Author Archives: James

To Bradford, for a day at the British Science Festival, ending up at the well-preserved gem that is the New Beehive. I’m frankly envious of the various colleagues who manage to arrange their contributions to these events thus: (a) give … Continue reading →

Following up on this, I should probably note that last week I finally managed to do a research-based broadcast in which a tiny particle of the research was actually done by me. Last week’s edition of Radio 4’s Questions, Questions … Continue reading →

Iain Pears has said very nearly all there is to say on this. Thom Brooks’ email suggesting things to do about it is reproduced here. Not much to add, really, except…

Over at Whewell’s Ghost, Becky Higgitt has been pondering how far academic historians of science simply come across as a big bunch of spoilsports to general audiences who enjoy popular writing of the Dava Sobel school. We don’t believe in … Continue reading →

So, in response to the AHRC’s continuing to say nothing much you’d want to hear about this Big Society business, there is another petition – this one pointing its basal paragraphs in the direction of Rick Rylance’s head. I was … Continue reading →

Curious announcement from the AHRC today. Devoted readers will recall that body’s Important Statement of 28 March, which rebuts a confused and confusing allegation made recently in an article in the Observer. The new statement focuses, rather oddly, on repeating … Continue reading →

Apologies to anyone on tenterhooks waiting for me to discuss the Joule paddle-wheel experiment in more detail, but this AHRC/Big Society thing seems to be the only game in town at the moment. Where were we?

The humanities fishbowl has been fizzy since Sunday over hotly denied allegations that the Government has been telling the AHRC what to think (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here, and don’t come back till you’re confused … Continue reading →

I said I’d try to post some thoughts on the content of the Horizon I was in: it’s about to disappear off the iPlayer, so this seems as good a time as any. (Tip for UK university staff/students looking for … Continue reading →

I got offered my first talking-head-expert-type television appearance the same month I was appointed to a lectureship. “Flipping heck,” I thought: “proper faculty members must get telly invitations all the time.” Invitation Number Two duly turned up about six and … Continue reading →