Gender politics has warped hirings
and promotions in the world of physics to such an extent that
women less deserving than their male counterparts have got jobs
they are less qualified for, an Italian physicist claimed Friday
in a presentation that got him suspended by the CERN particle
physics lab in Geneva on Monday.
Pisa University lecturer Alessandro Strumia sought to explode
the myth that physics was biased in favour of men, but went too
far in arguing the opposite, CERN said.
Strumia said he himself had been a victim, rejected by the
National Nuclear Physics Institute (INFN) which allegedly hired
two female researchers instead of him with fewer research papers
to their name.
He also said Oxford University extended the duration of exams
in favour of women and Italy gave preferential treatment to them
in its grants for scientific subjects.
CERN said these claims were "highly offensive" and suspended
Strumia with immediate effect.
On Tuesday the INFN also suspended Strumia with immediate
effect.
It said the measure had been taken "pending the results of
inquiries into the case".
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