“A Japanese stem cell scientist at the heart of a scandal over false claims and fabricated research has resigned. Dr Haruko Obokata published supposedly groundbreaking research showing stem cells could be made quickly and cheaply. There were irregularities in data, no other group in the world could repeat her findings and her own university concluded it could not be done. In a statement Dr Obokata said: “‘I even can’t find the words for an apology.'” https://www.bbc.com/news/health-30534674
Haruko Obokata rocketed to fame in Japan primarily because of her research. Another contributing factor t was her gender – there are relatively few women in the sciences in Japan and Obokata was held up as a sort of role model. Thus, her personal circumstances may have led her meteoric (but temporary) rise in popularity. It could be argued that her gender also contributed to how she was treated by the Japanese media once problems with her research appeared.
Image: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-30534674
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