Free vote for fellows

How otherworldly of Trisha Greenhalgh and David Marsland (Letters, February 13) to suggest that Royal Society fellows should make explicit their objections to Baroness Greenfield's election to the Royal Society.

Many academics worry about media scientists and the trivialising of science. They may even check their record of publications, citations, grants, prizes awarded for science and such. But just as voters in parliamentary elections are under no obligation to give their reasons for choosing one candidate over another, why should Royal Society fellows do so ahead of time?

Mike Rennie
University of Nottingham