Female scientists were jumping on Twitter on Thursday to voice their views on the controversial comments by a Nobel Prize-winning British scientist, who spoke about his "trouble with girls" when working in laboratories.
Speaking at the World Conference of Science Journalists in South Korea, Sir Tim Hunt reportedly said: "Let me tell you about my trouble with girls. Three things happen when they are in the lab: You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them they cry."
The 72-year-old biochemist has since resigned his post as an honorary professor with University College London. He also apologized for his remarks, telling the BBC that it was a “very stupid thing” to say in front of journalists, but that “I did mean the part about having trouble with girls."
He told the broadcaster: "I have fallen in love with people in the lab and people in the lab have fallen in love with me and it's very disruptive to the science because it's terribly important that in a lab people are on a level playing field.”
He added: “I'm really, really sorry I caused any offense, that's awful. I certainly didn't mean that. I just meant to be honest, actually."
Female scientists lampooned his sexist remarks, using the hashtag #distractinglysexy, which for anyone following the thread was distractingly funny.
[For more of this story, written by Karla Adam, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/...actinglysexy-photos/]
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