Tim Hunt once won a Nobel Prize, but the medical researcher found himself at the center of a controversy following statements he made about women, particularly female scientists. The biochemist was delivering remarks to the World Conference of Journalists in Seoul, South Korea when he made comments that were quickly repeated on social media.
Hunt won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2001 for his work in cell reproduction. During his speech, he stated his belief that laboratories should be segregated by gender. The 72-year-old also confirmed that he has a reputation as a chauvinist.
"Let me tell you about the trouble with girls. You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them, they cry," Hunt told the crowd at the conference.
No audio recording was made of the talk delivered by Hunt, but several journalists met after the speech to create an ad-hoc transcript. This transcript was then made available to media outlets around the world.
Hunt later appeared on BBC4 to apologize for the kerfuffle, although some critics are calling the apology halfhearted.
"I did mean the part about having trouble with girls, I mean it is true that I have fallen in love with people in the lab and that people in the lab have fallen in love with me. It's very disruptive to science. I'm really, really sorry that I caused any offense, that's awful. I just meant to be honest, actually," Hunt said.
The Royal Society, of which Hunt is a member, has announced Hunt's comments on women are his alone, and that they do not reflect the views of their organization.
"[I]n 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," Royal Society officials stated on their blog.
The biochemist said his comments were meant as off-handed remarks but were interpreted too seriously by the reporters in the audience. In his apology, he stood by his remarks regarding gender segregation, which he claims is responsible for emotional entanglements. The biologist said the quest for scientific truth is hampered when valid criticisms are withheld out of fear of offending a colleague. He also stated his belief researchers in laboratories need to be on a level playing field.
Hunt was named a knight by the British government in 2006.
