How can I show critical thinking in my work [assessments]?

Communication is an integral component in the development of scientists, whether the social, physical or life sciences. As I am a card-carrying biochemists teaching students in the Biosciences, my thinking is influenced by that bias and is principally directed at students on my modules and programmes. The points I will try to make should apply…

My week’s learning [21 August 2021]

This was a week of learning, which the quieter weeks of summer allow, before the mad rush of teaching starts again, for me towards the end of September. Thus, I will reflect here on some of the highlights of the last week, with some relevant links and actions on my part. And, before I continue,…

South Africa: Cape Town

In this post: Cape Town marathon, Onse Huisie & Table Mountain Wednesday: Further travel was via Aurora and Veldrif in the forlorn hope of seeing more spring flowers, but to no avail. However, we did see some blue cranes, with the female not too keen on the advances of a male (headache?). Thursday and Friday…

South-western Africa: Richtersveld & Namaqualand

Spring “vygies”, Namaqualand Coastal Reserve, South Africa Sunday: We left our riverbed campsite (see previous post: http://wp.me/p38QtC-48) to continue south towards the Namibia/South Africa border via a quick refuel and re-stock in the zinc-mining town of Rosh Pina. The Orange river is the border at this point and we crossed over at Sendlingsdrif on a…

Trip to Namibia – week 1

This trip to Namibia and South Africa started from London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Windhoek (WDH), Namibia, via Johannesburg (JHB). It’s a 10½ flight to JHB, overnight, thus not too unpleasant, then 2 hrs. to WDH. Windhoek International airport is always an “experience” and not the most welcoming entry into a country. This was reflected…

In the news this week: Graduation

So, one of my PhD students implied that the last post was a little straight-laced, thus I have recruited some contributors: some of the BSc(Hons) Biochemistry and Biomedical Science students who graduated from the University of Surrey last week. The Graduation is held in the Guildford Cathedral and it was a tad hot. Anyway, it was the…