In last week’s Talks of the town I flagged up a lecture by James Watson at the Dana Centre, saying that ‘You can expect controversy’. Little did I know how much.

Watson is making headlines this morning after the Science Museum cancelled the event, claiming his views on black people go ‘beyond the point of acceptable debate’.

The move follows comments from the geneticist made in the Sunday Times.

He says that he is “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”, and I know that this “hot potato” is going to be difficult to address. His hope is that everyone is equal, but he counters that “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true”.

It’s such a shame that one of the greatest living scientists is effectively demolishing his reputation by airing such prejudices.