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

Catch a Tiger by the Toe

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Sylvia McLain

Last week Donald Sterling, former owner of the LA Clippers Basketball team was banned for life from the sport and given a $2.5m fine from the US National Basketball Association over his rather overt racist remarks. The arguments against this … Continue reading →

Posted in Jeremy Clarkson, Racism | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Spotting bad science – is it really so easy?

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Sylvia McLain

On the Interwebs – I have seen several links to this helpful PDF on How to spot bad science – a rough guide. Learning how to sniff out bad science – or really bad science reporting which is what this … Continue reading →

Posted in bad science, science communication | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Evidence-based policy? – A Week in Westminster

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Sylvia McLain

Evidence-based policy, this phrase gets bandied about so often, but it is not always clear how it is meant to be applied. Notwithstanding the desire to have scientific evidence inform things that are actually scientifically based, such as better practices … Continue reading →

Posted in evidence based, politics, Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

UK University debates, when gender segregation is OK?

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

Get real UK Universities Universities UK have issued some guidance on separating genders during debate,* apparently it is OK if the facilities are separate but equal. Women can be placed separately from men as long as they aren’t seated behind. … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic dishonesty, women in science | Tagged | 31 Comments

Where are all the damn women?

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I was lucky enough to get tickets to BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions a few weeks ago held in St. Peter’s College (Oxford) chapel. It was a great atmosphere, if you ever get the chance to get tickets to such … Continue reading →

Posted in women in science | Tagged | 6 Comments

Kids these days

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

Sunday Will Self was on BBC radio 4 giving his point of view about the youth of today. He pities them as they are being oppressed by the older demographic or as he puts it – “In my darker moments … Continue reading →

Posted in random | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

On watching my country go crazy – and why science is important

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

Like much of the rest of America (and the world) I have been watching US shutdown theatre in horror. I posted a few years ago about how I didn’t think the Tea Party was the end of Democracy as we … Continue reading →

Posted in science funding, US shutdown | Tagged | 1 Comment

On Dawkins and Ignorance

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

Racism – it exists.  It’s not easy to talk about, it’s something most of us don’t want to talk about in the hope it will just go away.  It hasn’t.  I find it awkward to talk about it myself, largely … Continue reading →

Posted in richard dawkins | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Scientific road maps for the future – proceed with caution.

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I spent the last week at the ICNS (International Conference of Neutron Scattering) in Edinburgh. This particular conference is only held every 4 years – bouncing back and forth between North America, Europe and Oceania. It is particularly fun, when … Continue reading →

Posted in impact, science communication | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Richard Dawkins – man of literacy (you only need the special key)

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I try to ignore Richard Dawkins, I really do. I think his stance on religion vs. science is a misinterpretation of how science works – apples and oranges and all that. This week on Twitter, the man had some sort … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, richard dawkins, Stephen J Gould | Tagged , , | 21 Comments