WINNIPEG — Canada's annual gathering of top Arctic scientists is roiling after young researchers released an open letter protesting what they call a sexist joke at the conference's gala banquet.
The joke was made on Wednesday during a tribute to the retiring head of ArcticNet, which co-ordinates northern research in Canada.
The native French speaker was roasted for saying that he had "sampled" a group of female scientists, instead of saying he'd surveyed them.
The letter, signed by 26 mostly graduate and post-graduate students, protested that the joke diminished the professional standing of women scientists.
The board of ArcticNet has apologized, saying the joke was told without the context that its subject often made unintentional errors speaking in his second language of English.
A second apology is expected this morning at the conference's plenary session.
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