Asia-Pacific

School fires stem cell fraud scientist

(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-20 19:25

Disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk was fired Monday as professor of Seoul National University over his stem cell fraud.

South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk, center, is escorted by plainclothes policemen upon his arrival at a disciplinary committee of Seoul National University in Seoul, Friday, March 17, 2006. Hwang came to the university to explain the scandal surrounding faked stem cell research. [AP]

The university announced the decision after a meeting of its disciplinary committee, saying Hwang and his co-workers dishonored the school.

Six other professors who worked on Hwang's project were either suspended for months or had their salaries cut, the school said.

Last month, the school suspended Hwang from teaching and conducting research as an interim disciplinary measure, but he had remained a professor.

Hwang's reputation as a pioneer in stem cell research was shattered when the university concluded in January that his claims of research breakthroughs were fake.