University at center of Climategate email scandal announces investigation details

The University of East Anglia (UEA) announced details today about the investigation it will be conducting into its Climate Research Unit (CRU) in the wake of the release of thousands of controversial emails from climate scientists. The university said that Sir Muir Russell will head the Independent Review and it identified the scope of the investigation.

The review will look at the key allegations that have been raised over the last two weeks since the emails became public. Charges of data manipulation and suppression, peer review practices, compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests and CRU governance are the key issues to be addressed.

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In a statement released by the university, Professor Edward Acton, Vice-Chancellor said, “The reputation and integrity of UEA is of the upmost importance to us all. We want these allegations about CRU to be examined fully and independently. That is why I am delighted that Sir Muir has agreed to lead the Independent Review and he will have my and the rest of University’s full support.”

Sir Muir Russell will lead the investigation into the
conduct of scientists at Britain's Climate Research
Unit. (University of Glasgow)

Sir Russell is considered a civil servant with a background of working with educational institutions. He is not associated with UEA nor has he performed any work related to climate science and as such it is hoped he will be an impartial judge. Russell recently retired as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow having served in that position from 2003 to 2009.

Russell said, “Given the nature of the allegations it is right that someone who has no links to either the University or the Climate Science community looks at the evidence and makes recommendations based on what they find.” He said that he will be initially gathering information and tapping ‘additional expertise’ initially. Once that is completed, a timeline will be established for publication of the review.

On Monday it was announced that the director of the CRU, Dr. Phil Jones, would temporarily step aside pending the results of the review. Jones authored some of the most controversial messages including one that has been seized upon in which he discusses using a “trick” to “hide the decline” and others in which he asks other climate scientists to destroy email messages.

The scope of the review is to include the following:

• Examine the hacked e-mail exchanges, other relevant e-mail exchanges and any other information held at CRU to determine whether there is any evidence of the manipulation or suppression of data which is at odds with acceptable scientific practice and may therefore call into question any of the research outcomes.

• Review CRU’s policies and practices for acquiring, assembling, subjecting to peer review and disseminating data and research findings, and their compliance or otherwise with best scientific practice.

• Review CRU’s compliance or otherwise with the University’s policies and practices regarding requests under the Freedom of Information Act (‘the FOIA’) and the Environmental Information Regulations (‘the EIR’) for the release of data.

• Review and make recommendations as to the appropriate management, governance and security structures for CRU and the security, integrity and release of the data it holds.

Penn State University announced this week as well it would conduct an investigation into Dr. Michael Mann and his role in the Climategate scandal. Details of that investigation, its scope and who would be conducting it have not been released. Mann in particular seemed concerned with controlling and preventing the publication of any papers that disagreed with the manmade climate change theory.

On the net:

• BBC: Chair for climate e-mail review
• UAE:  Sir Muir Russell to head the Independent Review into the allegations against the Climatic Research Unit (CRU)
• Wikipedia: Muir Russell
• University of Glasgow: Biography of Sir Muir Russell