It is a good idea, at the close of one year, to review the past 12 months and to reflect on accomplishments, skills developed and lessons learned. Inspired by similar posts by Jon Tennant and Martin Eve, I thought that I would also write a summary of my activities and achievements in 2013, just for […]
My 2013 year in review Read More »
Why do I need a post-doctoral position? In an era when PhD students are rising in number and the amount of highly qualified early career scientists is huge, competition for post-docs are intense. These fixed-term research positions, which can be thought of as apprenticeships, are essential for scientists wishing to move to permanent positions in
How to get a post-doc Read More »
As part of GeoWeek, students and staff from Aberystwyth University Department of Geography and Earth Sciences discussed women in Geography and Geoscience. We wanted to know what challenges are faced specifically by women in science and by Geowomen, and how they can be overcome. We discussed our motivations and inspirations, gender balance in different research
What is Search Engine Optimisation? This is an exciting time to be a scientist interested in science communication. More and more academics are taking the bull by the horns and are starting up blogs and websites. Many NERC-funded research projects now have their own website. But what’s the point in having a blog if no
Search Engine Optimisation for science communication Read More »
At some point in the journey to the PhD, it is time to stop experimentation, stop data collection, stop fieldwork, and consider how to convert this huge pile of data into a PhD. It’s not easy. No one said it would be easy. But it is achievable. Here are some coping strategies that I used
Writing up a PhD thesis Read More »
Public speaking is a big part of any academic’s job (and many other jobs, come to that). Crippling nerves are debilitating, and can inhibit a speaker’s flow and presence. If you suffer from severe nerves in this way, the best advice I can give you is to a) seek professional guidance on public speaking, and
It’s good to be a little bit nervous Read More »
People often ask me how I find the time to update and maintain this website. The truth is, I make time for outreach in a number of ways.
Making time for outreach Read More »
Here is, hopefully, an informative and hopefully entertaining A to Z of all things Antarctic! A – Antarctica. The 5th largest continent in with world, with 26.5 million km3 of ice. B – Beaker [slang]. A scientist who visits Antarctica to undertake research. C – Cold. Antarctica has the coldest average temperature of any continent.
The A to Z of Antarctica Read More »
So long and thanks for all the fish Each year, SCAR (the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research) awards a few fellowships to young researchers, to allow them to visit another university and collaborate with a new team. I was lucky enough to be awarded one in 2012, which I took up this winter. And now,
Fellowships, models and outreach Read More »
Presentations are the mainstay of academic life, as well as the corporate and business world. Undergraduate students will probably need to give solo or group presentations as part of their coursework. Postgradute students will certainly have to do so. But giving a good presentation is an art, and it takes a lot of practice. I
Giving a good presentation Read More »
