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It is with great sadness that I am doing what I would once have thought unthinkable. Following Salim Abdool Karim's superb Faraday Lecture 10 days ago, i have decided to return my own Faraday prize, awarded in 2014.

The silence of the Royal Society in the face of Elon Musk's rampage (a member of the RS since 2018) across US science is incomprehensible to me.

We must all draw the line somewhere in the face of authoritarian attacks and this is mine.
ft.com/content/877853df-1687-4…


Royal Society prize winner returns award in protest over Elon Musk

Andrea Sella is latest scientist to express dismay over UK science academy’s refusal to criticise tech billionaire
Michael Peel (Financial Times)
This entry was edited (6 months ago)
in reply to SellaTheChemist

Ruth Mottram
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Ruth Mottram
• •
I don't think congratulations is quite the right word - but thankyou for the courage to do this and to do it so publicly.
in reply to Ruth Mottram

Martin Vermeer FCD
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Martin Vermeer FCD
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@Ruth_Mottram Wow! Didn't see that coming. Sadly, not in any position to do something similar 😏
@Ruth Mottram
in reply to Martin Vermeer FCD

SellaTheChemist
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SellaTheChemist
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@martinvermeer @Ruth_Mottram We all do what we can with what we have. But is it really courage? What is the downside? I look at the people standing in front of militarised riot police, or under fire from tanks, drones and missiles and standing firm. They are the brave ones. I"m just an old guy talking the talk, hoping it nudges a few others to do the right thing. Not really brave.
The upside for me has been the outpouring of love and support. Not a single negative response online. Astonishing!
@Martin Vermeer FCD @Ruth Mottram
in reply to SellaTheChemist

Martin Vermeer FCD
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Martin Vermeer FCD
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@Ruth_Mottram I know, right? I just have my toots here. And then I send some money every month to Ukraine, which I can do as I have a good pension. Not even worth boasting about.
@Ruth Mottram
Unknown parent

Martin Vermeer FCD
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Martin Vermeer FCD
• •
@falcennial @Ruth_Mottram And of course, and perhaps more important, boasting my immigrant chops. Immigrants get the job done. Yes I'm an immigrant, and yes I look just like you. Hate me if you dare.
@Ruth Mottram @millennial fulcrum
Unknown parent

SellaTheChemist
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SellaTheChemist
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@CppGuy A surprisingly small one. 2014 was a long time ago and can't take the medal with me when I go. So why not use it to make John Lewis's Good Trouble?
@C++ Wage Slave
in reply to SellaTheChemist

Colin the Mathmo
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Colin the Mathmo
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Adding my voice to those expressing respect ... I wish actions like this were unnecessary, but the Royal Society has absolutely failed to live up to its obligations.

Kudos.

in reply to Colin the Mathmo

SellaTheChemist
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SellaTheChemist
• •

@ColinTheMathmo

A luta continua; Vitória é certa.

(with apologies to Samora Machel whose Radio Mocambique I used to listen to as a teenager)

@Colin the Mathmo
in reply to SellaTheChemist

SellaTheChemist
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SellaTheChemist
• •

A little more about why I returned the #RoyalSociety Faraday Prize, with a question for everyone to ponder. #Musk

chemistryworld.com/opinion/why…


Why I returned the Faraday prize to the Royal Society

Andrea Sella explains how inaction over Elon Musk’s membership motivated him to act
Andrea Sella (Chemistry World)
#musk #royalsociety

reshared this

in reply to SellaTheChemist

Paul Sutton
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Paul Sutton
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The reputation of the royal society has been damaged and all because they don't want to upset Elon Musk.
in reply to Paul Sutton

SellaTheChemist
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SellaTheChemist
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@zleap I agree with the first part of your statement. The second half I'm not so sure of. It's complicated.
@Paul Sutton
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