Letter: Domestic science

Sir: Is Robert Cowan ('Where there's a will', 22 May) in Salman Rushdie-style hiding? If not, he ought to be.

His description of those attending the recent Royal Institution lecture given by Rosalyn Tureck as 'scientists and professors, their wives and their guests' is not only inaccurate but infuriating. Does Mr Cowan think there are no female scientists or professors?

I was one of many present, together with my guest (male). Perhaps my short skirt and floral jacket confused your correspondent?

Yours sincerely,

JOY RAE

Postgraduate Research Institute

for Sedimentology

University of Reading

Reading,

Berkshire

28 May