Cambridge University's 'misogynist' Institute of Astronomy 'hounded a woman out of her job'

By CLAIRE DUFFIN, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 23:59, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 00:01, 17 June 2026 Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy 'tolerates misogyny', a tribunal has heard. One woman was 'hounded out of a job' and another was left 'frightened', alleged astrophysics professor Wyn Evans, who is taking legal action over what he claims was detrimental treatment he received as a result of whistleblowing. Professor Evans said that in 2021 he became concerned about the welfare of colleague, Dr Gudrun Tausch-Pebody. In June that year, Dr Tausch-Pebody, who joined the institute in 2012 as a European Commission contracts manager, was issued with an end-of-contract notice despite, Professor Evans claims, funding being available to support her role. In a written submission to an employment tribunal in Bury St Edmunds, Dr Tausch-Pebody thanked Professor Evans for his 'courage' in speaking out and called the end-of-contract notice 'psychological torture'. Professor Evans had submitted what he alleges were whistleblowing disclosures concerning the 'deliberately undermining' treatment of Dr Tausch-Pebody by a senior colleague, The Guardian reported.  He claimed the institute suffered from 'a bad history of misogyny' and said no action was taken to protect her. Instead, grievances were raised against him and two other professors by institute director Professor Richard McMahon – allegations the university later dismissed. Astrophysics professor Wyn Evans (pictured in front of Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy) is taking legal action over what he claims was detrimental treatment he received as a result of whistleblowing The university denies Professor Evans' claims and accuses him of an 'obsessive vendetta' against Professor McMahon. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.