Chapter 13: Idiots

Summary

• Hastings Research Institute is facing scrutiny from its benefactors due to a negative newspaper article about their star scientist, Evans, who recently died.
• Management is worried because their remaining scientists aren’t particularly exceptional, and the loss of Evans leaves them with limited innovation potential.
• Zott, a female innovator at the institute who is working on a project about abiogenesis, faces prejudice internally for insisting on getting credit for her work and not conforming to gender expectations.
• Zott's project was only funded because a rich investor personally insisted, believing he was funding a man named Mr. Zott, not realizing the scientist was actually a woman.
• Management is dismayed to find out that Zott is pregnant and unmarried, fearing it will further tarnish the institute's reputation and upset investors.
• During a meeting with management, her colleagues admit that Zott is indispensable for their progress, except for Boryweitz, who falsely claims he did all the work but is exposed as incompetent.
• Zott’s pregnancy becomes widely known in the institute due to rumors, increasing management’s urgency to resolve the issue to avoid scandal with investors.
• Dr. Donatti from management attempts to fire Zott, citing her pregnancy and unmarried status as grounds for termination, despite her protestations highlighting double standards and the irrelevance of her condition to her work.
• Management is portrayed as hypocritical and misogynistic, concerned more with appearances and outdated moral standards than the actual scientific work and contributions of their staff.
• Zott remains calm and collected during her termination meeting, despite the accusation that she tried to trap her late partner Calvin into marriage.
• Donatti implies that Zott should be ashamed for getting pregnant, but she remains steadfast that Calvin would not be ashamed of her.
• As the meeting concludes, management tells Zott to leave immediately, ending her salary and health benefits by the end of the week, and barring her from discussing the reasons for her dismissal.
• Donatti mentions that Evans had previously pressured them into funding Zott's work, which is news to her and leaves her shocked as she is ushered out.