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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Climate e-mails inquiry under way | Climate e-mails inquiry under way |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A panel of independent experts has officially begun its inquiry into the "Climategate" affair. | A panel of independent experts has officially begun its inquiry into the "Climategate" affair. |
| The experts, headed by Sir Muir Russell, will investigate how e-mails from the UK's Climatic Research Unit (CRU) appeared on the web. | The experts, headed by Sir Muir Russell, will investigate how e-mails from the UK's Climatic Research Unit (CRU) appeared on the web. |
| They will also consider if the e-mail exchanges between researchers show an attempt to manipulate or suppress data "at odds" with scientific practice. | They will also consider if the e-mail exchanges between researchers show an attempt to manipulate or suppress data "at odds" with scientific practice. |
| The panel hopes to present "preliminary conclusions by spring 2010". | The panel hopes to present "preliminary conclusions by spring 2010". |
| Speaking at the launch of the inquiry, Sir Muir, who is chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland, said: "We are free to pursue and follow any line of inquiry that we wish." | Speaking at the launch of the inquiry, Sir Muir, who is chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland, said: "We are free to pursue and follow any line of inquiry that we wish." |
| E-mail allegations | E-mail allegations |
| In November, more than 1,000 messages between scientists at the CRU, based at the University of East Anglia (UEA), and their peers around the world were posted on the web, along with other documents. | In November, more than 1,000 messages between scientists at the CRU, based at the University of East Anglia (UEA), and their peers around the world were posted on the web, along with other documents. |
| CRU maintains one of the world's most important datasets on how global temperatures have changed. | CRU maintains one of the world's most important datasets on how global temperatures have changed. |
| Sir Muir says the review will follow any line of inquiry | |
| Professor Phil Jones, the director of the unit, has stepped down pending the review, and has said he stands by his data. | Professor Phil Jones, the director of the unit, has stepped down pending the review, and has said he stands by his data. |
| UEA appointed Sir Muir in December to head an inquiry in to a series of allegations that arose from the stolen e-mails. | UEA appointed Sir Muir in December to head an inquiry in to a series of allegations that arose from the stolen e-mails. |
| As well as more than 1,000 e-mails, the hack took 3,000 documents. The overall size of data amounted to 160MB. | As well as more than 1,000 e-mails, the hack took 3,000 documents. The overall size of data amounted to 160MB. |
| The panel are also tasked with considering whether the unit failed to observe Freedom of Information requests properly. | The panel are also tasked with considering whether the unit failed to observe Freedom of Information requests properly. |
| Critics said that the e-mail exchanges reveal an attempt by the researchers involved to manipulate data. | Critics said that the e-mail exchanges reveal an attempt by the researchers involved to manipulate data. |
| Panel announced | Panel announced |
| Climate sceptics suggest that the affair shows that either human activities are not affecting the planet's climate system, or that the impacts are not as bad as many climate scientists suggest. | Climate sceptics suggest that the affair shows that either human activities are not affecting the planet's climate system, or that the impacts are not as bad as many climate scientists suggest. |
| The panel's investigation will: | The panel's investigation will: |
| • "Examine the hacked e-mail exchanges, other relevant e-mail exchanges and any other information held at CRU to determine whether there is any evidence of the manipulation or suppression of data which is at odds with acceptable scientific practice." | • "Examine the hacked e-mail exchanges, other relevant e-mail exchanges and any other information held at CRU to determine whether there is any evidence of the manipulation or suppression of data which is at odds with acceptable scientific practice." |
| • "Review CRU's policies and practices for acquiring, assembling, subjecting to peer review and disseminating data and research findings." | • "Review CRU's policies and practices for acquiring, assembling, subjecting to peer review and disseminating data and research findings." |
| • "Review CRU's compliance or otherwise with the university's policies and practices regarding requests under the Freedom of Information Act." | • "Review CRU's compliance or otherwise with the university's policies and practices regarding requests under the Freedom of Information Act." |
| • "Review and make recommendations as to the appropriate management, governance and security structures for CRU and the security, integrity and release of the data it holds." | • "Review and make recommendations as to the appropriate management, governance and security structures for CRU and the security, integrity and release of the data it holds." |
| However, the panel will not review the past scientific work of the CRU, as this will be re-appraised by a UEA-commissioned study, which will involve the Royal Society. | However, the panel will not review the past scientific work of the CRU, as this will be re-appraised by a UEA-commissioned study, which will involve the Royal Society. |
| The other members of the inquiry, which is being funded by UEA, are Geoffrey Boulton, general secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Dr Philip Campbell, editor-in-chief for Nature journal; Professor Peter Clarke of the University of Edinburgh; David Eyton, head of research and technology at BP; and Professor Jim Norton, vice president for the Chartered Institute for IT. | The other members of the inquiry, which is being funded by UEA, are Geoffrey Boulton, general secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Dr Philip Campbell, editor-in-chief for Nature journal; Professor Peter Clarke of the University of Edinburgh; David Eyton, head of research and technology at BP; and Professor Jim Norton, vice president for the Chartered Institute for IT. |