CERN Scientist Suspended Over 'Unacceptable' Comments

A scientist with one of the world's most respected research facilities who says "physics was invented and built by men, it’s not by invitation” has been suspended over seemingly misogynistic comments he made during a presentation. Per the BBC, Professor Alessandro Strumia of Pisa University was speaking at an event organized by CERN when he began to rail against what he said is the increasing discrimination against men in his field, where he sees women as benefiting from "a political battle coming from outside" as well as from “free or cheaper university” and extended exam times. Per the Guardian, the audience was largely made up of female physicists, whose outrage has since been shared by CERN administrators.

"CERN considers the presentation delivered by an invited scientist during a workshop on High Energy Theory and Gender as highly offensive," the center wrote in a statement Monday. "CERN suspended the scientist from any activity at CERN with immediate effect, pending investigation into last week’s event." Meanwhile, Strumia defended his comments to the Guardian, claiming he was simply presenting "facts" that show women and men are equally represented in the field. (More physics stories.)