The Matilda Effect: what an infuriating but all too familiar narrative of credit for discoveries owed to women in science being *stolen* by male colleagues who then go on to reap the recognition/profits from it and behave so appallingly.
Dear Sir Paul, Re: Royal Society Code of Conduct I am sure that many scientists have written to you about the specific question of Elon Musk’s Fellowship and whether, under the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct, his retaining that Fellowship is appropriate. I will not rehash these issues. Instead, as a female scientist with extensive experience of activities aiming to increase equality, diversity and inclusion in the engineering and physical sciences sector, I am writing to you (in a personal capacity) to ask you to reconsider the statements you have recently made in this context to the UK press about the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct and how it is applied. A 2018 report from the joint National Academies of the United States of America, concluded that “sexual harassment is common in academic science, engineering, and medicine” and that “greater than 50 percent of women faculty and staff and 20–50 percent of women students encounter or experience sexually harassing conduct in academia”. This report described codes of conduct that make clear that sexual harassment is unethical and will not be tolerated as a “powerful incentive for change”. The authors also noted that sexual harassment can have significant and damaging effects on the integrity of research. In my own praxis, I have found that clear and consistently-implemented codes of conduct that address these issues make female scientists and engineers safer, and allow them to focus more effectively on their research. For codes of conduct to have such a positive effect, it is vital that sanctions for actions which transgress the code are meaningful and substantial.
I was hence aghast to realise that in an interview with the Financial Times published on 9/1/26, you appear to have suggested that the Royal Society “should only expel fellows if their science proved “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective””. Moreover, in a further interview with the Guardian on 11/1/26 you suggested that the code “may need to be looked at again”, with the implication that your aim would be to remove the option of sanctions on Fellows for reasons not strictly related to faults or defects in their research. I suggest that changing the Royal Society’s code of conduct so that the likelihood of serious sanctions for sexual harassment is reduced, would directly endanger women who interact with the Royal Society at events or otherwise, and would provide a licence to harass to the already powerful people on whom the Society bestows fellowship. The implications of your words - that under your leadership the only infringements of the code which are likely to receive the sanction of the Fellowship being removed are those related to research misconduct - already risk empowering harassers. You stated, in the Financial Times interview, that “there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances”. Given this awareness of the possibility of bad actors in our scientific community, it is wholly irresponsible to suggest that the Royal Society would not act to sanction these people if they harass more vulnerable scientists. I am hence writing to request that you retract any suggestion that the Society’s Code of Conduct should be changed so that the only reason a Fellow might be sanctioned by the removal of their Fellowship is “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective” research. This action is necessary to safeguard female scientists, a requirement placed on the Society by safeguarding legislation and UK statutory guidance. Yours sincerely, Professor Rachel A. Oliver.
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
UK bee & pollinator populations are dropping. This is partly due to how many pesticides we use - it doesn’t have to be this way. France has banned pesticides from towns & cities. Tell the UK Government to follow in their footsteps & protect our pollinators:
action.greenpeace.org.uk/save-the-bees
Beautiful paper! Somebody should do it in then viscerosensory brainstem.
Great paper!
Edith Bülbring FRS, physiologist and pioneer in the study of smooth muscle was born #OnThisDay in 1903. Bülbring came to Britain with her family to escape Nazi Germany. She went on to have an impressive research career and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1958. #WomenInSTEM
Constanza Alcaino et al. from @ims-mrl.bsky.social present this #SymposiumReview discussing #incretin hormones and #obesity 💉 🔎
🔗 Read the article here: physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/...
An image screenshot of the i Paper news article "UK set to turn back clock on Brexit and rejoin EU's student exchange scheme from January 2027".
The right move. Young people's dreams shouldn't be limited by borders or bureaucracy.
💡 Be part of the Society’s legacy - All abstracts presented throughout the year will be published in a special 150th Anniversary Abstract Booklet, which will become part of our historical archive capturing a snapshot of physiological research in 2026 ⬇️ buff.ly/sYaWsDJ
Born #OnThisDay in 1906 was American computer scientist Grace Hopper. She was a pioneer of computer programming, developing programming languages like COBOL. She was one of the first programmers on the Harvard Mark I computer and is credited with writing the first computer manual. #WomenInSTEM
Rory’s a true highlight of the morning. Inspirational, entertaining and sobering about how much we need to do as a research community.
Nominations for the UKRN Dorothy Bishop Prize 2026 have opened!
Named after @deevybee.bsky.social, the prize, first awarded in 2022, celebrates the contributions of early career researchers to research improvement.
Nominations close 18 January 2026.
#AcademicSky #Research
'Mesmerizing spider threads' by Dr Martin J. Ramirez, captures two exceptional silk threads of the Australian net-caster spider, Asianopis subrufa.
We're excited to announce the finalists of the #RSPPhotoComp 2025! 🎉 Starting with #microimaging and overall winner, 'Mesmerizing spider threads' by Dr Martin Ramirez, capturing two exceptional silk threads of the Australian net-caster spider (sample obtained by Dr Jonas Wolff @evoimec.bsky.social).
This is wonderful and also true.
The analogies you draw, the thoughts you suddely have, the roads you pursue, the structures you comprehend, simply because a piece of art or theatre shakes you up and makes you think differently.
💡 Do you need support to develop new educational resources, conduct a pilot study or develop a new technique? Members can apply to our Education and Teaching Award or our Research and Knowledge Exchange Award for up to £10,000 in support. Find out more ➡️ www.physoc.org/grants-and-p...
I'm hiring! Come and work with me at UCL to try and understand how the brain's blood vessels go wrong and promote dementia: www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Rate your score on Factor Fexcectorn.
Well done, Scientific Reports. pubpeer.com/publications...
70 teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute & observed weekly over 5 months. 80% of spoons disappeared; spoon halflife~81 days. Communal room halflife lower than in specific labs. 250 spoons annually required to maintain 70 spoon population.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Excellent book!
Great opportunity for junior/mid career neuroscientists in Europe! Do apply!
The screening study will target hidden exposure to lead in children and lays the groundwork for nationwide testing. The initiative follows a two-year FT investigation that revealed millions of Britons may be unknowingly exposed to the toxic metal. on.ft.com/47K8Ivp
First page of Opinion piece: "Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism"
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Anyone who’s ever used emergency contraception or gains peace of mind by even having it on hand owes Dr Camp a debt of gratitude. What a force.
(Also, I just learned one reason the FDA rejected it at first was that they said the name Plan B was too glib!)
Great obit—no paywall.
Really looking forward to this
Our lab is looking for a postdoc! We have interesting projects and cutting-edge techniques such as Neuropixels Opto, Light Beads Microscopy and more. We would be delighted to receive your application. Deadline is 25 November 2025. More info here:
www.ucl.ac.uk/cortexlab/po...
Important new study from the Geranton lab. Check it out!
Analgesia through FKBP51 inhibition at disease onset confers lasting relief from sensory and emotional chronic pain symptoms | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Link to UKHSA report released today: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Link to @ThePhySoc / @wellcometrust report: www.physoc.org/policy/clima...
Great news as Prof Lidia Morawska who has done fantastic work on particulate matter and raised awareness of the fact that covid 19 can be spread via airborne route has just won a prize in recognition of her achievements
Join us on 26 Nov (12 - 1pm GMT) for a webinar sharing early findings from @UCL’s REPAIR Project, exploring structural inequities in funding, recognition & career progression.
Free to attend
Register here: www.bna.org.uk/events/ems-e...
#ResearchCulture# STEMEquity #Neuroscience #AcademicCareers
