News & Views item - June 2011

 

Threats Against Aussie Climate Scientists Make AAAS News. (June 16, 2011)

The following note was published on the American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) Policy Alert for June 15, 2011:

 

Australian Universities Move to Protect Climate Researchers. Over the past several months at least a dozen climate scientists at four Australian universities have received messages threatening them and, in some cases, their families, with death or violence. Although such incidents have been taking place for some time, they have intensified in recent months and authorities are taking them seriously. Protective measures include removing the names of the researchers from directories and signs on office doors and only allowing students and visitors with appointments to see the researchers. An informal survey of U.S. climate researchers by The Chronicle of Higher Education indicates that, while some have received e-mails that are "not nice," none have received threats similar to those of their Australian colleagues.