You know it is bad. You have read about the record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires and typhoons. Hurricane Dorian is yet another tragic reminder of our worsening weather systems, driven by climate change. You know the ice is melting and sea levels are rising. For years, you have been aware that species are going extinct – 200 … Continue reading Mayday, Mayday: we’re heading for extinction. What are you going to do about it?
Originally published on DigiECR “Someone is monitoring me through my phone”. Is this a reasonable statement about modern life or a symptom of psychosis? Depending on the context, it could be either. In the age of smart egg trays, wifi enabled toasters and global surveillance, it is perhaps not unreasonable to imagine that at least … Continue reading What do giraffes and broccoli have to do with mental health research?
Although the British summer is back to rain clouds and gale-force winds, there are still plenty of other reasons to find yourself struggling with sleep. Work, money worries, British politics, or the thought of an existence without cauliflower cheese (https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/aug/12/cauliflower-shortage-uk-extreme-weather). Regardless of the reason, sleep is a fundamental need for all. Even bees struggle if … Continue reading Why a good night’s sleep is important no matter our age
The urgency of the climate crisis situation has reached its peak in the last few months, with the likes of Extinction Rebellion, Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough emphasising the importance of saving our planet for future generations. Many industries and companies have reacted and responded accordingly, introducing sustainable practices and policies to cut down on … Continue reading Fighting climate change… in the lab
Aged 12, I was a reluctant violin student. So great was my frustration with the instrument that I used to frequently picture throwing the violin against the wall and watching as the wood twisted and splintered into an unrecognisable mess. Despite the frequency and vividness of this mental image, I never acted on the thought. … Continue reading A reluctant violin student
You may have noticed that since Monday 3rd June, 2019 between the hours of 9pm and 10pm Sunday – Friday, the world seems a strangely quiet place. The answer to this lies in ITV2’s summer scheduling which importantly includes the return of love island. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, the premise is … Continue reading “It is what it is”
Photo credit: Jessica Loveday - Planet Bee Magazine The winner of the Science Comms Essay Competition for the Doctoral Academy Graduate Society (DAGS) conference was announced in April as Sarah Harbach for her article on 'Research and social responsibility'. We caught up with Sarah and asked her a few questions about social responsibility at the University … Continue reading Research and social responsibility
Almost a year has passed since I wrote a piece on my experiences of the imposter syndrome. In light of the recent media attention on the poor mental health, well-being and over-work of higher education staff and students, it feels like an appropriate time to touch base. A quick recap: imposter syndrome is a phenomenon … Continue reading Me and My Imposter Syndrome: One Year On
The world is keen to convince us that we’ve made a terrible choice by doing a PhD: “So many research scientists, so few openings for professors” “Why doing a PhD is often a waste of time” However, these headlines and articles tend to ignore the fact that there are career options other than academic … Continue reading Life Outside of Academia: Medical Writing
Last Tuesday we found ourselves winning the “Best Contribution to PGR Environment” award at the Doctoral Academy Graduate Society (DAGS) conference. It is humbling to receive such an award from the doctoral academy and to be nominated by the amazing student community. Writing about science is our way of engaging across the university, and hopefully … Continue reading The Research Hive at DAGS 2019
Research Hive 