Loose-Lipped Laureate

utters a diversity “No-No”

Presented byMichelle Davis

Dr. James Watson*James Dewey Watson, Born Chicago Illinois 4/6/1928*Gained place at Chicago University -age 15

*1947 –graduated degree in Zoology -age 19

*Oct 1951, age 23, began work at Cavendish Laboratory Cambridge UK -2 yrs later discovered ‘double helix’. 1962, with Maurice Wilkins of Kings College London- Awarded Nobel Prize medicine for this work.

*1988 Watson made head of US Human Genome Project.

14 oct: Sunday Times Magazine publishes Dr Watsons words, “inherently gloomy about the prospects of Africa because all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours- testing says not really.”

17 oct : “The Independent” runs a story on Watsons theory with the headline “Africans are less intelligent than westerners says DNA pioneer.”

18 oct: The Science Museum cancels Watsons talk planned for 19 Oct. In a statement, museum says, “James Watson’s recent comments have gone beyond the point of acceptable behavior.”

*That evening at Royal Society in London during a launch for his new book, “avoid boring people” Watson unreservedly apologizes

and refers to an incorrect inference of Africa as a continent being genetically inferior -as out of context.

Week ‘07 that ruined Watsons reputation

The downward spiral continues

20 oct: Watson returns to his employer, Cold Springs Laboratory in Long Island New York and is suspended because of his apparent views.

Several sold-out speaking engagements were cancelled, critical articles from Britain and the American press appeared and the bashing didn’t stop there. Many associations, the editors of Scientific American and Wired magazine, and 100s of bloggers ‘fumed with negative commentary’.

Not long after Watson was suspended from his Chancellorship at Cold Springs, he let his ruined book tour fall away and retired in disgrace on 26 Oct to his home in NY.

Comments started to surface about Watsons history of insensitive and inflammatory comments. One Author writes about collection he found in Scientific America compiling a group of past blurbs. Some brief examples were;

--He linked sunlight to libido, -thin people are ambitious because

they are unhappy,- fat people more sexual because of elevated levels of leptin, and so far as referring to stupidity as a disease. Etc…

*The Centre for Life in Newcastle was planning to go ahead with a scheduled meet on the premise it would offer public chance to question the scientist and make up their own mind.

*Watson decided not to show.

residual …….fallout

Many scientist believed it was vital that Watson confront his critics and condemned the hounding and actions towards such a renowned scientist.

Although well known for being ‘provocative and politically incorrect’, they still considered it sad to be silenced for a lifetime of brilliant work because of his more unpalatable and controversial views.

Often viewed upon as a free thinker, maverick and simply eccentric, had led the scientific community to label him a wild man and would “hold their collective breath” when ever he veered from script.

Devils advocate

*One colleague, Pulitzer-winning biologist EO Wilson of Harvard University, who described him as one of the most unpleasant individuals he had ever met-- now describes him as a firm friend. “Today we are ‘two grand old men of biology’ and get along really well.” Wilson said, “I have come to see him as a very intelligent, straight, honest individual.” -- going on to say that although he is too outspoken to become a diplomat, he is absolutely sure ‘he is not a racist’. “I am shocked at what happened to him.” he finishes with.

* In fact most of the students and other colleagues were ‘shocked’ that he had said such a thing and suggested he was misquoted.

a brighter side?

*Executive PR director Jim Bono was responsible for the PR crisis.

*Friday of that week, campus had a complete lockdown, no one was allowed to talk to any journalist and security guards picked

up any reporters and took them to PR department.*an editorial in Newsday (Long Islands main newspaper) stated;

“ The lab condemned its chancellor and key fundraiser, but that statement and Watson’s apology yesterday will probably not be enough. He has to go.”

* In a few days, Watson’s career was over.

PR reactions at Cold Springs Laboratory

*Should the editor of the Independent have run the story wording it in such a way that created such a fall out and ruined Watsons career and life?

(“Africans are less intelligent than Westerners, says DNA Pioneer”)

*Has anyone here ever misspoken or had their words taken out of context and used against them?

*Do you think its important to hear all viewpoints even if they are difficult to listen to or go against what seems right?

*Has anyone here ever had an IQ test?

* At 80 years old and a lifetime of achievement, do you feel Watson just gave up with so many separating themselves from him and denouncing him?

Q&A

Laura Blue- Time Magazine; “Science has no agreed-upon definition of ‘intelligence’ either- let

alone an agreed-upon method to test it. All kinds of cultural biases have been identified in IQ tests, for ex: If there is something fundamental in our brains that regulates our capacity to learn and how different experiences effect that capacity.

*Steven Rose- New Statesmen “the question of what constitutes ‘intelligence’ is itself problematic-

the word has a much broader and diverse meaning than what can be encompassed in IQ tests.

*Robert Sternberg- Chicago Tribune “Intelligence means different things to different cultures,” like how

well someone avoids malaria or why some people can paint and some are agricultural geniuses, but might not be able to read.

Other editorial commentary