Science cancelled again this year

Scientific debate has been cancelled once again this year, resulting in the fifth such occurrence in as many years:

The newspaper said Mr. Summers repeatedly warned audience members that he would "provoke" them, and he did. Some female scholars walked out when Mr. Summers offered speculation about why there are small numbers of women in high-level posts in math, science and engineering at most universities.

Some in attendance said Mr. Summers noted that fewer girls than boys achieve top scores in math and science tests in the late high school years. He said no one is sure why, but several listeners said he explained that women lack the "innate" or "natural" ability of men in some fields.

"Despite reports to the contrary, I did not say, nor do I believe, that girls are intellectually less able than boys, or that women lack the ability to succeed at the highest levels of science," Mr. Summers said on the Web site last night, reiterating earlier comments.

However, the Globe said Mr. Summers told a reporter that he 'might have made some reference to innate differences' between the sexes. He explained that new research shows genetics is more important than socialization as a barometer of scholastic achievement.

Panel rebukes Harvard president - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - January 20, 2005