'Climategate' inquiry mostly clears scientists
'Climategate' inquiry mostly clears scientists
By Robert Clark | Jul 9, 2010
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An inquiry into the treatment of climate change data by UK scientists cleared them of complaints that they had manipulated their results.
However, the six-month inquiry rebuked researchers at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (CRU), for being “unhelpful and defensive” in responding to FOI requests, the Guardian reported.
“On the specific allegations made against the behavior of CRU scientists, we find that their rigor and honesty as scientists are not in doubt,” said the review, the fifth to be held into the “Climategate” scandal.
The leak of emails from CRU scientists late last year prompted claims by climate change skeptics that the group had fudged data and blocked research which did not support their view of global warming.
Skeptics rejected the findings of the latest inquiry, which had been commissioned by the university, NY Times reported, but others said that while the CRU was cleared of misbehavior, the affair is likely to impact on how science is conducted and perceived.
However, Roger Pielke Jr, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado said the emails did not change the science, but “changed the notion that people could blindly trust one authoritative group.”
Guardian columnist Richard Norton said climate science “will never be the same again” after the detailed review.
“The Russell review has rejected all claims of serious scientific misconduct. But he does identify failures, evasions, misleading actions, unjustifiable delays, and pervasive unhelpfulness – all of which amounts to severely sub-optimal academic practice.”
