UCL governing body is divided over reinstating ‘sexist’ scientist Sir Tim Hunt

 
Split decision: Sir Tim Hunt - some say he has been the victim of a witch hunt
CSABA SEGESVARI/AFP/Getty Images

Members of the governing body of University College London are split on whether to call for the reinstatement of Nobel scientist Sir Tim Hunt, the Standard understands.

The 20 members of the UCL Council, which oversees the management and conduct of the affairs of the university, will meet in a fortnight to discuss how the case has been handled.

Some members of the Council are reportedly unhappy that Sir Tim resigned from his honorary position and want him reinstated.

But the Evening Standard can reveal at least two members who will be present at the meeting are backing UCL, which accepted Sir Tim’s resignation to send “a clear signal that equality and diversity are truly valued at UCL”.

UCL provost Michael Arthur is today expected to write to staff to explain the events that happened following Sir Tim’s “trouble with girls” speech.

Sir Tim resigned from UCL and from a senior position at the Royal Society and lost his post on the European Research Council’s science committee after calling for separate laboratories for men and women. He said “the trouble with girls” in science is that they cry when criticised and fall in love.

Brian Cox and Richard Dawkins have both called for him to be reinstated.

But it emerged today that the UCL students’ union is not calling for Sir Tim to be reinstated. A spokeswoman said: “We are glad to proactively see UCL tackling sexist behaviour. We hope they will continue in the future.

“We note it is the job of the union to lobby on behalf of students if they have been affected by these issues.”

The UCL Council can discuss anything that members bring up at its next meeting on July 9. A university source said the issue of Sir Tim is almost certain to come up, but his reinstatement is not on the agenda as it is not something Sir Tim is asking for, and because his was an unpaid, honorary role.

The chairwoman of the council is Dame DeAnne Julius, former chief economist to Shell and British Airways, while members include Baroness Warwick, former chief executive of Universities UK, and Gill Samuels, former vice-president of the Association of Women in Science and Engineering.

A straw poll of Nobel science laureates found 10 said Sir Tim had been treated unfairly, while three said the backlash was justified.

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