Investigation of climate scientist at Penn State complete

Investigation of climate scientist at Penn State complete

University Park, Pa. — A panel of leading scholars has cleared a well-known Penn State climate scientist of research misconduct, following a four-month internal investigation by the University.

Penn State Professor Michael Mann has been cleared of any wrongdoing, according to a report of the investigation that was released today (July 1). Mann was under investigation for allegations of research impropriety that surfaced last year after thousands of stolen e-mails were published online. The e-mails were obtained from computer servers at the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in England, one of the main repositories of information about climate change.

The panel of leading scholars from various research fields, all tenured professors at Penn State, began its work on March 4 to look at whether Mann had "engaged in, directly or indirectly, any actions that seriously deviated from accepted practices within the academic community for proposing, conducting or reporting research or other scholarly activities." Mann is one of the leading researchers studying climate change.

A full report on the findings of the committee can be viewed at "Final Investigation Report Involving Dr. Michael E. Mann." 

1. Letter from Henry C. Foley, Vice President for Research, Penn State
   to Graham B. Spanier, President, Penn State

2. Letter from Henry C. Foley, Vice President for Research, Penn State
   to Michael E. Mann, Professor of Meteorology, Penn State

3. Letter from Henry C. Foley, Vice President for Research, Penn State
   to James Kroll, Head Administrative Investigations, Office of the Inspector General, The National Science Foundation