I have been chatting off-and-on with Peter Ridd, now Professor of Physics at James Cook University, for nearly two decades. We both resent the lack of honesty in the reporting of many environmental issues.
Earlier this week, Prof Ridd was concerned that his recent comments to Sid Maher at The Australian newspaper [1], and then his appearance on Sky News TV with Alan Jones and Peta Credlin [2], had not been received at all well by the University.
In particular, he has written and said:
“Policy science concerning the Great Barrier Reef is almost never checked. Over the next few years, Australian governments will spend more than a billion dollars on the Great Barrier Reef; the costs to industry could far exceed this. Yet the keystone research papers have not been subject to proper scrutiny. Instead there is a total reliance on the demonstrably inadequate peer-review process.”[3]
There is a website Retraction Watch [4], reporting on both the circumstances of papers being retracted, and more widely on the issue of fraud in science. It shows that there is a widespread problem: that Prof Ridd is correct to be concerned about what he often refers to as the general lack of ‘quality control’.
Rather than James Cook University sacking Peter Ridd for having the courage to speak out, it would be good if they would get behind him, and his calls for urgent reform.
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1. Maher, S. 2017. ‘No proper scrutiny’ of $1bn reef rescue funding’, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/no-proper-scrutiny-of-1bn-reef-rescue-funding/news-story/3a317e01f01c2ec61b102718be2feff1
2. Jones & Co. 2017. Sky News TV, https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust/status/892337964851712000
3. Ridd, P. 2017. The Extraordinary Resilience of Great Barrier Reef Corals, and Problems with Policy Science. In Climate Change: The Facts, Institute of Public Affairs, Melbourne, Editor J. Marohasy, Pages 282-296.
4. Retraction Watch, http://retractionwatch.com/
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
‘One does not become enlightened by imaging figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.’
— C.G. Jung.
JCU has form in this area. The late Prof. Bob Carter was treated disgracefully by this university.
I certainly hope Professor Peter Ridd does not get the shove. They did it to Professor Bob Carter before him.
It seems that when people try to get the truth out to the public, they are castigated. I do not understand why this is so.
The Twitter responses say it all: all they can do is fire ad hominems at Ridd and not even actually address what he said. Sad.
Totally over Universities pushing left wing ideologies onto our kids.
No wonder the Labor party was pushing for EVERYONE to go to university.
Not all people are suited to university and there is a shortage of tradesmen these days because of the Uni push in the past twenty years or so.
I have been following Prof. Ridd’s articles for years now and he is CORRECT. Trouble is people who know no better would rather listen to the Gore lies and religion.
People who actually have lived and dived the reef for decades know that the Reef is not “dead” or so damaged as these doomsayers make out.
In any case reefs have rejuvenated themselves naturally over the thousands of years that they have been in existence.
I apologize for this being off-topic, but comments on the last post closed quickly and I didn’t get a chance to ask a question there: Has the data for your recent paper been published? If not, would you mind uploading it so people have access to it when considering/replicating your paper?
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Hi Brandon,
In our recent paper in GeoResJ we took temperature series already published in the peer-reviewed literature: this is ‘the data’ underpinning our work.
We then decomposed these series into their component parts, before inputted them into an artificial neural network (ANN), which is a form of machine learning.
This is ‘the data’ underpinning our study: it is already published as part of the six studies that we cite/that we used/that form the foundation of our work.
The results from our ANN models are subsequently clearly displayed as charts in our new paper in GeoResJ.
Cheers, Jennifer
So, there is a story about this in today’s The Australian:
“Outspoken marine scientist Peter Ridd has landed in hot water with James Cook University following a high-profile book tour in which he questioned the quality of Great Barrier Reef science.
Professor Ridd is understood to be under investigation for “serious misconduct” and colleagues fear he could be sacked. In a statement, JCU said “at this stage, the university cannot comment”.
Professor Ridd said he could not discuss whether a formal investigation was under way.
He was censured by JCU last June for “failing to act in a collegial way and in the academic spirit of the institution”.
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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/fears-uni-may-sack-marine-scientist-over-comments-on-reef-health/news-story/5d70061c8df6015abfcb07552de461df
@ scollenberger
….”.I find things work much better if people share the data and code they used to produce their results”.
Yeah right, go tell that to BOM, NIWA, NOAA, and most importantly…go tell the University of Queensland. This Proff Ridd’s livelihood is at stake here….and he’s much younger than Prof. Carter was when he was sacked.
So Scollenberger, I find things work much better if the the people of Queensland University stop lying and deceiving and share the data and code they used to produce their results.
Just a note to express support for Professor Ridd and huge appreciation for him speaking his concerns and hopefully the university will have some sense and keep this jewel of honesty on board.
Both Peter Ridd and yourself have my support.
Good work Jennifer and Peter.
Full marks to you both for your courage.
VgeoffW
I imagine JCU get a lot of funding from study of perceived life-threatening problems of the Great Barrier Reef. So for anyone to say that the reef is in basically good shape(give or take local events such as starfish and cyclones etc) and always has been would definitely be seen as a threat by university management.
Congrats on your efforts to achieve balance. am not sure “Man” has no effect on the Climate.” We need a BALANCE, I feel Regards Bruce Stoff
Let the truth be told and opinions be held. JCU should encourage this.
Very disappointed in JCU. What is it the university hides?
It seems whistle blowers are being encouraged to come forward, and in some cases offered protection in almost every walk of life.
Climate change and organisations involved with it are notable exceptions.
Good luck Prof Ridd.
What is happening to Peter Ridd is not unusual. Truth in science does not suit the Left’s agenda and it would jeopardise their professional careers entirely funded by taxpayers. I call it fraud and in private enterprise these people would be incarcerated for false advertising and deceptive advice. There is no honesty or integrity in academia for the most part. Agenda 21 is at the core of this movement orchestrated by the corrupt U.N. and its socialist cohorts.
Professor Ridd,
Please hang in there, the game is about to be won.
Donald Macleod
Chatswood.
Its very sad that Professor Ridd is ” under investigation for serious misconduct” basically for disagreeing with the political group think on climate change. The whole essence of a great university is to embrace differences in opinion on topics and encourage the debate to hash out the scientific truth (even if it may be politically difficult to swallow).
What is happening at JCU seems to becoming more common at other institutions and in many ways polarizing the debates. It’s sad that JCU is basically becoming a second class institution without the courage to allow scientific debate
Good luck Professor Ridd.
It absolutely disgusts me that Professor Ridd should even be threatened with misconduct action. If other scientists disagree with his findings then let them detail how and why he is wrong so that the matters can be properly analysed and debated – to simply condemn someone and their work because it does not ‘conform’ to ‘group think’ is just another example of political correctness gone mad – the Australian public is sick to death of it. I would urge Professor Ridd to engage lawyers to fight these misconduct proceedings tooth and nail – misconduct is having sex with under age students, not disagreeing about other so called ‘experts’ findings (especially in a supposed academic institution).
Best wishes to Professor Ridd. A courageous man whose integrity is not for sale.
Shame on a university which does not actively encourage debate between colleagues who hold opposing fields of thought.
Professor Ridd is not the only one criticising the mediocre efforts coming out of JCU. This is currently on Watts Up With That an American site by meteorologist Anthony Watts, the world’s most viewed site on global warming/climate change.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2017/08/26/an-ecologists-plea-to-dr-terry-hughes-the-public-needs-robust-science-regards-coral-bleaching-not-fearmongering/
Their ABC frequently had Terry Hughes on during the last El Nino, he didn’t inspire confidence.
Keep fighting Peter.
Yet another example of the rising tide of green fascism that seems to be welcome in academic circles. JCU should be ashamed of their behaviour which serves only to delay the advance of scientific knowledge.
It will be of little consolation to Professor Ridd to know that in the fullness of time these Luddites will be hanging their heads in shame.
JCU is unworthy of you, Professor!
I am so grateful for good folks like Peter Ridd, Joanna Nova, Bob Carter, and your good self, Jennifer Marohasy for bringing this scam to our attention. I am astonished that the general public cannot see through the weezel words used by fake science, and that they do not understand the confirmation bias that cements their stupid ignorant beliefs. If you gotta go Professor, I trust that you find rewarding enterprise in helping everyone understand the mighty con inflicted upon our guilty masses.
Best of luck with your truthful message. Shame on the university for not celebrating different points of view
I listened to Professor Peter Ridd’s comments on SKY NEWS some weeks back and thought what a brave academic, somrhing you don’t see from the normal university herd. I agreed Jennifer’s comments, JCU should be applauding a person like this. Living in Bowen and a son going to school in TSV, I will become very active if he suffers malpractice here. All the best Peter and keep us informed.
I hope that IPA can gather some finance to fund Prof Ridd who is one of the good scientists. JCU acted appallingly with regard to Prof Bob Carter and may in part be responsible for his early demise.. A decent Federal and State government would withdraw funds from JCU who have through incompetence and political maladministration made JCU into a third rate University.
I suggest that Prof Ridd looks at the Qld Public Sector Etthics Act if JCU try to discipline.
The Act requires the Public sector officers (including all the administrators (VC, board, all professors etc) at University) to carry out their functions apolitically. It is time that some of the public sector were charged and hevily fined or even jailed. Ove-Gulberg from UQ who has lied about the GBR is one who should be jail..
I am sorry to read that Prof. Ridd is being harassed and threatened with job loss for doing his job. He is a person of scientific and personal integrity.
Professor Ridd should be commended for his professionalism in alerting authorities of the apparent lack of professionalism concerning the progressing of this particular environmental issue.
As the scientific justification for Australian governments spending more than a billion dollars on the Great Barrier Reef is under serious question, it follows that the economic justification must also be under serious question.
The national interest would be best served by calling for an immediate independent audit of the keystone research papers, with the aim of minimizing the probability of wasting scarce national resources.
Peter Ridd embodies the rare ‘real’ scientist in his attempts to expose the massive scientific and intellectual fraud that is ‘Climate Science’ over the last forty years.
Specifically on Coral Reefs, the likes of Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and Queensland University have attempted for years to link Anthropogenic Global Warming to coral degradation – and reap the rewards of subsequent funding streams.
My ‘mail’ is that QU has now moved Hoegh-Guldberg ‘sideways’ – it seems the worm is turning – hang in there Peter!
I think we should know the identity of those who mistreated Bob Carter and are now contemplating removing Prof. Ridd
They should face up and provide a full explanation for their actions
How dare James Cook University threaten Professor Peter Ridd with misconduct charges for expressing a dissenting scientific opinion. Isn’t that how science works – by presenting challenging views to test any hypothesis? Or is this a religion that is sacrosanct, and not a science?
The shameful James Cook University behavior in giving Bob Carter the shove and now putting Peter Ridd In jepody is all about money – keep the research cash rolling in irrespective of the quality of the scientific output and watch out anyone who has the temerity to question this academic corruption. If Peter also gets the Shove I hope Think Tanks and courageous legal firms will rally around and sue JVU and hit this anti free speech institution where it hurts – its pocket book. Meanwhile I am hoping Peter will keep his job and continue on as a remarkable, genuine and brave scientist.
As soon as the universities current “thought fad” is threatened by an alternative view, they choke the discussion off by ridicule, sacking or whatever means they can engineer. Why? The ivory tower becomes vulnerable.
It is people like Professor Ridd and Jennifer that question these self serving, educated beyond their level of intelligence academics that manipulate science to suit their own ends that we so desperately need.
Every concerned person should applaud Ridd’s stance.Peer-review is “incestuous”. Diversity of opinion- or the challenging of the orthodoxy can see you on the outer- to say the least. Congratulations to Peter. Right is on your side!
Dr Ridd is right. Here is some proper scrutiny of Terry Hughes’ 2017 paper Global Warming and Recurrent Mass Bleaching of Corals which shows Hughes’ claims are not well supported
http://landscapesandcycles.net/more-robust-science-needed-about-coral-bleaching.html
We need more Peter Ridds and less universities if the current ones are afraid of open and challenging debate. If my mechanic says the last fellow left a few bolts undone do I sack him? It would be better to sack the one who did not do the job. If you go to a new doctor who finds a problem missed by your former GP do you sack the one who finds the problem or the one who missed it? If you were trained at JCU then you would sack the wrong doctor and the wrong mechanic.
I do note that Ove Hoegh Gulberg keeps his job although funded by Green groups and sprouting a stream of unfulfilled prophecies of doom for the reef. Having treated the late Professor Carter abominably the same scum want to do the same to Peter. What do the students learn? To have an inquiring mind or to simply follow the mob. Why employ such a graduate who would no doubt ask what you wanted and then proceeds to find supportive evidence or in OGH would do just make it up. Maybe they could take a photo of somewhere else and pretend it is the target area.
What can we do? We could write to the minister, to our representative or to the university. We really need a conservative version of GetUp. We could also ask Pauline or Cory to ask a question in the Senate.
I think the way to solve the university problem is to change the way they get their money. Universities are not just a higher form of high school. They are selling a degree which should lead to better employment opportunities. No different to someone gaining a certificate in plumbing or car repair at TAFE. In the latter case students either pay up front or their employer pays for them to train. University students should not have taxpayer funded Hecs loans. Universities could demand upfront payment or fund the Hecs themselves. I believe this approach would ensure only the brightest (those more likely to complete the course) being accepted and it would force the universities to conduct only those courses most likely to lead to well paid jobs. The benefits would lead to greater competition between universities for both students and teachers. Doing away with all the rubbish courses would also do away with all the rubbish academics and many of the so called student activists.
Dear Peter Ridd,
I enjoyed and appreciated both your appearance at the launch of Climate Change – the facts 2017 – and your first chapter in the book. You must have known that your doing so would not be appreciated by the “closed shop” of your fellow academics at JCU. All the braver of you to speak out and we can only hope that the publicity that this threat is getting will make your VC reconsider the threat of action against you. It beggars belief that a University pays no heed to the “scientific principle” of scepticism and challenge. They should be supporting you, not damning you but then, what is science when funding is at stake.
Good luck and I sincerely hope that decency and common sense wins through for you.
Professer Ridd and Jenny Marohasy should be congratulated for the work they do. To take a stand against those whose livelihood depends on homogenising the facts and distorting figures simply to advance their own personal gains and stature is to be lauded, not condemned .
Disgusting. This is a throwback to the times of the infamous Inquisition; this time in support of self-serving, neo religious dogma. James Cook Uni should be re-named James Cook Re-education Centre.
As one who was forced out of a senior scientific role in the public sector for pointing out certain unpalatable scientific facts and their consequences for Australian agriculture (which are now shown to be the case, and already costing that industry billions annually) my advice is to keep on keeping on Peter. Even if they do force you out, your personal integrity will be maintained, and for me and I expect for you too, that is what gives you real comfort at night.
The neo-religion of scientism is really just non-science nonsense put up by those who either lack the intellectual capacity to understand how real science works, or who supress that knowledge and sell their souls in order to advance their careers. They are the worthless shyte of history, whose only purpose is to be shown to be wrong and thereby forever subject to shame and ridicule, and as a reminder of what happens when ignorance and stupidity are allowed to subvert and over-ride intellect and reason.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke.
Hang it there Truth will ultimately prevail
Noel Skippen et al: not just Bob Carter, Mervyn Bendle too – two people I greatly respect. I met Carter, a wonderful man, I didn’t meet Bendle but corresponded with him. They are/were exactly the kind and standard of academics Australia needs, the system is awash with mediocrities doing meaningless work, who fear exposure by the Carters, Bendles and Ridds. James Cook-the-books Uni.
Andrew Lake, I commiserate. My career-ending crime at Queensland Treasury was, a supportive insider told me, that the hierarchy feared my “honesty, integrity, intellect and analytical rigour.” Not once in 11 years in the Qld PS was my analysis (in economic policy and project evaluation) faulted, but it was often ignored, as in the infamous Queensland Magnesium case.
Professor Peter Ridd deserves our support. James Cook University should be ashamed of itself in censoring free speech. As if any view point contrary to ‘left’ or post-modern dogma is a dangerous heresy to be suppressed at all costs.
Prof Ridd,, thank you for your honesty and science based scrutiny of these fraudulent papers that seemingly scientists have written in the name of climate change.
I tell people almost every day that if the climate didn’t change we wouldn’t be here and we would just still be frozen little single cell amoebas.
Also thank you to Jenny for her excellent work. what a breath of fresh air you guys are.
I have struggled for many years now to understand why and how scientificly (allegedly) qualified people have to tell lies to get ahead and be popular amongst their peers.
I just cant get my head around how stupid and illogical they sound when you read their papers.
It takes me only minutes (actually make that seconds) to identify the holes in their reports, their approach, their ridiculous root cause analysis and inferences around the data that they (allegedly) have collected and analysed (honestly ??).
I have seen and heard some pretty crazy stuff in my 63 years on this planet but nothing like the uptake and coagulation of this miss guided climate religion.
My one foreseeable forecast is that after spending billions of dollars on advertising, buying green certificates bought and sold for many years that there will be a natural period of cooling again (notice I said “again”) and they will take the credit for turning the tide on climate change. Mark my words , they will claim victory when mother nature decides herself, when conditions are aligned that there will be natural variation in the temperatures recorded and celebrations will be broadcast across ABC and all other networks that the greenies have saved the world by trading bits of paper.
OMG, I hope I’m still around to see it. I just hope that there are voices like yours to bring the idiots back to realisation with historical trending data to show how stupid they really are.
I am of the opinion now that some people are just sponges for a cause and will soak up whatever is served up to them in the name of anything green and seemingly good for the planet. it doesn’t have to be the truth just a good story line and a lot of people making a lot of money out of it. DONT GET IN THE WAY OF BIG BUSINESS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY (and POLITICIANS). hopefully not for long though, once found out, run them all out of town.
Stay safe and keep up the good work.
Thank You !
Professor Ridd, you are a champion for science. I greatly admire anyone who values integrity above all else and puts the future of science ahead of their own. It will be a sad day for science if the JCU does the wrong thing by you.
Jen, you’re research is being reported here.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/22/delingpole-global-warming-is-almost-entirely-natural-study-confirms/
Peter – stay with what you know, whatever the cost. I wish I had done so.
Of course if the left have their way, the James Cook University will have to change its name soon so as not to be associated with an “invader”. Maybe JCU themselves will suggest they have to change their name.
Considering all descisions being made in regards to alternative sources of electricity supply are predicated on extremely disputable “consensus of opinion” we need more people like Prof. Ridd, willing to tell it the way it is.
Prof Ridd and Jen Marohasy
Just received “Climate Change the facts 2017″2nd Edition
It should be compulsory reading for all policy makers and Politicians
It is erudite and compulsive reading
Keep up the good work
Marcus G
Prof Ridd yesterday speaking with Chris Smith on Sydney radio 2GB:
http://www.2gb.com/podcast/university-professor-censored/
We should all be very concerned that our tertiary institutions have been hijacked by the far left.
Thanks very much Gough Whitlam – for nothing.
One method of contacting JCU is via their website “Feedback” section.
Whether that has any effect or not remains to be seen.
Oddly, Peter Ridd’s “expert advice” on the GBR appear only in the mass media, and his opinions remain therefore immune from ever having to appear on Retraction Watch.
If Ridd has something to add tot he published science on this topic, why is he not doing so?
***** Craig Thomas, you are in error.
Ridd has a long publication record: more than 100 papers in international science journals.
On the specific topics on which he has been making public comment recently, you may like to read him in:
Ecological Applications (volume 22), Marine Pollution Bulletin (volume 65), Marine Geology (volume 346) and Energy & Environment (volume 18).
Additional contact points apart from JCU’s feedback section:
For alumni (former students and former academic staff): engagement@jcu.edu.au
Vice Chancellor’s Office: vc@jcu.edu.au
Oh my, Craig tried to lob in a bomb and instead was hoisted on his own petard.
So which of those publications specifically supports Ridd’s recent statements to the tabloid media?
Dear Craig,
You can look this up very easily in Web of Science or Scopus.
Also, while you are there, check out Tim Flannery’s scientific publications.
Kind regards,
Neville
Hi Craig,
I suggest you get a handle on Ridd’s work in this area by first reading Chapter 1 of our new book. You can purchase it here… https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/books/climate-change-facts-2017-ebook-now-sale. Kindle, e-book and now paper back available.
His various scientific publications in this specific area are placed in context, in this chapter.
Cheers,
Craig us upset that someone questioning the consensus actually got to speak publicly, in the same manner as consensus promoters.
Even while he is still suffering from the effects of his own petard.
He seems quite unwilling to consider information that does not fit his consensus echo chamber…
I am a student at JCU and Peter Ridd is one of my favourite lecturers. Because he is honest, passionate and totally the opposite to the word bias. I always admire him for speaking out and standing for the right. This isn’t the first time JCU has disappointed us students. I hope JCU wakes up and listens to genuine voices. How couldn’t a scientist throw a question? Ridiculous.
From Minnesota in the U.S. — I would like to add another voice in support. Heroes are often isolated because they have chosen the right but narrow and difficult path. Human nature is very slow to change. The current attempt to create a dejure science parallels beliefs in witchcraft, eugenics and so much more. It may someday be the shining example of how not to do science. The collusion of science, politics and the media is profoundly antithetical to the ideals of the elegance and ideals of the scientific method.
The name of Peter Ridd could very well be among the the names of those who lead the way out of a terrible scientific cesspool (along with Jennifer’s name) ——Thank you Peter Ridd ——Shame on James Cook University—-a black mark on the U
I intend to boycott JCU entirely. Would never be a students there in light of their shameful treatment of a true intellectual. Debating research ideas and questioning findings is an indication of the health and rigour of an academic establishment. JCU you show yourself to be truly backwards! Deplorable!
I would like to add that I believe that the top Australian universities such as University of Sydney would never stoop.to such a level. Get with the program JCU and start being the sophisticated university one would expect to find in a first world country. Instead JCU’s treatment of intellectual debate and dialogue is reminiscent of the dark ages or a controlling regime. Have you read 1984? Is this how you want to be perceived JCU?
Voltaire : To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize
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