Nicola Jones

Today, March 11, marks one year since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic; and 10 years since the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan.  Not a particularly auspicious day. Read my musings about this, and what might come next, on Medium: https://nicolakimjones.medium.com/pandemic-nuclear-accident-whats-next-6083b6ec49f8  

Lately I have been annoyed by the number of news stories claiming to show some simple secret that some country has for successfully stamping out COVID-19. There are no simple lessons or secrets. Here's my little rant about that, and why we can't expect to figure out "how to beat a pandemic" any time soon (if at all). https://nicolakimjones.medium.com/stop-blaming-politicians-6e505215314b

It's women's history month, and international women's day. So it's perhaps interesting to note that Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca --the three powerhouses creating COVID-19 vaccines-- all have women at the helm of their vaccine teams. (Thanks to my dad, Colin Jones, for noticing this!) Let's raise a glass to Kathrin Jansen , Hamilton Bennett , and Sarah Gilbert .  Gilbert, by the way, has triplets.  Of course in 2021 we should not be any more surprised to find 3 women at the helm than 3 men... and yet... it does still seem notable, especially when one contrasts this with the frequently-reported disproportionate hit that the pandemic has made to many women's careers. (I have been lucky, with my husband taking the burden of our childcare and home schooling while I continue to work.) The contrast is interesting.