James Watson Halls - Picture by Kevin Wilkins

We are sure you have all heard of James Watson but what you are about to read is not about the student halls known as James Watson, it is about the man himself. James Watson halls were named after him.

James Watson halls were named after him because of his pioneering work in the field of DNA and genetics throughout the 60’s.

He received the Nobel he has been known to be an extremely stubborn and abrasive character. He has often been criticised for his lack of sensitivity towards ethical implications of his work.

Watson has made several outrageous comments in the past, some of which include the insinuation that black people have higher libidos and has even suggested that if there was a gene that could make all girls pretty then it should be used.

The more recent uproar is in response to his comments just before Watson was due to start a week of talks in the UK at a number of institutions including the Science Museum in London.

Dr Watson told the Sunday Time’s Magazine he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa ... because all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”. Since these specific comments were made they have been widely publicised in many newspapers, leaving much room for interpretation.

Watson’s latest tour to promote his new book was due to commence in London however "The Science Museum feels that Nobel Prize winner James Watson's recent comments have gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are as a result cancelling his talk at the museum."

After the museum cancelled the talk criticism continued to flare leading Watson to make an apology. The geneticist apologized “unreservedly” for his comments and said he was “mortified” by the words attributed to him.“

This apology however came too late for Watson

“I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said,” Watson said during an appearance at the Royal Society in London.

“I can certainly understand why people, reading those words, have reacted in the ways that they have.”

“To all those who have drawn the inference from my words that Africa, as a continent, is somehow genetically inferior, I can only apologize unreservedly. That is not what I meant.

More importantly from my point of view, there is no scientific basis for such a belief.”

This apology however came too late for Watson with regard to his employment; the damage had already been done. He was suspended pending further review. Upon hearing this news Watson returned to the US; he was quoted as saying he needed to “sort out” his job.

The University named a building in 1997 after Watson as “a celebration of Professor James Watson's Nobel Prize-winning science.” However “The University does not share his views”.
“His views” however, are questionable as to their context and their real meaning.

In light of his apology and apparent rejection of the comments that have been laid at his feet we cannot ignore the fact that he appears, to all intents and purposes, to vehemently deny holding such opinions. If there was no recorded evidence of him having spoken these words then this situation may have been quickly resolved. However, such records can be found and it is certainly factual report that informs us of his rejection from the scientific world as a result of his comments.

Considering the many institutions that have disassociated themselves with James Watson and taking into account his position within the University of Portsmouth we should, as an institutional body, question whether we should be associated with him or not.

Comments have been closed for this article

 

 

I think theres much more worthy people it could be named after...

Tom (e-business) - Tue, 30 Oct 2007

 

 

I'm fairly confident that had he suggested the same thing about white people there would have been no reprecussions.

Skribla - Thu, 01 Nov 2007