Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Peter Ridd Asks for your Help – Now

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PROFESSOR Peter Ridd is a physicist at James Cook University who has dared to question scientific findings that purport to show the Great Barrier Reef is in trouble. Specifically, he has been formally censured by the University and told to remain quiet about the matter – or risk his job.

The issue dates back to August 2017, and comments he made on television promoting the book I edited last year – Climate Change: The Facts 2017.

Peter wrote the first chapter in this book, and in it he suggests that there are major problems with quality assurance when it comes to claims of the imminent demise of the reef. He has also published in the scientific literature detailing his concerns about the methodology used to measure calcification rates, including a technical paper in Marine Geology (volume 65).

After some reflection over the last couple of months, and some thousands of dollars on legal fees – so far paid by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) that first published the book that got him into trouble – Professor Ridd has decided to fight the final censure.

In short, he has decided he would rather be fired than be quiet.

But he is now going to have to find about A$95,000!

So, this university Professor has set-up a crowdfunding account. It is now your turn to show support and help fight the case.

https://www.gofundme.com/peter-ridd-legal-action-fund

Peter Ridd and Jennifer Marohasy speaking about the need for quality assurance in science last November in Sydney.

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UPDATE – Saturday morning

This screenshot was snapped early Saturday morning (Queensland, Australia – time). Korepetitoriai ir anglų kalbos kursai Vilniuje

So, we have reached and exceeded the target in just two days!

Peter Ridd is exceedingly grateful to everyone who donated.

Also, a huge thank you to Anthony Watts who owns and manages https://wattsupwiththat.com/ for so actively supporting this campaign, and also the Executive Director of the IPA, John Roskam, who has backed Peter Ridd on this from the beginning. I would also like to thank ‘BM’ for his very generous donation, and also my Mum for her A$100.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Woidy says

    Isn’t it pathetic that an institution can force someone to have to resort to this so they can just prove a point. And that point is that grants and funding trumps the truth. While ever great and honest scientists with integtity and there, JCU had some credence, however now that seems lost. The demise of another institution.

  5. hunter says

    Contribution made. A privilege to be able to help.
    Thank you for bringing this to the public.

  7. spangled drongo says

    Jen, how good was that!?

    $99,332 of $95,000 goal. Raised by 842 people in 2 days.

    Donations now terminated.

  8. Jennifer says

    As per my ‘update’ above: a BIG THANK YOU to EVERYONE who made a donation. As Spangled reports – we have made and exceeded the target.

  9. Roland says

    I heard about Professor Ridd’s campaign on Thursday, logged in today to make a donation and found that it’s all over. Such a great response by skeptics indicates a tipping-point in our favor !

  11. AlanP says

    Only just heard of this dilemma, happy to contribute if more required.
    Freedom of speech is an imperative!!

  12. Rhyl says

    Since Free Speech will continue to be threatened please keep us informed about how Dr Ridd fares. It is despicable for a university to trash free speech and academic rigour so thoughtlessly.

  13. Dag Nabbit says

    Mr. Ridd should know better than to blaspheme against the Holy Mother Church of Political Science. JRC maintains a fully-equipped “re-education” chamber in their dungeon for heretics such as he. The Cat-O-Nine Tails and the rack can be very persuasive.

  14. Peter C says

    Terry McCrann has called for the Vice Chancellor and the board of the JCU to be sacked immediately. That is a very attractive idea to me.