Discussion is the lifeblood of scientific research, but it’s often an unnerving experience to raise your hand and ask a question in a scientific seminar. The following is intended as a short self-help guide to overcome that pesky psychological hurdle…
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…is another baby, according to Ace of Base. But is there a “right” time to have kids when you’re a scientist in academia? Continue reading
I hate making mistakes. Worse than that, I fear making mistakes. The realisation that I’ve made an error – or sometimes, just the thought that I might have made an error – is enough to bring on pinpricks of sweat, an urge to run away, and a noticeable loss of composure. Continue reading
“It was a fact of life that there was no crueller master than an ex-slave” (Robert Harris, “Pompeii”). Continue reading
Do universities offer a service or a product?
This, at heart, is the existential crisis that’s been afflicting the university system over the last decade or so, maybe longer. The answer has varied from one country to another, and often in an unexpected way. Continue reading
Are young scientists being encouraged to emulate Michael Bay? Continue reading
Science may be unique in human activities in that it produces a raw material instead of a product. Continue reading
What’s the real purpose of scientific figures?
There’s a common misconception that they’re to show what we did. Continue reading
Could rugby teach scientists how to approach the review process?
On the night before the England rugby team attempt to win a first Six Nations grand slam since 2003, it seemed appropriate to have a rugby-themed posting. For those who are not fans of the game with the funny-shaped ball, bear with me… Continue reading
Total Internal Reflection 