Author Archives: Sylvia McLain

About Sylvia McLain

Girl, Interrupting aka Dr. Sylvia McLain used to be an academic, but now is trying to figure out what's next. She is also a proto-science writer, armchair philosopher, amateur plumber and wanna-be film-critic. You can follow her on Twitter @DrSylviaMcLain and Instagram @sylviaellenmclain

US politics are not UK politics, don’t believe the hype!

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

and please PLEASE stop worrying about the stupid Tea Party. I have spoken to several folks in the UK about the US election results. Varying between fear and bewilderment, its a general perception that US voters are crazy and that, … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, US government, US mid-term elections 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Increased student fees are not the erosion of a welfare state

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

But rather an opportunity.. fee increases can be beneficial to both students AND universities if done the right way Student fees are set to increase from around £3,290 to, maybe, as the Browne report recommended, up to £14,000…. So many … Continue reading →

Posted in higher education, student fee increase | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Supernova – Chaco Canyon style

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

If you ever happen to find yourself in the USofA and in particular in Northern New Mexico go to Chaco Canyon. Its just cool. You might want to make sure you have a nice 4 wheel drive to get there … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaco Canyon, US National Park Service | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why is science important?

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Alom Shaha runs a webpage called “Why is science important?” where amongst other things, people, some scientists some not, give their veiws on why science is important. I wrote something for this if you care to look “Discoveries come in … Continue reading →

Posted in random, science | Tagged | Comments Off on Why is science important?

On being a ‘foot soldier’

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Or cannon fodder speaking out. In case you haven’t heard, science funding in the UK is under threat. From Paul Nurse, who said we need to fund only ‘excellent’ science to Vince Cable who thinks 45% of research in the … Continue reading →

Posted in science, UK Science policy, Vince Cable | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

On Cable, Dawkins and the Papal Visit

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

The uproar(s) seems to be largely a matter of tone… Vince Cable, his remarks are condescending in general, speaking as if scientists are just a bunch of naughty school children who want more cake off the tax-payers dime. The tone … Continue reading →

Posted in papal visit, richard dawkins, Vince Cable | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

On women in science

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

I am always in 2 minds about Women in Science. There is something about that title that reminds me of the Muppet Show and I can hear the announcement line sounding like ‘Pigs in Space’ – and it just sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in science ethics, women, women in science | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Ensuring that there really will be no jam tomorrow-

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

STOP IT GEORGE OSBORNE Shutting down research facilities today? Does this mean Jam tomorrow? No! No! No! It’s short-sighted and stupid. Even Margaret Thatcher knew that… The ISIS facility in Oxfordshire (a neutron source in danger of being ‘mothballed’) was … Continue reading →

Posted in UK Science policy | Tagged | 5 Comments

It is damn hard to admit you are wrong

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

And I don’t mean when you get the facts unequivocally wrong like in a pub quiz, you kind of have to say you were wrong when you find out Sylvia Plath wrote the Bell Jar after you claimed it was … Continue reading →

Posted in bad science, science ethics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The mythology of funding – moving UK universities into the real world

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

I have a bunch of American friends who describe themselves at Italian-Americans, mostly because they have a somewhat recent relative from Italy and they have, through this relation, some sort of connection with this ‘old world’ Italy, which usually contains … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, higher education | Tagged , | 3 Comments