Dugald
Carmichael, Department of Geological Engineering, Queen's University
Surely the
Executive Director of the Canada Research Chairs Program ought to be aware
that there is only one way to win esteem as a researcher in the sciences. You
have to do better research than the other researchers in your field of study,
regardless of your gender, race, creed, colour, politics and sexual orientation.
John J. Furedy, Professor of Psychology, University of
As cited in your
editorial ("May the best scientist win", June 1), Dr. Wendy Robbins,
the vice-president for women's issues of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Federation of Canada, offers the following social-engineering rationale for
gender quotas: "Women researchers ask different questions than men and we
need to make sure that way of looking at the world is protected."
Vice-president
Robbins seems not to understand that the essence of science is precisely not to
"protect" any one way of looking at the world, but to expose all ways
to critical scrutiny. Her argument reminds
one of how, in the 1930s, Aryan ways of looking at the world were protected
from 'Jewish science' in Germany, to the great detriment of both
