Academic life

Matthew Reisz talks to academics about their summer habits, while two professors and an estates director explain how they use the time

As he bins decades-old lecture notes, Ron Iphofen wonders what unused but undiscarded relics populate scholars’ shelves, discs and drives

An embarrassing incident led academic and sex blogger Katie Beswick to reflect on the risks and rewards of being open online

Pro-gun group tries to block policy allowing concealed weapons ban in offices

Matthew Reisz discovers that campuses in August may be a frenzied whirlwind of activity

Academia is used to robust debate. But the trolling that happens online should not be tolerated, writes Elaine Campbell

Centre for Macroeconomics survey finds support for ‘institutional change’ in profession

Despite a long history of trailblazing female academics, Europe's academy is making slow progress in promoting more women to senior roles, says lobby group

We talk gangsters, London crime and dodging punches with the noted ethnographer

Academia takes in some truly esoteric topics and tasks, but what are the strangest jobs? Here, five individuals with surprising roles describe their work

With retirement age approaching, ­Irritable Male Syndrome is hitting Mark Montgomery particularly, unexpectedly, hard

Matthew Reisz wanders down some of the odder byways of the university scene

A rigorous methodology is essential to manage university patent portfolios, say Bruno Reynolds and Ben Oakley from Isis Enterprise in Oxford

Vic Boyd was on the lookout for academic writing opportunities. What she found was somewhat less appetising...

We talk about the impenetrability of physics, the problem with Psi and “corporate uni bollocks”

Rather than resisting the growing emphasis on employability, academics should be seeking to drive the process, argues Benjamin Poore

Few academic department heads receive any formal leadership training when they step up into middle management, a study says

There is no shortage of ways for universities to make it easier for those with children to attend scholarly conferences, says Rachel Moss

We talk Brexit, astronaut aspirations and the difficulties of surfing in a landlocked region

Talking to the media isn’t a minefield, says Fern Riddell, but a manageable opportunity and a civic duty

In academia, and more widely, women are too easily relegated to the ‘less competent than men’ category, writes Dame Athene Donald

The ‘relatively modest’ research reputations of some senior US university leaders make their pay ‘grotesquely unmerited’, claims author of report

Having an unusual, foreign or difficult-to-say name can present challenges in UK academia, says Marta Natalia Wróblewska

Kathryn Mitchell has pledged that her university will provide leadership and practical support to help end human trafficking and bonded labour

Randy Malamud examines the fascination in a fringe academic topic

Amid the uncertainty and anxiety post-Brexit, we must be brave and reach out to and support each other, writes Rachel Moss

For those aspiring to an academic career, a PhD is the entry ticket to a world where reputation is all, says Robert MacIntosh. Here are his 10 top tips for early career researchers

Acting Aberystwyth vice-chancellor John Grattan is swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, then running a marathon to raise money for the Student Hardship Fund

Rising immigration-related costs and lack of employer support send an unwelcoming message to international staff, says Jason Danely

Hundreds of students at Europe’s largest postgraduate dental school may have been awarded the wrong marks thanks to form-filling blunders

A leading curator of ancient American art has died

We talk robots, impact and goal-scoring abilities with the University of Bath’s new data scientist

Three professors give their views on the difficulties of taking on tasks that are necessary but undervalued

Steven Vaughan has been experimenting with a new way of writing, and despite the odd bit of cheating, it’s going very well

Staff raise ‘serious reservations’ about the impact of proposal to record tutorials

An often anti-intellectual Leave campaign has triumphed, leaving scholars wondering why so many appear to distrust them

We talk to the psychology professor about diversity in higher education, academics’ civic engagement, and mindfulness

Sites like Patreon and Kickstarter allow backers to fund independent scholars, but for now, the sums are small

David Mould had to navigate cartoon lemurs and other barriers in order to help local academics study factors hindering development

There was huge support for Remain from university staff – but the public begged to differ

Progressing from junior faculty to tenured professor is extremely difficult, but following ‘action-oriented’ competencies can help, research suggests

We talk match-fixing, sporting scandal and irritating acronyms with a sports law academic

But universities are not entirely blameless for leave supporters' distrust - academics' liberal and left-wing tendencies verge on conformity, says David Matthews

It is ‘crystal clear’ that UK higher education is stronger thanks to European Union membership, says a letter signed by 103 university leaders on eve of referendum

You may say ‘the referendum isn’t about you’, but it is. German-born historian Tanja Bueltmann on her watershed moment 

Ritual dating back to 1922 seeks to remind graduates of their ethical obligations – while one business school has also adopted the idea

Doctoral supervisors are having to adapt to a new power dynamic with their students, conference will hear

Eight years ago, Carol Hay and John Kaag took the same position at the same university, and their lives since then offer fascinating insight into academic career progression 

Jillian Powers is leaving academia, and believes she is only one of many walking out the door

Staff at eight UK universities will walk out on scheduled student open days as part of pay dispute

Institutions are suffering from a ‘crisis of confidence’ in their civic engagement role, says Emran Mian in essay to help launch HE foundation

Myra Strober’s rejection in 1970 for a tenure-track position inspired a lifetime of struggle against sexism

Elena Tobolkina got the job opportunity of a lifetime at Oxford, but the cost of childcare and housing took it away

Bashir Makhoul reflects on the roots of his creativity and his academic vision for Birmingham City University

Most taking part in new scheme will withdraw their extra pension as cash, finds report

Academia, like the business world, has a long way to go in the battle for equality and must do more, says Maggie Dallman

Paper finds increased administration and policy changes are raising stress in scholars

I don’t sound like a professor? That’s your problem, not mine, writes Peter Larcombe

Report unveiled at union’s congress highlights ‘unreasonable, unsafe and excessive hours’

It can be hard to refuse a request, but scholars must do so for the sake of their well-being. Helen Kara offers advice