Mann, Nobel-Winning Climate Scientist, Cleared of Wrongdoing

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News ,; Tech Talk

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. Another Penn State University review has unanimously cleared a leading climate scientist of a research misconduct allegation stemming from leaked e-mails about global warming.

Prof. Michael Mann

(Credit: Penn State University)

The report said professor Michael Mann did not seriously deviate from accepted academic practices for proposing, conducting or reporting research.

The university inquiry in February dismissed three related allegations and recommended further investigation on a fourth. A five-member panel of professors dismissed that allegation outright in the report Thursday.

Mann has long been criticized by skeptics of man-made global warming theories. The review came after computer hackers obtained messages between U.S. and British scientists in November after emails were stolen from a server at the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in Great Britain and posted on the Internet.

The review also noted that Mann's work on the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change received recognition (along with several hundred other scientists) in the form of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

"Clearly, Dr. Mann's reporting of his research has been successful and judged to be outstanding by his peers. This would have been impossible had his activities in reporting his work been outside of accepted practices in his field," the report said.

Reacting to the news, Francesca Grifo from the Union of Concerned Scientists said the Penn State report "shows that universities and scientists have effective systems in place to police themselves," Grifo said. He added that the report should put the final coda on further investigations of Mann's work.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli had earlier pressed the University of Virginia, Mann's former employer, to obtain documents connected to Mann's employment at the school. UVA rejected Cuccinelli's demand.

"Michael Mann has been exonerated by multiple investigations," Grifo said in a statement. "It's clear that the Virginia attorney general's inquiry is baseless. This is another sad episode in a long history of politicians attacking scientists whose findings don't match their worldview."

Brian Gottstein, a spokesman for the Virgina D.A., said the office "will address any arguments that the University of Virginia has posed when we file our court brief on July 13. We do not intend to address issues outside of the courtroom."

Nonetheless, Mann said he was pleased that the final phase of the university's investigation had concluded by clearing him of any wrongdoing.

"These latest findings should finally put to rest the baseless allegations against me and my research," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.

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by jmichael07 July 2, 2010 2:20 PM EDT: How Sensational. So poor Penn State "again" clears one of its own? Maybe they should attempt it yet another time just to see if that "credentialed" collusive stupidity sticks--for Michael's sake, at least. Or stick to a more marketable program, like football, than pretentious and misguided doomsday scientism. It is by far, more ingratiating to the university, and a much better use of better-spent time, money, and effort.; Reply to this comment


by michelbell July 2, 2010 3:51 AM EDT: Really a educative and informative post, the post is good in all regards,I am glad to read this post.

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by K. Daraa July 2, 2010 3:04 AM EDT

Its hard to patch that crack (revealing incessant public mind control) in the false front projected by leftist academia regarding alleged global warming.

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by user000049586849302948602 July 2, 2010 7:44 AM EDT: Whatever you say, corporate stooge. You people want to harp about leaving dept to our children. Would you mind terribly if we leave them an earth that will still support life as we know it?


by r-u-effin-serious July 2, 2010 1:53 AM EDT: Do you truly believe there is no consequence to changing the concentrations of gases in our atmosphere. Do you truly think that unnaturally pumping out a gas that is proven to warm the atmosphere, into the atmosphere, at ever increasing rates for hundreds of years will have absolutely no effect? Truly?; Reply to this comment

by stn_sage July 1, 2010 7:25 PM EDT

Penn State, "his peers", any U.N. group of peers, and any other group of fellow insiders and/or fellow conspirators in the attempt to get the public to blame global warming was predominantly the fault of the public,
can WHITEWASH his reputation all they want!

As far as I'm concerned, the guy is a crook, who took part in a conspiracy to purposely misinform the public, to discredit REAL scientists, and to affect changes in society at large that would have been catastrophic in nature!

I wouldn't believe this man now, if he said 'night was night, and day was day'! I'd have to examine that very closely! I also will not consider any information deriving from Penn State University, as it is
now totally suspect!

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