Epstein Files Expose Money, Salons, and Misogyny in Science

Jeffrey Epstein’s files illuminate how wealth intersected with science, from donations to Harvard and MIT to exclusive salons and conferences. The Guardian’s Science Weekly peer discusses whether money bought access, credibility, and influence in the scientific world, and what that means for women in science.

The episode foregrounds questions about donor vetting, the celebrity culture around science, and how institutions responded after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, offering a troubling lens on the economics of research and the persistence of misogyny in elite circles.

Overview

The Guardian Science Weekly dives into the Epstein file leak and its implications for the science world, focusing on how moneyed connections intersect with academic legitimacy. Ian Sample frames the conversation by asking what Epstein’s funding and networks reveal about the inner workings of science, and whether donors can distort the direction and culture of research. The discussion foregrounds a knot of ethical concerns: money, power, prestige, and the treatment of women within scientific communities.

“the golden rule in science, of course, is he has the gold, makes the rules” — Ian Sample, Guardian Science Editor. This line signals the central tension of the episode: wealth can confer access and credibility, but it can also steer research agendas and reputation management in ways that may undermine trust in science.