When I first started doing experimental biology, I noticed that we only looked at males. I was in a fly lab — a very good one — and we could have looked at males or females, or both, but we didn’t. We collected female flies to mate, of course (flies need males and females to […] … learn more→

Yesterday we got a damning report on sexual harrassment and assault in Australian universities.  It’s truly harrowing reading. I’m not going to recap the report, you should read it for yourself, but one thing is clear: the research workplace is no different to many others. Sexual violence happens here. Yesterday was a difficult day around […] … learn more→

Universities in Australia have a serious problem with sexual assault and sexual harassment. The Australian Human Rights Commission’s survey, to be released today, documents that large numbers of students have experienced sexual assault and harassment. This is no surprise. National and international studies have already established that the risks of sexual and dating violence are […] … learn more→

Hey, it’s no secret we’ve got a serious problem in higher education right now. Our kids, trained from birth that they should go to college after high school, are doing their supposed duty by going to college…and getting destroyed. Many of them leave higher education with lives crushed by debt, and gaining nothing from their […] … learn more→

A recent blog by Michael Edwards, entitled “I quit! Why I am Leaving UK Academia”, cited administrators as one of the core reasons behind his move to Germany, in a bid to escape the “hell in a handcart” that UK academia was described as becoming. I wish him well in Germany. A German colleague did ask […] … learn more→

In the Communist takeovers of the 20th century, the shapers of public opinion were targeted for either control or elimination. This is understandable, as socialist ideas generally can’t stand up to any intelligent challenge…getting rid of people with an opposing point of view, particularly those who can express that view to the public, is thus […] … learn more→

Several years ago, like most of the BA graduates I’ve faced the problem of combining full-time work and studying. On the one hand, I wanted to continue my education further, on the other, I have a student loan to pay off and some other family responsibilities requiring me to work. So finally I’ve decided not […] … learn more→

Did you get where you intended to in life? Are you as healthy, wealthy and wise as you want to be? If not, perhaps the problem is a lack of motivation. Some studies suggest that motivation – rather than ability or skill – is the best predictor of educational and professional attainment. But what do […] … learn more→

The thesis-by-publication (or alternative thesis) format is becoming more and more ‘trendy’ for the modern day PhD student. This approach offers students an opportunity to write their thesis alongside writing peer reviewed publications and refining those all-important research skills. There are many excellent ‘how-to’ articles out there, but what do examiners think of alternative thesis? […] … learn more→

As this post publishes I am on my way to the Tate Summer School, the gallery’s annual professional development programme for teachers. I’ve been making this journey at this time of year since 2012. This is my sixth Summer School. Why? Because I work as a partner ethnographer, “embedded’ in the Tate  Schools and Teachers team who […] … learn more→