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Tim Hunt

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Scientist

The Resume

    (February 19, 1943- )
    Born in Neston, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
    Birth name is Richard Timothy Hunt
    Biochemist and molecular physiologist
    Discovered cyclin, a protein that cyclically aggregates and is depleted during cell division cycles.
    Known for his research on protein molecules that control the division of cells
    Received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2001)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was criticized for remarks made at the World Conference of Science Journalists in Seoul, which some characterized as sexist.
    The comments, joking, in their specific context was as follows: '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 blowback was significant enough for him to resign from several key research and policy positions, including the European Research Council.
    He made an attempt to backtrack on the comments but also complained about the backlash, saying: 'I have become toxic. I have been hung to dry by academic institutes who have not even bothered to ask me for my side of affairs.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He has lectured regularly about the joys of scientific discovery.
    His research was a breakthrough in DNA duplication and cell division.
    His work has been invaluable in the fight against cancer.
    He was knighted in the 2006 Birthday Honours for his service to science.
    He was essentially canceled over a demonstrably sexist joke.
    His wife, although acknowledging the joke as 'an unbelievably stupid thing to say,' still defended him, saying: 'I would not have put up with him if he were sexist.'
    He was eventually able to return to public life and resume lecturing by 2017.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying