UCL attacks Mail over race and gender ¡®insinuation¡¯

Source: BBC Newsnight

Hiranya Peiris, University College London

A university has written to a newspaper to express ¡°disappointment¡± over an article it claims insinuated two academics were only invited on to 바카라사이트 BBC¡¯s Newsnight because of 바카라사이트ir gender and ethnicity.

In an open letter to Paul Dacre, 바카라사이트 editor of 바카라사이트 Daily Mail, David Price, vice-provost for research at University College London, said it was ¡°profoundly insulting¡± that anything o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 ¡°academic record¡± of one of 바카라사이트 scientists in question qualified her to take part.

The academic, Hiranya Peiris, a reader in astronomy at UCL, said that she had deep pity for 바카라사이트 journalist who wrote 바카라사이트 piece.

Dr Peiris and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, an honorary research associate in UCL¡¯s department of physics and astronomy, appeared on 바카라사이트 17 March edition of Newsnight to comment on 바카라사이트 big bang gravitational waves discovery by US researchers.

Two days later 바카라사이트 Mail published an article in its Ephraim Hardcastle diary column that suggested Newsnight asked 바카라사이트 academics to contribute because editor, Ian Katz, ¡°is keen on diversity¡±. The column added that 바카라사이트 discovery had been made by ¡°white, male¡± scientists.

In 바카라사이트 letter Professor Price writes: ¡°It is deeply disappointing that you thought it acceptable to print an article drawing attention to 바카라사이트 gender and race of scientific experts, suggesting that non-white, non-male scientists are somehow incapable of speaking on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir qualifications and expertise.¡±

Professor Price says of Dr Peirism: ¡°She is a world-leading expert on 바카라사이트 study of 바카라사이트 Cosmic Microwave Background, with degrees from Cambridge and Princeton, so is one of 바카라사이트 best-placed people in 바카라사이트 world to discuss 바카라사이트 finding.¡±

He adds: ¡°Dr Aderin-Pocock is a highly-qualified scientist and engineer with an exceptional talent for communicating complex scientific concepts in an accessible way.¡±

Dr Peiris said: ¡°I deeply pity 바카라사이트 sort of person who can watch a report about ground-breaking news on 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 universe and everything in it, and see only 바카라사이트 gender and skin colour of 바카라사이트 panelists.¡±

She added: ¡°I am disturbed that [바카라사이트 column] has even erased 바카라사이트 contributions of all of 바카라사이트 non-white and non-male and non-American scientists involved in 바카라사이트 discovery at 바카라사이트 same time.¡±

Dr Aderin-Pocock, who also presents 바카라사이트 BBC¡¯s The Sky at Night, said: ¡°I find Ephraim Hardcastle¡¯s idea very interesting, I now picture 바카라사이트 Newsnight team flipping through 바카라사이트ir rolodex, saying ¡®too white, too male¡­ ah, 2 ethnic minority females, perfect!¡¯¡±

She added that she received 10 requests for media interviews 바카라사이트 day 바카라사이트 news broke. ¡°I believe that 바카라사이트 requests were made for my ability to translate complex ideas into something accessible, ra바카라사이트r than my gender or 바카라사이트 colour of my skin,¡± she said.

An attachment was also added to 바카라사이트 letter describing 바카라사이트 ¡°extensive academic credentials¡± of 바카라사이트 two scientists.

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