on Making Hay

In need of a distraction

Posted on 29 May 2011 by Steve Caplan

I am in desperate need of some light and cheery distraction (where’s Cath when I need her?!). For the second time in the past four months I am suffering from some kind of ergonomic misery that I seem to have inflicted on myself by over-indulging in computer-based work. The “phenotype” is severe neck pain that radiates down my right arm.

Continue reading →
Posted in allergies, cat, cat-lover, evolutionary throwback, humor, medication, pain, vengeful feline | Comments Off on In need of a distraction

Job or vocation

Posted on 28 May 2011 by Austin

I have recently been doing a bit of live on-line virtual commentating. Strange but true.

I’m not sure exactly why. Perhaps it is another of my frustrated ambitions to be a sports commentator (of which more later). Continue reading →

Posted in chess, conferences, Nerdishness, The Interwebz, The Life Scientific | Comments Off on Job or vocation

The Best Seminar?

Posted on 28 May 2011 by Stephen

What is the best seminar that you have ever attended? And what made it so good?

I pondered this question after my name appeared on the list of speakers for our internal divisional seminar series this term. I thought that, rather than give another run-of-the-mill progress report, I might have a little fun with the format. Continue reading →

Posted in communication, FMDV, Fun, presentation, Protein Crystallography, science | Comments Off on The Best Seminar?