Uni coal link in the spot light
Newcastle Greens
10 November 2006
University coal link in the spot light
The Greens candidate for the state seat of Newcastle, Cr Michael Osborne, has written an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Nicholas Saunders, asking for information about the scale of coal industry funding of the university’s research.
Cr Osborne said that his letter reflected concerns expressed to him by people in the local community regarding possible conflicts of interest in the stance taken by university representatives in defending corporate interests such as the coal industry.
“I’m a strong believer in the right of academics to speak out on public issues within their sphere of expertise,” Cr Osborne said.
“But I’m also conscious of the corporatisation of our universities as a result of chronic Federal Government under-funding, especially in cases where universities solicit and accept research money from the corporate sector.
“Academics who make public statements related to an area in which their university receives corporate funding should fully disclose such matters so that members of the public can make up their own minds about the credibility of the information they are providing - in the same way that we now expect such disclosures from our journalists and politicians.”
Cr Osborne said that his letter was prompted by a recent media article (in last week’s Newcastle Herald) defending the coal industry by the university’s Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor Scott Holmes.
The article was attributed to Professor Holmes in his official capacity as a representative of the university’s research unit, rather than in his individual academic capacity as a Professor of Accounting.
“I’m aware that the university receives significant research funding from the coal industry, and this was not disclosed in Professor Holmes’ article, despite the fact that his defence of the coal industry was published in his official capacity as a key university research administrator.
“I don’t think many people in the Newcastle community are aware that there is a research funding link between the university and the coal industry, yet this may be highly relevant to people in assessing the credibility of any information and views coming from a source who is connected with such funding.
“Clearly, there is a potential conflict of interest here, and clearly it raises significant issues for academic integrity and for public transparency and accountability.
“Consequently, I’ve sought relevant information from the Vice Chancellor about the scale of coal industry funding for the university’s research, and about the policies and systems that the university has in place to address potential conflicts of interest, and to ensure full disclosure and academic freedom and integrity in such matters.”
Cr Osborne said that he would publish the Vice Chancellor’s reply on his blog when he receives it.
