After nearly 40 years of service Dr. James D. Watson, 79 retired as chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), as well as from the CSHL Board on Thursday, October 25th. This announcement comes the heels of the board’s decision to suspend Dr. Watson as that result some derogatory comments he made that were published in that October 14th issue of the Sunday Times Magazine out of London.
Dr. Watson, who won that Noble Prize, with Francis Crick, in 1962 for the discovery of the DNA structure, Issued a statement that explained ,” Closer now to 80 than 79, the passing on of my remaining vestiges of leadership is more then overdue.” In 1968 he was appointed Director of CSHL then served as its president from 1994 until 2003.
In press statements issued by both Dr. Watson and CSHL it appears that that both parties are working toward highlighting the achievements of Dr. Watson and Cold Spring Harbor Lab while minimizing that attention away from the comments made by Dr. Watson to his former protégée Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe, who authored that article. It was published that Dr. Watson expressed that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all of our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours- whereas all the testing says not really”.
Neither party mentions the published comments in their statements but Dr. Watson did mention that, “The circumstances in which this transfer is occurring are not those which I could ever have anticipated or desired.” Dr. Watson issues an apology after that media publicized his remarks, but never said he was misquoted. He also mentions that thee past week’s events made him reflect on the moral values of his Scot-Irish heritage that are “guided by a faith in reason: an honest application of its messages; and for social justice, especially the need for those on top to help care for the less fortunate.”
Focusing on the progress that CSHL has made and will continue to make, both parties released statements that were words of honor and hope. Dr. Watson referred to the fact that the “Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is not one of the world’s premier sites for biological research and education.” He also mentioned that because of the laboratory and scientific advancement that answers concerning cancer as well as mental health will soon discover. As he expressed. “Finally victory is within our grasp.”
Nothing that, “Dr. Watson transformed a small facility into one of the world’s great education and research institutions,” the CSHL statement paid homage to achievements of Dr. Watson and the laboratory. His accomplishments include: initiating a program to study the cause of human cancer” and CSHL a broad cancer program, plant biology, neuroscience, and computational biology.” CSHL had also expanded its “science educational programs under Dr. Watson’s direction to include the famed Banbury Center and the DNA Learning Center that teaches middle and High School students and their teachers.”
Eduardo Meastre, Chairman of the Board of CSHL, said, “Dr. Watson had made immeasurable contributions to the Laboratory’s research and educational programs. His legacy as 1962 Nobel Prize laureate for describing the structure of DNA will continue to influence biomedical research for decades to come. The Board respects his decision to retire at this point in his career. We have great confidence in Dr. Bruce Stillman, who since 1994 has served as Director, then president, His leadership of CSHL’s 400 scientists will ensure the best environment for groundbreaking research.”
Dr. Stillman said, “Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory had been at the forefront of the research ever since it’s founding in 1890, but Jim Watson created a research environment that is unparalleled in the world of science. It was that environment that attracted me here 28 years ago. As one of the most highly rated research institutions in the world today, our many award-winning thanks to be extraordinary, young talent works here. We all owe Jim and his wife Liz a great deal of gratitude for devoting much of his professional career and all of their married life to building up Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory into leading research center. Jim’s legacy will not only include CSHL and the double helix, but his pioneering efforts that led to the sequencing of the human genome and his innovations in science writing and education...”
CSHL has served as home to a total of seven Nobel Prize-winning scientists. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private , non- profit research and education institution dedicated to exploring molecular biology and genetics in order to advance the understanding and ability to diagnose and treat cancers, neurological diseases and other causes of human suffering.
Under the terms of his retirement Dr. Watson will be able to retain his home and office, both located on the grounds of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
-Faith Rackoff
reprinted from the 11/02/07 issue of the Oyster Bay Guardian
Showing posts with label Dr. James D. Watson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. James D. Watson. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Dr. Watson Suspended from CSH Laboratories
Dr. James D. Watson, the Nobel Laureate, who helped establish Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories as a leading genetic research facility., was suspended from his administrative responsibilities as chancellor of the Watson School of Biological Sciences and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. This suspension ws a direct reaction to racist comments Dr. Watson made which were then published in the October 14th edition of The Sunday Times Magazine out of London.
In an interview with his former Protégée, Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe, to promote his new book Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science, Dr. Watson, 79, expressed that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “ all of our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours- whereas all the testing says not really.” He went on to say that while he wished that everyone were equal “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true.”
Dr. Watson , who won the Noble Prize, with Francis Crick, for the discovery of the DNA structure, has a history of making outrageous comments. In 1968, while promoting his book, The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure if DNA, he made a bold statement about the importance of a woman’s looks. Ten years ago, the Sunday Telegraph quoted Dr. Watson in reference to abortion as saying, “if you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a women decides that she doesn’t want a homosexual child , well , let her(abort the fetus).” When speaking before an audience at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2000, he spoke of a link between skin color and sex drive. Despite his continual political incorrectness no action was even taken against Dr. Watson and his legacy. Known for being outspoken, Dr. Watson admits in the October 14th article that , “ If I believe something then I’ll say it. I figure , generally , at least half the time I am reflecting common sense, which is not a lie.” Dr. Watson also claimed, “ The time is surely not far off when academia would have no choice but to hand Political correctness back to the politicians.” For friends that know and have worked with Dr. Watson his remarks were typical. In a follow up article released on October 21st on Times Online Hunt Grubbe states, “ Colleagues expect Watsons conversations to be peppered with ‘ un-PC’ comments. It is part of his character.”
As a result of his latest comments, Cold Spring Laboratory’s Board of Trustees has taken action against Dr. Watson for the first time. In an emergency trustee teleconference the board made a decision to suspend Dr .Watson. in a press release Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following statement. “ The Comments attributed to Dr. James Watson that first appeared in the October 14,2007 edition of the Sunday Times U.K. are his own personal statements and in no way reflect the mission, goals, or principles of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Board, administration on faculty. Dr. Watson is not the President of Cold Spring Laboratory and was not speaking on behalf of the institution.”
The release also wanted to reassure the public that, “ Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory does not engage in any research that could form the basis of statements attributed to Dr. Watson.”
Dr. Watson Apologizes
However after the negative spin associated with the article, Dr. Watson released a statement to the Associated press that claims “I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said.” He went on to clarify that “To all those who have drawn the inference form 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.” The Times Online reported on Friday, October 19th that the Sunday Times Magazine interview was recorded and that the publication stands behind its story.
Hunt- Grubbe released a follow up article on October 21st on Times Online that defended not only her work but also that of Dr. Watson. She wrote , “ I can’t support those few, perhaps unguarded , comments he said to me but I can say that he works tirelessly to encourage scientist from all backgrounds and countries … I am not trying to destroy a brilliant scientist and I am genuinely horrified by the response.” Her intention of the October 14th article was to show the complexity of the scientist. “ I sought a balance, one that reflected his eccentricities but also brought home the magnitude of his contribution to science and continuing devotion to disease research.”
Since the article Dr. Watson’s Britain book tour has been cancelled. Dr. Watson’s publicist Kate Farquhar Thomson states that he left England on Friday, October 19th. “ His decision to leave the country, I believe, was due to things going on at Cold Spring Harbor.”
In an interview with his former Protégée, Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe, to promote his new book Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science, Dr. Watson, 79, expressed that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “ all of our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours- whereas all the testing says not really.” He went on to say that while he wished that everyone were equal “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true.”
Dr. Watson , who won the Noble Prize, with Francis Crick, for the discovery of the DNA structure, has a history of making outrageous comments. In 1968, while promoting his book, The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure if DNA, he made a bold statement about the importance of a woman’s looks. Ten years ago, the Sunday Telegraph quoted Dr. Watson in reference to abortion as saying, “if you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a women decides that she doesn’t want a homosexual child , well , let her(abort the fetus).” When speaking before an audience at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2000, he spoke of a link between skin color and sex drive. Despite his continual political incorrectness no action was even taken against Dr. Watson and his legacy. Known for being outspoken, Dr. Watson admits in the October 14th article that , “ If I believe something then I’ll say it. I figure , generally , at least half the time I am reflecting common sense, which is not a lie.” Dr. Watson also claimed, “ The time is surely not far off when academia would have no choice but to hand Political correctness back to the politicians.” For friends that know and have worked with Dr. Watson his remarks were typical. In a follow up article released on October 21st on Times Online Hunt Grubbe states, “ Colleagues expect Watsons conversations to be peppered with ‘ un-PC’ comments. It is part of his character.”
As a result of his latest comments, Cold Spring Laboratory’s Board of Trustees has taken action against Dr. Watson for the first time. In an emergency trustee teleconference the board made a decision to suspend Dr .Watson. in a press release Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following statement. “ The Comments attributed to Dr. James Watson that first appeared in the October 14,2007 edition of the Sunday Times U.K. are his own personal statements and in no way reflect the mission, goals, or principles of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Board, administration on faculty. Dr. Watson is not the President of Cold Spring Laboratory and was not speaking on behalf of the institution.”
The release also wanted to reassure the public that, “ Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory does not engage in any research that could form the basis of statements attributed to Dr. Watson.”
Dr. Watson Apologizes
However after the negative spin associated with the article, Dr. Watson released a statement to the Associated press that claims “I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said.” He went on to clarify that “To all those who have drawn the inference form 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.” The Times Online reported on Friday, October 19th that the Sunday Times Magazine interview was recorded and that the publication stands behind its story.
Hunt- Grubbe released a follow up article on October 21st on Times Online that defended not only her work but also that of Dr. Watson. She wrote , “ I can’t support those few, perhaps unguarded , comments he said to me but I can say that he works tirelessly to encourage scientist from all backgrounds and countries … I am not trying to destroy a brilliant scientist and I am genuinely horrified by the response.” Her intention of the October 14th article was to show the complexity of the scientist. “ I sought a balance, one that reflected his eccentricities but also brought home the magnitude of his contribution to science and continuing devotion to disease research.”
Since the article Dr. Watson’s Britain book tour has been cancelled. Dr. Watson’s publicist Kate Farquhar Thomson states that he left England on Friday, October 19th. “ His decision to leave the country, I believe, was due to things going on at Cold Spring Harbor.”
-Faith Rackoff
reprinted from the 10/26/07 issue of the Oyster Bay Guardian
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