Anger at Nobel Prize winner's comments on 'the problem with women' in the lab

The Royal Society has distanced itself from one of its members after he made a series of sexist comments about female scientists.

Former Nobel Prize winner Tim Hunt told an audience at the World Conference of Science Journalists that the problem with women in the laboratory is that "when you criticise them they cry".

The comments prompted the society to reaffirm that "science needs women".

According to conference attendee Connie St Louis, Sir Tim remarked: "Let me tell you about my trouble with girls. Three things happen when they are in the lab: you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them they cry."

Sir Tim apologised for his comments today and said his comments were meant to be humorous.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme he said: "I did mean the part about having trouble with girls. It is true that people - I have fallen in love with people in the lab and people in the lab have fallen in love with me and it's very disruptive to the science because it's terribly important that in a lab people are on a level playing field. I found that these emotional entanglements made life very difficult.

"I'm really, really sorry I caused any offence, that's awful. I certainly didn't mean that. I just meant to be honest, actually."

Sir Tim's comments sparked anger on Twitter with users branding him a "misogynist" and an "idiot":

Following the comments the Royal Society moved to distance itself from Sir Tim, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine in 1991.

In a statement on its website it said: "Too many talented individuals do not fulfil their scientific potential because of issues such as gender and the society is committed to helping to put this right.

"Sir Tim Hunt was speaking as an individual and his reported comments in no way reflect the views of the Royal Society."