Nobel Prize winning scientist resigns after sparking sexism row

A Nobel prize winner has resigned from his position as an honorary professor with University College London’s (UCL) Faculty of Life following comments made about female scientists.

Speaking at the World Conference of Science Journalists, held in Seoul, South Korea, Tim Hunt 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 criticise them – they cry.” The event was held in honour of women in science on June 9^th.

The comments were reported by online by Connie St Louis, a Science Sournalism Lecturer at UCL. Careers in science are still dominated by men, with only 13% of workers being women.

Hunt later apologised on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, but arguably made things worse: “I’m really sorry that I said what I said. It was a very stupid thing to do in presence of all those journalists. And what was intended was a sort of light-hearted, ironic comment … was apparently interpreted deadly seriously by my audience. But what I said was quite accurately reported.