Transcript Power point PR Dr Watson
Slide 1
Presented by
Michelle Davis
Slide 2
*James Dewey Watson,
Born Chicago Illinois 4/6/1928
*Gained place at Chicago University -age 15
*1947 –graduated degree in Zoology -age 19
*Oct 1951, age 23, began work at
Cavendish Laboratory Cambridge UK
-2 yrs later discovered ‘double helix’.
1962, with Maurice Wilkins of
Kings College LondonAwarded Nobel Prize medicine
for this work.
*1988 Watson made head of
US Human Genome Project.
Slide 3
14 oct: Sunday Times Magazine publishes Dr Watsons words,
“inherently gloomy about the prospects of Africa because all our
social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the
same as ours- testing says not really.”
17 oct : “The Independent” runs a story on Watsons theory with the
headline “Africans are less intelligent than westerners says DNA
pioneer.”
18 oct: The Science Museum cancels Watsons talk planned for 19
Oct. In a statement, museum says, “James Watson’s recent
comments have gone beyond the point of acceptable behavior.”
*That evening at Royal Society in London during a launch for his
new book, “avoid boring people” Watson unreservedly apologizes
and refers to an incorrect inference of Africa as a continent being
genetically inferior -as out of context.
Slide 4
20 oct: Watson returns to his employer, Cold Springs
Laboratory in Long Island New York and is suspended
because of his apparent views.
Several sold-out speaking engagements were cancelled, critical
articles from Britain and the American press appeared and the
bashing didn’t stop there. Many associations, the editors of
Scientific American and Wired magazine, and 100s of
bloggers ‘fumed with negative commentary’.
Not long after Watson was suspended from his
Chancellorship at Cold Springs, he let his ruined book tour
fall away and retired in disgrace on 26 Oct to his home in NY.
Slide 5
Comments started to surface about Watsons history of
insensitive and inflammatory comments. One Author writes
about collection he found in Scientific America compiling a
group of past blurbs. Some brief examples were;
--He linked sunlight to libido, -thin people are ambitious
because they are unhappy,- fat people more sexual because
of elevated levels of leptin, and so far as referring to stupidity
as a disease. Etc…
*The Centre for Life in Newcastle was planning to go ahead with
a scheduled meet on the premise it would offer public chance
to question the scientist and make up their own mind.
*Watson decided not to show.
Slide 6
Many scientist believed it was vital that Watson confront his
critics and condemned the hounding and actions towards
such a renowned scientist.
Although well known for being ‘provocative and politically
incorrect’, they still considered it sad to be silenced for a
lifetime of brilliant work because of his more unpalatable and
controversial views.
Often viewed upon as a free thinker, maverick and simply
eccentric, had led the scientific community to label him a wild
man and would “hold their collective breath” when ever he
veered from script.
Slide 7
*One colleague, Pulitzer-winning biologist EO Wilson of Harvard
University, who described him as one of the most unpleasant
individuals he had ever met-- now describes him as a firm
friend. “Today we are ‘two grand old men of biology’ and get
along really well.” Wilson said, “I have come to see him as a
very intelligent, straight, honest individual.” -- going on to
say that although he is too outspoken to become a diplomat,
he is absolutely sure ‘he is not a racist’. “I am shocked at
what happened to him.” he finishes with.
*
In fact most of the students and other colleagues were
‘shocked’ that he had said such a thing and suggested he was
misquoted.
Slide 8
*Executive PR director Jim Bono was responsible for the PR crisis.
*Friday of that week, campus had a complete lockdown, no one was
allowed to talk to any journalist and security guards picked up
any reporters and took them to PR department.
*an editorial in Newsday (Long Islands main newspaper) stated;
“ The lab condemned its chancellor and key fundraiser, but that
statement and Watson’s apology yesterday will probably not be
enough. He has to go.”
* In a few days, Watson’s career was over.
Slide 9
*Should the editor of the Independent have run the story wording it
in such a way that created such a fall out and ruined Watsons
career and life?
(“Africans are less intelligent than Westerners, says DNA Pioneer”)
*Has anyone here ever misspoken or had their words taken out of
context and used against them?
*Do you think its important to hear all viewpoints even if they are
difficult to listen to or go against what seems right?
*Has anyone here ever had an IQ test?
* At 80 years old and a lifetime of achievement, do you feel Watson
just gave up with so many separating themselves from him and
denouncing him?
Slide 10
Laura Blue- Time Magazine;
“Science has no agreed-upon definition of ‘intelligence’ either- let
alone an agreed-upon method to test it. All kinds of cultural biases
have been identified in IQ tests, for ex: If there is something
fundamental in our brains that regulates our capacity to learn and
how different experiences effect that capacity.
*Steven Rose- New Statesmen
“the question of what constitutes ‘intelligence’ is itself problematicthe word has a much broader and diverse meaning than what can be
encompassed in IQ tests.
*Robert Sternberg- Chicago Tribune
“Intelligence means different things to different cultures,” like how
well someone avoids malaria or why some people can paint and
some are agricultural geniuses, but might not be able to read.
Presented by
Michelle Davis
Slide 2
*James Dewey Watson,
Born Chicago Illinois 4/6/1928
*Gained place at Chicago University -age 15
*1947 –graduated degree in Zoology -age 19
*Oct 1951, age 23, began work at
Cavendish Laboratory Cambridge UK
-2 yrs later discovered ‘double helix’.
1962, with Maurice Wilkins of
Kings College LondonAwarded Nobel Prize medicine
for this work.
*1988 Watson made head of
US Human Genome Project.
Slide 3
14 oct: Sunday Times Magazine publishes Dr Watsons words,
“inherently gloomy about the prospects of Africa because all our
social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the
same as ours- testing says not really.”
17 oct : “The Independent” runs a story on Watsons theory with the
headline “Africans are less intelligent than westerners says DNA
pioneer.”
18 oct: The Science Museum cancels Watsons talk planned for 19
Oct. In a statement, museum says, “James Watson’s recent
comments have gone beyond the point of acceptable behavior.”
*That evening at Royal Society in London during a launch for his
new book, “avoid boring people” Watson unreservedly apologizes
and refers to an incorrect inference of Africa as a continent being
genetically inferior -as out of context.
Slide 4
20 oct: Watson returns to his employer, Cold Springs
Laboratory in Long Island New York and is suspended
because of his apparent views.
Several sold-out speaking engagements were cancelled, critical
articles from Britain and the American press appeared and the
bashing didn’t stop there. Many associations, the editors of
Scientific American and Wired magazine, and 100s of
bloggers ‘fumed with negative commentary’.
Not long after Watson was suspended from his
Chancellorship at Cold Springs, he let his ruined book tour
fall away and retired in disgrace on 26 Oct to his home in NY.
Slide 5
Comments started to surface about Watsons history of
insensitive and inflammatory comments. One Author writes
about collection he found in Scientific America compiling a
group of past blurbs. Some brief examples were;
--He linked sunlight to libido, -thin people are ambitious
because they are unhappy,- fat people more sexual because
of elevated levels of leptin, and so far as referring to stupidity
as a disease. Etc…
*The Centre for Life in Newcastle was planning to go ahead with
a scheduled meet on the premise it would offer public chance
to question the scientist and make up their own mind.
*Watson decided not to show.
Slide 6
Many scientist believed it was vital that Watson confront his
critics and condemned the hounding and actions towards
such a renowned scientist.
Although well known for being ‘provocative and politically
incorrect’, they still considered it sad to be silenced for a
lifetime of brilliant work because of his more unpalatable and
controversial views.
Often viewed upon as a free thinker, maverick and simply
eccentric, had led the scientific community to label him a wild
man and would “hold their collective breath” when ever he
veered from script.
Slide 7
*One colleague, Pulitzer-winning biologist EO Wilson of Harvard
University, who described him as one of the most unpleasant
individuals he had ever met-- now describes him as a firm
friend. “Today we are ‘two grand old men of biology’ and get
along really well.” Wilson said, “I have come to see him as a
very intelligent, straight, honest individual.” -- going on to
say that although he is too outspoken to become a diplomat,
he is absolutely sure ‘he is not a racist’. “I am shocked at
what happened to him.” he finishes with.
*
In fact most of the students and other colleagues were
‘shocked’ that he had said such a thing and suggested he was
misquoted.
Slide 8
*Executive PR director Jim Bono was responsible for the PR crisis.
*Friday of that week, campus had a complete lockdown, no one was
allowed to talk to any journalist and security guards picked up
any reporters and took them to PR department.
*an editorial in Newsday (Long Islands main newspaper) stated;
“ The lab condemned its chancellor and key fundraiser, but that
statement and Watson’s apology yesterday will probably not be
enough. He has to go.”
* In a few days, Watson’s career was over.
Slide 9
*Should the editor of the Independent have run the story wording it
in such a way that created such a fall out and ruined Watsons
career and life?
(“Africans are less intelligent than Westerners, says DNA Pioneer”)
*Has anyone here ever misspoken or had their words taken out of
context and used against them?
*Do you think its important to hear all viewpoints even if they are
difficult to listen to or go against what seems right?
*Has anyone here ever had an IQ test?
* At 80 years old and a lifetime of achievement, do you feel Watson
just gave up with so many separating themselves from him and
denouncing him?
Slide 10
Laura Blue- Time Magazine;
“Science has no agreed-upon definition of ‘intelligence’ either- let
alone an agreed-upon method to test it. All kinds of cultural biases
have been identified in IQ tests, for ex: If there is something
fundamental in our brains that regulates our capacity to learn and
how different experiences effect that capacity.
*Steven Rose- New Statesmen
“the question of what constitutes ‘intelligence’ is itself problematicthe word has a much broader and diverse meaning than what can be
encompassed in IQ tests.
*Robert Sternberg- Chicago Tribune
“Intelligence means different things to different cultures,” like how
well someone avoids malaria or why some people can paint and
some are agricultural geniuses, but might not be able to read.