Research Fund for Climate Skeptics Was Spent on Wining, Dining, and Pricey Consultants

September 15, 2011, 5:02 pm

Two research accounts at the University of Calgary that were supported by the Canadian oil-and-gas industry paid for lobbying, wining and dining, gifts, and the hiring of pricey communications consultants in order to cast doubt on climate-change science, according to the Calgary Herald. Donors to the research accounts, which included Alberta-based Talisman Energy and retired oil-industry employees, could take tax deductions because the money was channeled through the university. Barry Cooper, a political-science professor who got more than $15,000 in travel funds from the accounts from 2005 to 2007, told climate-change skeptics that the spending was an appropriate use of research funds, the newspaper reported.

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University of Calgary Statement on Friends of Science:

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Sept. 15, 2011

In recent days, the University of Calgary has been in media reports in
relation to Friends of Science, an independent, third-party
organization, and research conducted by a University of Calgary
principal investigator with connections to Friends of Science.

In December 2007, University Audit Services was asked to complete a
review of the research accounts following concerns about whether the
university was used as a conduit in funding Friends of Science. The
audit was initiated after the University of Calgary closed the accounts
and severed its relationship with Friends of Science. The auditor issued
a series of recommendations which were accepted by the university’s
administration at the time.

The University of Calgary recognizes that there was insufficient
management and governance oversight and since that time has undertaken a
number of comprehensive initiatives to improve business practices,
including a significant internal control and business processes review
and a Tri-Council Audit.

The University of Calgary implemented the recommendations from the
review and audit and is now moving forward with a new internal control
and business practice framework. The university’s approach to these
important business practices represents its commitment to the highest
management standards, and ensures that management and governance
processes are in line with those of world class research institutions.

The University of Calgary is confident that these changes, together with
a commitment to continuous improvement, accountability and transparency
will allow the university to maintain necessary management and
governance oversight.

The University of Calgary is a non-partisan, research-intensive academic
institution. It respects academic freedom and does not intervene in the
individual academic research programs of its professors.For more information, visit http://www.ucalgary.ca
electronicmuse

Exactly how else would you spend money “researching” such a topic, except for lavish T&E?

A first-class misuse of the “not for profit” concept.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=588186317 Gigi Johnson

My point of interest is that this is increasing the liquidity of the Class, which largely is “owned” by the faculty member as to content. Once we record that class, we begin to change both the relationship with the faculty member (who, seemingly in Udacity’s case, take the class with them) and with variable pricing for the audience, creating a type of freemium interactive media experience in teaching/learning.

Newspapers began to put their content out to audiences for free, then are progressing back under paywalls. I will follow with interest PurdueHUB-U’s paywall strategy.

Gigi Johnson
Maremel Institute
bbkdsport

[url = http://bbkdsport.over-blog.fr Sport en direct avec bbkdsport [/ url]
http://twitter.com/mutualforce Mutual Force

Good move. Will keep Purdue competitive as the online versions of a University becomes more and more prevalent..