BP accused of 'buying academic silence'

[G_j]

Source: BBC

22 July 2010 Last updated at 17:52 ET


BP accused of 'buying academic silence'
By Robyn Bresnahan BBC News, London

Bob Shipp Bob Shipp said BP wanted to hire his entire marine science department

The head of the American Association of Professors has accused BP of trying to "buy" the best scientists and academics to help its defence against litigation after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

"This is really one huge corporation trying to buy faculty silence in a comprehensive way," said Cary Nelson.

BP faces more than 300 lawsuits so far.

In a statement, BP says it has hired more than a dozen national and local scientists "with expertise in the resources of the Gulf of Mexico".

The BBC has obtained a copy of a contract offered to scientists by BP. It says that scientists cannot publish the research they do for BP or speak about the data for at least three years, or until the government gives the final approval to the company's restoration plan for the whole of the Gulf.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10731408

[Poll_Blind]

1. "BP wanted to hire his entire marine science department"

:puke:

PB

[Proletariatprincess]

2. Scumbags.

This is why science in the USA is not as respected as it once was....especially during and after the Moron/Bush years.

[boppers]

3. Heaven forbid they use science!

I don't see a problem with them trying to get actual scientific data and studies done, provided the scientists themselves maintain professional rigor in their work. Rather, I'd see a problem with the opposite happening, and BP *not* consulting with scientists on cleanup and restoration.

[1monster]

4. And contractually prohibiting the scientist to share the information the collect

for three years or until after the government gives BP final approval on their clean up proposals?

You don't see an ulterior motive there?

[boppers]

5. I see several motives in that....

I work in an industry where NDA is standard practice, so I don't automatically assume it's a bad thing. I'm also pretty sure the plaintiffs are also hiring a fair bit of science consultants as well, and I'm guessing that data also may, or may not, be published based on their discretion as well.

[dipsydoodle]

6. Duplicate LBN - posted in LBN 16th July

its just that the BBC only reported it last night UK time as part of a tv news feature .

Previous DU posts on the subject :

LBN : http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=4468150

GD : http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8760110

also :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8774747

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8760110

[G_j]

7. BBC obtained a copy of the contract

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/22_07_bp_contract.pdf