Science-prize row

摘要

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last week found a way to avoid awarding a controversial science prize sponsored by an African dictator, whose regime is widely viewed as corrupt and oppressive. The Paris-based organization is not explicitly rejecting the life-sciences prize, funded by a US$3-million donation from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. Instead, the UNESCO executive board agreed to suspend awarding the money "until a consensus is reached" - a diplomatic way of putting the prize on hold, as it seems unlikely that delegate nations will ever agree. See go.nature. com/Nbi9nQ for more.