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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Museum drops race row scientist | Museum drops race row scientist |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Science Museum has cancelled a talk by American DNA pioneer Dr James Watson after he claimed black people were less intelligent than white people. | The Science Museum has cancelled a talk by American DNA pioneer Dr James Watson after he claimed black people were less intelligent than white people. |
| Dr Watson, who won a Nobel Prize in 1962 for his part in discovering the structure of DNA, was due to speak at the venue on Friday. | Dr Watson, who won a Nobel Prize in 1962 for his part in discovering the structure of DNA, was due to speak at the venue on Friday. |
| But the museum has cancelled the event, saying his views went "beyond the point of acceptable debate". | But the museum has cancelled the event, saying his views went "beyond the point of acceptable debate". |
| Skills Minister David Lammy said Dr Watson's views "were deeply offensive". | Skills Minister David Lammy said Dr Watson's views "were deeply offensive". |
| He added: "They will succeed only in providing oxygen for the BNP. | He added: "They will succeed only in providing oxygen for the BNP. |
| "It is a shame that a man with a record of scientific distinction should see his work overshadowed by his own irrational prejudices." | "It is a shame that a man with a record of scientific distinction should see his work overshadowed by his own irrational prejudices." |
| We feel Dr Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate Science Museum | We feel Dr Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate Science Museum |
| Dr Watson, currently director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in New York, has arrived in Britain to promote his latest book. | Dr Watson, currently director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in New York, has arrived in Britain to promote his latest book. |
| In an interview with The Sunday Times, the 79-year-old said 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". | In an interview with The Sunday Times, the 79-year-old said 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". |
| He went on to say he hoped everyone was equal but that "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true". | He went on to say he hoped everyone was equal but that "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true". |
| A spokesman for the Science Museum said: "We know that eminent scientists can sometimes say things that cause controversy and the Science Museum does not shy away from debating controversial topics. | A spokesman for the Science Museum said: "We know that eminent scientists can sometimes say things that cause controversy and the Science Museum does not shy away from debating controversial topics. |
| "However, we feel Dr Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are, as a result, cancelling his talk." | "However, we feel Dr Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are, as a result, cancelling his talk." |
| 'Robust questioning' | 'Robust questioning' |
| The scientist has courted controversy in the past, saying that a woman should have the right to abort her unborn child if tests could determine it would be homosexual. | The scientist has courted controversy in the past, saying that a woman should have the right to abort her unborn child if tests could determine it would be homosexual. |
| Dr Watson is also due to speak in Bristol at the annual Festival of Ideas which will be hosted by Eric Thomas, Bristol University's vice-chancellor. | |
| A spokesman for the university said it respected "freedom of speech and the right of people to express their views". | A spokesman for the university said it respected "freedom of speech and the right of people to express their views". |
| But it expected "some robust questioning of Dr Watson on his ideas". | But it expected "some robust questioning of Dr Watson on his ideas". |