Vice-President (Students & Learning) @ Maynooth University \\ Applied Biological Anthropology \\ President of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences \\ Forensic & Scientific Advisor
A little while ago, my old colleague Nic Mitchell asked me to comment on the recent British Academy report ‘Cold spots: Mapping inequality in SHAPE provision in UK higher education’ for The University World News publication. The report discusses the increasing areas of the UK that are no longer offering social sciences, humanities, and arts …
This week has been Welcome Week here at Maynooth, and we have had over 4000 new students joining us for the start of their degrees. It’s an exciting time, and one of the busiest weeks of the year for my fantastic team. The planning for this week, and the wider Orientation programme, takes months and …
Here’s the secret if you want to get me to do something for you. Flattery. And asking for the favour months and months in advance. So far in advance, as a matter of fact, that you can see in my eyes that I’m going “Huh, that’s ages away, I have plenty of time to sort …
This post isn’t about universities. Although I do come onto them at the end. And it’s not about teaching and learning. Although we will also talk about teaching and learning by the end too. Really this post is about playing video games. You may have seen that the wonderful game The Sims is 25 years …
It’s that time of the year again when our attention is drawn to university applications. In fact, I’ve even been in the newspaper talking about it all. This year is especially exciting since our own eldest child is in the process of applying. It’s interesting seeing it from the other side and realising that I’m …
Does everybody know my name here? No, demonstrably not. I mean, I’m having to wear a name badge. Are they glad I came? Questionable. I can be a bit annoying. But I am an invited panelist, so maybe. Those of a certain age (or who have Channel 4 on in the morning while getting ready …
Look. I grew up in the 80s. When you say AI to me, I automatically think of Skynet and humanity’s desperate fight for survival. Younger me certainly didn’t expect older me to be actively thinking about how to use AI for the public good. If anything, younger me would be bitterly disappointed that older me …
I’ve only used the photo of our library cat up there as clickbait… Can you believe that last week marked three months since I started at Maynooth. I certainly can’t. Weirdly, it seems like I’ve been here for a lot longer. Which is exactly what one of the team said to me: “God. Only three …
Oh god. I’m so boring. Here’s another footballing reference on this website. I’m really going to have to find another interest. But I’m in my late 40s so I’m too set in my ways. Anyway, this is a quote from the Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand when he moved into that role and was setting …
I’ve survived my first month! Well done me. And crucially I am still in my honeymoon period, having smashed the honeymoon period of my previous job by some margin. That one lasted a mere 13 days. Not my fault, I might add. It’s always a bit overwhelming when you start a new job in a …
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