Sir Muir Russell to Lead Inquiry on Climate Data Scandal

Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Acton, has appointed Sir Muir Russell to lead an Independent Review which is to investigate allegations made against the UEA’s globally renowned Climatic Research Unit (CRU).

Allegations of collusion in manipulating scientific data arose in November, when the CRU’s servers were hacked and hoards of data and email exchanges involving Professor Phil Jones were released into the public sphere. The review’s remit will be to investigate four key allegations, which includes examining whether the leaked e-mail exchanges, and any other relevant information held at CRU, demonstrates manipulation or suppression of data. The review will also examine the CRU’s code of ethics in how it acquired, assembled and disseminated its research findings, and whether these procedures were in compliance with the highest scientific practices and Freedom of Information requests.

Upon his inauguration Sir Muir said: “I agreed very willingly to Professor Acton’s request to undertake this Independent Review. 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”. Sir Muir’s independence from the scientific community has been welcomed by the spectrum of interested parties, who have agreed that this lends the review the degree of objectivity required in order for it to remain impartial and authoritative.

However, after a month of investigation, many details about the logistics of the review remain unclear. It remains unknown how Sir Muir is to evaluate thousands of emails and data graphs effectively by spring 2010 - the deadline for the review – or who forms the “additional expertise” which he intends to draft into the process. Sceptics have pointed to this as evidence that the review will be held behind closed doors and could potentially become a “whitewash”.

Norfolk Police were unable to confirm whether the source of the breach had yet been discovered, but did confirm that officers are continuing to work “in liaison with the Office of the Information Commissioner and with officers from the National Domestic Extremism Team”.

Professor Phil Jones, the figure at the centre of the controversy, announced that he will be “stepping aside from the Director’s role” until the review has reached its final conclusions.

David Churchill