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Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Criticizes Role of Women In Labs

An anonymous reader writes: Tim Hunt is an English biochemist most notable for winning the 2001 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine. Today he's become notable for something else entirely — at the World Conference of Science Journalists, Hunt suggested science labs should be segregated by gender. He said, "Let me tell you about my trouble with girls three things happen when they are in the lab You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you and when you criticize them, they cry." As you might expect, this set off a firestorm of criticism. Many asked Hunt to treat women in labs with the same respect he is afforded, and others held it up as an explicit example of the sexism that pervades the scientific community. Hunt later issued an apology, saying, "I'm very sorry that what I thought were light hearted ironic remarks were taken so seriously, and I'm very sorry if people took offence. I certainly did not mean to demean women, but rather be honest about my own shortcomings."

5 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. I knew it! by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Today is Friday! Thanks, Dice!

    1. Re:I knew it! by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 5, Informative

      >>>> Today is Friday! Thanks, Dice!
      >> someone explain this comment to me

      Web traffic generally falls on Friday, so the theory is that Dice waits to throw a troll-worthy article, often about perceived sexism/racism, up on SlashDot on a Friday morning to keep the advertisers happy.

  2. Re:And what if he's right? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Since this DOES happen, what's the fix?

    The fix is for people to deal with it, like grown-ups. Office romances happen across the entire working population. If people are idiots there's fallout. So far the world has survived, and nothing needs to be done to fix this.

    Also, if you want to fix it, what do you do about gay people? segregate them out so you have one gay person in an all-straight office of the opposite gender? And just isolate those awkward bisexual people on their own?

    Nothing needs to be done.

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    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  3. Let this be a warning. by hey! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In a world where the Internet gives every crackpot a soapbox from which to preach to his fellow crackpots, it's not longer possible to distinguish ironic self-deprecation from a serious but deranged complaint about other people.

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  4. Re:And what if he's right? by meta-monkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, and I would need my own lab because I sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter. Ever since I was a boy I dreamed of soaring over the oilfields dropping hot sticky loads on disgusting foreigners. People say to me that a person being a helicopter is Impossible and I’m fucking retarded but I don’t care, I’m beautiful. I’m having a plastic surgeon install rotary blades, 30 mm cannons and AMG-114 Hellfire missiles on my body. From now on I want you guys to call me "Apache" and respect my right to kill from above and kill needlessly. If you can’t accept me you’re a heliphobe and need to check your vehicle privilege. Thank you for being so understanding.

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    We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.