Paul Nurse, president of the Royal Society, has reignited a long-standing controversy surrounding Elon Musk's association with the prestigious organization by arguing that its fellows should not be expelled solely due to questionable behavior or ideological differences.
In an interview with The Guardian, Nurse defended the society's decision not to take action against Musk, who was elected as a fellow in 2018. Despite allegations of violating the society's code of conduct, including his role in slashing US research funding and promoting AI technology that can digitally remove clothing from images, Musk's fellowship remains intact.
Nurse claimed that the society elects members based on their scientific achievements or contributions to the field, and therefore should not be expulsed for false or misleading claims. However, he acknowledged that the code of conduct may need to be re-examined in light of recent controversies surrounding Musk's activities.
Not everyone shares Nurse's view. Several fellows have expressed support for his stance, but others have criticized him for what they see as a lack of accountability and a failure to uphold the society's values.
Chemist Prof Andre Geim, who is also a Nobel laureate, went further in criticizing the society's handling of Musk. He argued that expulsion would be "theatre" and that the society should focus on defending the conditions for science in Britain rather than engaging in a high-profile row over Musk's behavior.
The controversy has sparked criticism from within the scientific community, with some fellows expressing frustration at what they see as the Royal Society's failure to take a stronger stance against Musk's actions. Prof Peter Somogyi, another fellow, criticized Musk for promoting violent approaches to changing society and accused Nurse of avoiding a difficult issue.
Prof Rachel Oliver of the University of Cambridge has also spoken out, stressing the importance of codes of conduct that make clear that sexual harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. She warned that Nurse's comments risk empowering harassers and undermining the principles of scientific accountability.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the scientific community over how to balance the need for free speech with the need to uphold values such as respect, inclusivity, and intellectual honesty. As one commentator noted, the Royal Society's response to Musk's behavior has been "truly depressing" and has failed to provide a strong defense of scientific values in a troubled world.
In an interview with The Guardian, Nurse defended the society's decision not to take action against Musk, who was elected as a fellow in 2018. Despite allegations of violating the society's code of conduct, including his role in slashing US research funding and promoting AI technology that can digitally remove clothing from images, Musk's fellowship remains intact.
Nurse claimed that the society elects members based on their scientific achievements or contributions to the field, and therefore should not be expulsed for false or misleading claims. However, he acknowledged that the code of conduct may need to be re-examined in light of recent controversies surrounding Musk's activities.
Not everyone shares Nurse's view. Several fellows have expressed support for his stance, but others have criticized him for what they see as a lack of accountability and a failure to uphold the society's values.
Chemist Prof Andre Geim, who is also a Nobel laureate, went further in criticizing the society's handling of Musk. He argued that expulsion would be "theatre" and that the society should focus on defending the conditions for science in Britain rather than engaging in a high-profile row over Musk's behavior.
The controversy has sparked criticism from within the scientific community, with some fellows expressing frustration at what they see as the Royal Society's failure to take a stronger stance against Musk's actions. Prof Peter Somogyi, another fellow, criticized Musk for promoting violent approaches to changing society and accused Nurse of avoiding a difficult issue.
Prof Rachel Oliver of the University of Cambridge has also spoken out, stressing the importance of codes of conduct that make clear that sexual harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. She warned that Nurse's comments risk empowering harassers and undermining the principles of scientific accountability.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the scientific community over how to balance the need for free speech with the need to uphold values such as respect, inclusivity, and intellectual honesty. As one commentator noted, the Royal Society's response to Musk's behavior has been "truly depressing" and has failed to provide a strong defense of scientific values in a troubled world.
I think its a bit crazy that the Royal Society is defending Elon Musk like this 
. I mean, sure, he's a big shot in the science community and all, but does that give him free pass to be a jerk? 
I've seen some of the stuff he's done with AI tech and it just seems so shady 
. And honestly, if someone in our own communities is behaving like this, wouldn't we want to speak out against them too? 
The code of conduct thing is a good point, but can't it be re-examined to make sure its not being used as an excuse for people to get away with bad behavior? 
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. I remember when Richard Dawkins used to get roasted by the public for his views, now it seems like being a fellow of the Royal Society is a free pass to do whatever you want 
. I'm not surprised Geim and others are speaking out though - someone has got to keep the society on their toes 
. It's like they're saying "Hey, we might make mistakes, but at least we're consistent" 
. And what's with all this talk about balancing free speech with accountability? Can't they just have a good old-fashioned shouting match in the pub like my dad used to do? 
- I think it's crazy that Prof Geim is calling for the society to focus on defending science conditions in Britain instead of dealing with Musk's behavior 
. And what about the ladies, like Prof Oliver? Shouldn't they be able to speak out against harassment without being silenced? 
This whole thing is just so... complicated 
So on one hand, I get why Paul Nurse is saying what he's saying - they do have a code of conduct that focuses more on scientific achievements than behavior... but on the other hand, I'm all about holding ppl accountable 4 their actions especially when it comes to things like sexual harassment 
Prof Rachel Oliver said exactly wut I'm thinking! We need clear guidelines & consequences 4 harassers, not just a vague "theatre" excuse. And btw, what's w/ Musk promoting AI that can digitally remove clothing from images? sounds super creepy 
. Nurse's stance, while understandable from a technical standpoint, raises concerns about the potential for individuals to exploit loopholes in codes of conduct 
. It's interesting to see how fellow members like Geim and Somogyi have weighed in with differing opinions 
. Ultimately, I believe that the Royal Society needs to reassess its approach to addressing Musk's behavior and establish clearer guidelines that prioritize respect, inclusivity, and intellectual honesty 
. The scientific community can't afford to be complacent when it comes to upholding these values 
that's not how it works, guys! 
codes of conduct are in place for a reason! 
and honestly, i'm kinda with prof geim on this one... if you're gonna keep musk around, at least make sure he's being held accountable for his actions? 
, but then proceed to damage the reputation of the organization with their questionable behavior 
, not just some lip service from Nurse about re-examining the code.
. The Royal Society needs to get its priorities straight and start taking some real action 
. And Rachel Oliver is right too, codes of conduct are super important for keeping our communities safe and respectful 
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. They need to take a firmer stance and show us that they're not afraid to stand up for what's right