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AP/Press Association Images

US scientist who sold his Nobel Prize to donate some of his millions to Irish university

It has also been revealed that the man who bought the medal did so to give it back.

THE CONTROVERSIAL US scientist who auctioned off his Nobel Prize medal for millions has said he hopes to use some of the proceeds to set up a new institute at University College Cork.

And now it has been revealed that Russia’s richest man purchased the medal in order to hand it back.

James Watson was awarded the prize in 1962 for his work in discovering the structure of DNA – the ‘double-helix’.

The outspoken scientist has made headlines in recent years for comments on race, claiming that people of African descent are ‘less intelligent’.

Watson sold the medal at auction last week for the equivalent of €3.8 million, breaking through previous estimates of between €2 and €3 million.

He is the first living laureate to auction the award.

Alisher Usmanov, a metal and telecommunications tycoon worth €12.7 billion according to Forbes magazine, said in remarks carried by Russian television that when he learned that Watson was selling the medal for charity he decided to purchase it and give it back to him.

James Watson The medal sold at auction. AP Photo / Christie's, File AP Photo / Christie's, File / Christie's, File

Usmanov hailed Watson one of the greatest biologists in the history of mankind.

Speaking to Nature, Watson said he hopes to use some of the proceeds of the medal’s auction to set up an institute dedicated to George Boole at University College Cork.

Boole’s work in mathematics is now central to computer science.

Watson, who said he is “52% Irish”, was awarded an honorary doctorate by UCC in 2010.

The proceeds will also go to the University of Chicago, Clare College Cambridge, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island Land Trust and other charities.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press

Read: Check out the CV of the guy who just won the Nobel Prize for Economics >

More: 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai has won the Nobel Peace Prize >

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22 Comments
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    Mute winding_down
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:17 AM

    Thank you.

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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:33 AM

    “Boole’s work in mathematicians is now central to the design of computer circuits.”

    Boole’s work is in fact one of the most important concepts in computer science (if not THE most important). It is a fundamental building block of modern logical reasoning.

    133
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    Mute UndercoverGarda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:17 PM

    How easy is it to count in binary?

    It’s as easy as 01 10 11.

    73
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    Mute Leigh Power
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    Dec 10th 2014, 1:27 PM

    There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don’t.

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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 10th 2014, 4:47 PM

    “Boole’s work in mathematics is now central to computer science.”

    Close enough …

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Fair play to the both of them

    109
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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:00 PM

    P.C gone mad! If a scientist of his calibre has a theory maybe the evidence should be explored before the witch hunt and burning commences.

    There’s a reason you only see black guys winning the Olympic 100m sprint Gold and there’s a reason you don’t see them win any medals for swimming! To state such a fact is true!

    Human intelligence has a genetic component and also takes in environmental factors.No surprise that Bill Gates in school by random chance had access to one of the most advance computers in the USA at the time.He had the genetic predisposition of a high intellect and the right factors in his environment and he became a Titan in computers.

    If people in Africa don’t have the same standard in education well obviously they’re unlikely to fulfil any genetic potential in intelligence. It doesn’t mean under different environment they wouldn’t.

    If someone said all black people are not as smart as all white people that statement is false and obviously racist.But if someone said due to environmental conditions plenty of Africans may not develop the full potential of intelligence compared to the Western population that statement has evidence.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:22 PM

    @Att , re your swimming example it depends on the reasoning and if the reasoning is true. Swimming is a relatively expensive middle class activity so chances are Africa will not feature high in Olympic swimming or Dressage or yachting. If its genetic , less buoyancy (I have no idea) then its either true or not true. The next issue would be misusing the facts for propaganda to propagate hate.

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Can you explain to me how swimming is a relatively expensive “middle class” activity?

    Aside from a pair of shorts…you really don’t need anything else for it. Its no different than walking either…you wouldn’t necessarily need lessons to learn, just an attentive parent.

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    Mute Andrew McQuillan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Atticus, your last paragraph is not an accurate description of the comments of this man. Unintentionally or not, you have rewritten a version based on a possible intention of different phraseology. His own words were very different, racist, and at odds with the scientific research that his own developments unlocked.

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    Mute Vera Dawber Power
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:31 AM

    What a wonderful kind gesture..God bless you..and thanks.

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    Mute Thierry Rat
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:14 PM

    POlitical correctness restricts science

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    Mute Frank
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:53 AM

    Barack Obama should do the same with his with all the proceeds going towards victims of drone strikes.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    bit if a misleading headline, if I understand the story he will donate a % of 3million? hardly the same as “donate some of his millions to an Irish university”

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:30 AM

    Indeed. 4 plus “other” charities will also get a share of the 3 million so hardly millions each as claimed.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Why all the dislikes?? the article states the proceeds are €3.8 million and he will give some to cork, which to implies a sum probably well under a million

    “Watson said he hopes to use some of the proceeds of the medal’s auction to set up an institute dedicated to George Boole at University College Cork.”

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    Mute Steve M
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:56 PM

    Puts into perspective some of the comments you see here like yesterday “Thats why everyone hates Americans” “Americans are fat and stupid” etc

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 3:32 PM

    Those crusties generally are only referring to white, Christian Americans. Its the safe group to slag off without offending their PC cohorts.

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    Mute Ollie
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    Dec 10th 2014, 4:37 PM

    Well done to both

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    Mute jp quinn
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    Dec 10th 2014, 5:14 PM

    Boole is Cool.

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    Mute johnhindepost
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    Dec 11th 2014, 12:22 AM

    100% William Rowan Hamilton, 1005 George Boole and 52% of James Watson are Irish.

    Mathematics and the fundamentals of computing discovered by Irish.
    Now we know why all these companies are setting up second base here in Ireland.
    We Irish got the geek gene……………..yehaw!!!

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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    Dec 11th 2014, 4:32 AM

    Boole was English

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