Turku varsity sacks US researcher for sexism

The University of Turku on Wednesday decided to terminate the employment contact of a US professor, Dr Christian Ott.

The professor left the California Institute of Technology after a university investigation found him engaged in gender-based discrimination and harassment, reported the national broadcaster Yle.

Earlier, the Turku University authorities appointed Dr Ott on a fixed-term employment contract for two years as a senior researcher starting at the beginning of March, said an official press release.

“I have considered the matter and decided that the employment of Dr Christian Ott at the University of Turku will be cancelled. I came to this conclusion after extensively hearing the science community,” said University of Turku Rector Kalervo Väänänen.