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WOW2 – January’s Women Trailblazers and Activists, 1-10 thru 1-16 [1]

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Date: 2023-01-14

January 10, 2010 – The Royal Institution of Great Britain, founded in 1799 by the leading scientists of the day, which has supported public engagement with science since its inception, is of accused scapegoating, sexism, "injustice and skulduggery" over its treatment of Susan Greenfield, the high-profile neuroscientist who was suddenly removed as director of the institution on January 8. The RI said it had taken the decision because its "requirement for the functions of the role of director as currently defined has ceased to exist." But some members of the financially troubled institution have questioned the manner of Lady Greenfield's removal and the RI's ability to function without a well-known scientist at its head. Greenfield, who was filing a sexual discrimination claim, said that she could not comment (her case was later settled out of court). However, one RI member said that the Oxford scientist, age 59, had been unfairly blamed for poor financial decisions made by others. "The notion that Greenfield somehow overspent resources and that the RI is in trouble as a result is specious." He said it appeared that a trustee might have leaked incorrect material to the press. The member also said the membership was "outraged" over the way the chairman and trustees had behaved, adding: "There's been a lot of condescension, belittling and high-handedness, which reflects a rather brutal masculine attitude towards a vivacious woman. If Greenfield had been a man, these people would not have behaved [this] way. Greenfield has made vast improvements to what was a dusty old place and what we're seeing now are the remnants of that dust. This is an injustice." There were concerns that the RI was being led by its chief executive, Chris Rofe, rather than a scientist: "It seems absurd that a national treasure, dedicated to the democratisation of science, should now be headed by a CEO without a science background." Professor Lisa Jardine, a former member of the RI's governing council, said she did not believe the institution could function without a scientist in charge. "The post of director defines the RI and has done from [Michael] Faraday to Susan Greenfield ," she said. "It has been always a charismatic scientist supported by a membership. If you remove the post of director … the RI does not exist any more."

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/14/2147217/-WOW2-January-s-Women-Trailblazers-and-Activists-1-10-thru-1-16

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