Letter: Dead scientists

From Caroline Herzenberg

That another Iranian scientist has been assassinated is troubling (21 January, p 13). As your article points out, attempts to derail a nation’s nuclear programme by killing its scientists are a product of desperation and are counterproductive.

Both nuclear energy generation and nuclear weapons are based on mature technologies. While the targeting of specialised staff might delay such programmes, it will not stop them. The article also suggests these killings might deter young scientists; apparently that is not the case, as reports indicate Iranian university students are switching into the nuclear sciences, presumably for patriotic reasons.

Then there is the issue of blowback, or unintended consequences. The Iranian government holds Israel and/or the US responsible. These killings may put US and Israeli scientists at risk of assassination. Will US scientists avoid going abroad because of this?

We should be having a thorough discussion about the assassination of scientists and its future impact on science. Your article has done us all a favour by initiating this.

Chicago, Illinois, US