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The world of science
Never to play The Dane
Seeing the faces of the current crop of ERC Starting Grant awardees (congratulations everybody!) made me realise that I’m not an early career researcher any more. Continue reading
Our indomitable avatars
One of the most common tropes in art is about people following their dreams, or being encouraged to do so. There’ll be a scene with a chance encounter and a conversation that eventually arrives at the question: what did you want to be? Why did you stop trying? And then: Why not try now? Continue reading
Great scientists, great moustaches V (a Movember posting)
The Movember Foundation is a charity dedicating to raising awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. As part of the annual Movember event we’ve been running a series celebrating the magnificent moustaches of the men in white coats – a salute to some great minds, and the moustaches that went (just before them). Links to parts I-IV of this series can be found at the end of the posting. Continue reading
On the shoulders of ants
A salute to the also-rans. Continue reading
Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez, and the importance of narrative
Women’s tennis can show science why excellence alone isn’t the whole story. Continue reading
The best drivers, the fastest cars
Formula 1 offers a striking example of how meritocracies really function. Continue reading
Academies and academia
What connects the European Championships, PPE and ventilators, the academic career ladder, and scientific illiteracy? Continue reading
A life of service
Prince Philip, husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II of England, died on 9th April 2021. The obituaries and epitaphs, of which there have been many, have been united in noting and praising his life of service. There is however something curious about a person who was born into royalty and spent the majority of his life living in pampered opulence being celebrated for selflessness. Continue reading
Great scientists, great moustaches IV (a Movember posting)
In our 4th instalment of this series celebrating male top lip grooming, the dizzying and intoxicating variety of facial hair, and the brilliance of the people sporting it, we once again take a look at some great minds, and the moustaches that went (just) before them. Continue reading
Total Internal Reflection 