Volume 1

The disclosure of climate data from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia : eighth report of session 2009-10.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology.
Date:
2010
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: The disclosure of climate data from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia : eighth report of session 2009-10. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/68 (page 8)
    important elements of the published science of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia”.” Our inquiry 11. We were concerned by the press reports and on 1 December 2009 the Chair of the Committee wrote to the Vice-Chancellor of UEA. The letter explained that we took a close interest in academic integrity and the systems in place to ensure the quality of evidence from research and evidence-based policy making. The letter requested a note on the recent events setting out: a) what had taken place; b) the steps that had been taken to investigate the allegations and to test the integrity of the data held and used by CRU; c) how CRU justified its commitment to academic transparency; and d) how the Vice-Chancellor proposed to restore confidence in CRU and its handling of data. We also asked for an assurance that none of the data referred to in the e-mails that had been publicised had been destroyed.” 12. UEA replied on 10 December 2009. It explained that “a significant amount of material including emails and documents appears to have been accessed illegally from a back-up server in CRU and downloaded in whole, or possibly in part, on to the RealClimate website.””” This incident was the subject of a police enquiry and the Norfolk Constabulary investigation was expected to take some time. UEA was keen to stress that this “episode is being treated very seriously” and announced that it had set up the independent inquiry, headed by Sir Muir Russell, to investigate the allegations against CRU. UEA said that “none of the adjusted station data referred to in the emails that have been published has been destroyed.” 13. In the light of the gravity of the allegations against CRU, the growing weight of damaging press coverage, on-going concerns about the deletion of data and the serious implications for UK science we decided to hold an inquiry into the disclosure of the data at CRU. On 22 January 2010 we therefore announced the inquiry inviting submissions on three key issues: e What were the implications of the disclosures for the integrity of scientific research? e Were the terms of reference and scope of the Independent Review announced on 3 December 2009 by UEA adequate? 25 “CRU Scientific Assessment Panel announced”, UEA Press Release, 22 March 2010, www.uea.ac.uk/macd/comm/media/press/CRUstatements/SAPannounce 26 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Press Notice 04, 7 December 2009, Session 2009-10 27 Ev 16 28 Ev17