The University of Cambridge’s prestigious Institute of Astronomy has been accused of enduring misogyny and a “cycle of bullying” in an employment tribunal.The claim, brought
by a professor of astrophysics, Wyn Evans, also alleges the University of Cambridge has actually struck back against whistleblowers.The Institute of Astronomy is one of the biggest departments of its kind, where scientists come to grips with concerns about the development of the planetary system and the development of the universe.Evans, who in 2015 stood to be the University of Cambridge’s chancellor with an anti-bullying manifesto, said that the Institute of Astronomy suffers from”a bad history of misogyny “. Evans declared that a person lady in the department was” pestered out of a job “, another had actually been”left a frightened lady” and a third had actually faced “aggressive professors” at the institute.The university
denies Evans’ claims and accuses him of a vendetta versus the institute’s director, a claim in turn denied by Evans.With his voice breaking in the second week of a tribunal in Bury St Edmunds, Evans stated he had ended up being worried about the well-being of an associate, Dr Gudrun Tausch-Pebody, in 2021, including:”We were confronted with a crucial scenario.”Akua Reindorf KC, for the University of
Cambridge, recommended Evans’emotional testimony in court about the suicide of a previous colleague amounted to” crocodile tears”.”No, which is an offensive thing to state, “Evans replied.Dr Tausch-Pebody signed up with the institute in 2012 as a European Commission agreements supervisor. In June 2021, she was provided with an “end of contract” notification despite, Evans alleges, moneying being available to support her role. Evans declared Dr Tausch-Pebody was being intentionally weakened by a senior coworker, a claims the university denies.In a written submission, Dr Tausch-Pebody revealed her gratitude to Evans for his “nerve”in
stepping in to secure her from declared bullying by a senior member of personnel. “Prof Evans ‘concern for me was based upon my distress. He saw a pattern of duplicated and apparently tolerated mistreatment of female members of the administrative staff,”she wrote.” What was finished with this end-of-contract letter was akin to mental torture.” Dr Tausch-Pebody declared that her work was weakened, discredited and reduced by a remarkable which had an”enduring impact “on her mental health.Evans described one evening”agonising over what to do, whom to get in touch with, and whether Dr Tausch-Pebody would still live the next day. When I checked my email the next early morning, I felt a wave of relief to see messages from her sent out overnight. She might not have slept, but a minimum of she was still alive.” Evans submitted what he alleges were whistleblowing disclosures setting out his concerns about the treatment of Dr Tausch-Pebody by senior personnel at the institute. Dr Evans likewise claimed the institute had a”horrible record”of supporting female administrative staff.He claimed no action was required to safeguard Dr Tausch-Pebody, but complaints were instead raised against himself and 2 other teachers by the Institute of Astronomy’s director, Prof Richard McMahon.
Evans stated: “It is extraordinary in Cambridge University for a head of department to make a complaint versus 3 professors concurrently.” The university dismissed McMahon’s accusations versus the professors, sayingno evidence had been submitted in support of the claims. Evans told the tribunal that in spite of the lack of evidence, the complaint”took nearly two years for the university to dismiss “. His coworker, Prof Vasily Belokurov, who this month was jointly awarded the highly distinguished 2026 Kavli prize for astrophysics, stated in a composed submission: “The outcome of the prolonged examinations into Wyn Evans … was that our research group dealt with near collapse.”Evans initiated different legal procedures against McMahon, claiming allegations made in the complaint were defamatory. He has informed the tribunal the head of department battled the libel procedures”relying on the university’s assistance and financing through its insurance policy”
. In 2023, an initial issues judgment concluded the declarations made by McMahon were defamatory. The case has considering that been settled out of court.Evans claims that because making a grievance in 2021, he has actually “lost all faith in the standard integrity of senior people in my university … Looking back, I could never have pictured the scale of damage in my life that would follow.”The tribunal is being heard to assess whether Evans received damaging treatment as a result of whistleblowing.Reindorf claimed Evans’claims belonged to an”compulsive vendetta”against McMahon. She said the University of Cambridge is protecting Evans ‘claim “at really excellent expenditure”. McMahon rejects the accusations
. He is scheduled to offer proof personally today. A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said:”
The university strongly declines these claims and is strongly defending this case. “The tribunal continues.