English biochemist Tim Hunt has stunned attendees at the World Conference of Science Journalists in Seoul, South Korea after stating he feels men and women scientists should work in segregated labs.
The Nobel laureate, who has admitted he can be a ‘bit chauvinist’, made the controversial remarks when addressing a convention of senior female scientists and science journalists.
His reasoning?
“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 criticise them, they cry.”
The 72-year-old, who won the 2001 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine, has understandably faced a backlash from other professionals in the field since making the comments.
The Royal Society, of which Hunt is a fellow, released a statement distancing itself from the claims, adding:
“The Royal Society believes that in order to achieve everything that it can, science needs to make the best use of the research capabilities of the entire population.
“Too many talented individuals do not fulfil their scientific potential because of issues such as gender and the Society is committed to helping to put this right.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Hunt said he was “really sorry that I said what I said”, saying it was “a very stupid thing to do in the presence of all those journalists”.
He also said he didn’t regret his remark, adding:
“I did mean the part about having trouble with girls.”
