From John Timbrell, Emeritus Professor of Biochemical Toxicology, Pharmacy Department, King's College London
Robert Winston relates how he had been ostracised at scientific conferences as a “populariser” (31 January, p 22). This sadly reflects not only the sometimes blinkered vision of one’s fellow scientists but also the reality of the organisation of British science in universities. I know of a well known popular-science writer who left employment at King’s College London because of lack of support and the pressure to publish research in preference to popular science books and articles.
I had to take early retirement from the same university in order to concentrate on publishing books (The Poison Paradox, Oxford University Press) as I was actively discouraged from doing this, ostensibly because of the demands of the UK’s Research Assessment Exercise.
And yet scientists are urged by government and others to communicate more with the public.
London, UK
