October 23, 2012

Italian Verdict Shows Scientists Who Predict Hazards Face Risks Themselves

Italian Verdict Shows Scientists Who Predict Hazards Face Risks Themselves 1

Christophe Simon, AFP, Getty Images

Rescuers combed the rubble in a village near L'Aquila after a violent earthquake devastated the Italian region in April 2009. Seven officials, including four scientists, were convicted of manslaughter this week for failing to warn of the impending quake.

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close Italian Verdict Shows Scientists Who Predict Hazards Face Risks Themselves 1

Christophe Simon, AFP, Getty Images

Rescuers combed the rubble in a village near L'Aquila after a violent earthquake devastated the Italian region in April 2009. Seven officials, including four scientists, were convicted of manslaughter this week for failing to warn of the impending quake.

By Josh Fischman

Aftershocks from an Italian court decision this week continued to ripple through the scientific and public-safety communities on Tuesday, as four officials in Italian risk-assessment and civil-protection agencies resigned to protest the manslaughter convictions of four scientists, two engineers, and a government official for failing to warn an Italian town of an