No room for thought 3

You report that there are plans to phase out or replace some private studies with open-plan offices.

Unfortunately, building layouts do not alter social reality.

The Dr Piercemuller factor will still be at work - namely, leaving a jacket over the back of the chair and a few papers on the desk so that no one will quite be sure whether the academic in question is really around or not.

Keith Flett

Tottenham