An astrophysics professor who has claimed the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy (IOA) suffers from a culture of “bullying” and “misogyny” has denied pursuing a “vendetta” as his case concluded at employment tribunal.
Wyn Evans has raised concerns over the treatment of several female staff members within the IOA, alleging that he became “deeply worried” about the well-being of one woman in particular, and that the institution had a “bad history of misogyny”.
In his witness statement to the court, Evans called for Cambridge vice-chancellor Deborah Prentice to “consider stepping down” over what he alleges to be “serious dereliction of oversight” in relation to what happened.
Cambridge said it rejects the claims and has been “vigorously defending” the case.
Evans, who stood to be Cambridge chancellor in an election last year, maintains that he was victimised as a result of making protected disclosures and criticises the university for taking “almost two years” to dismiss a grievance later raised against him and two other professors by the former IOA director, Richard McMahon.
