The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

Alessandro Strumia | The War on Science Interviews | Day 14

Aug 7, 2025
In this insightful conversation, Alessandro Strumia, a theoretical particle physicist from Italy and contributor to 'The War on Science,' delves into the ideological challenges facing academia. He discusses the impact of social justice activism on scientific inquiry, sharing personal experiences at CERN that challenge claims of gender discrimination in STEM. Strumia also highlights the paradox of censorship, warning against the suppression of open discourse and exploring the political pressures affecting academic publishing. His unique perspectives urge a return to empirical evidence in scientific discussions.
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ANECDOTE

CERN Talk Cancellation Incident

  • Alessandro Strumia shared his experience at a CERN gender workshop where his talk was canceled after being given.
  • The talk's removal promoted the content worldwide, contrary to the intended censorship.
INSIGHT

Higher Male Variability Effect

  • Male variability in traits is greater than female variability by about 10%, affecting extremes of ability distributions.
  • This phenomenon partly explains why men are overrepresented at high performance levels in STEM fields.
ANECDOTE

John Cormandy's Backlash Experience

  • John Cormandy faced severe backlash for advocating meritocratic bibliometrics, leading him to self-censor and withdraw his work.
  • The social reaction traumatized him, highlighting how contentious the issue is in academia.
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