[tt] CHE: Global-Warming Skeptic Who Served as a State Climatologist Says His Speech Was Restricted

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Global-Warming Skeptic Who Served as a State Climatologist Says His Speech 
Was Restricted
News bulletin from the Chronicle of Higher Education, 7.10.5
http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/10/2007100503n.htm

By RICHARD MONASTERSKY


Patrick J. Michaels, a research professor at the University of Virginia 
who served as the state climatologist, has made a name for himself as one 
of the most prominent academic skeptics of human-caused global warming, 
which he views as much less of a threat than most other scientists do.

That contrary position has caused friction between Mr. Michaels and the 
governor, Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat who has pressed for taking steps to 
combat greenhouse-gas emissions. Mr. Michaels says that because the 
support for his position involved state money, the political pressure grew 
to the point that it was hampering his academic freedom.

And so he resigned his post as state climatologist this past summer, a 
move that attracted little notice until last week.

"I was told that I could not speak in public on my area of expertise -- 
global warming -- as state climatologist," he said in a statement released 
last week by the Cato Institute, in Washington, where he is a senior 
fellow. "It was impossible to maintain academic freedom with this speech 
restriction," he added.

Jay Zieman, chairman of the department of environmental sciences at UVa, 
which oversees the state's climatology office, said that Mr. Michaels's 
freedom was not impinged, adding that "this department has defended his 
right to publish." But, Mr. Zieman said, Mr. Michaels was told that "when 
he was speaking about global warming, he could not do it under the rubric 
as state climatologist."

Since 2006, Mr. Michaels has been on long-term leave from Virginia, 
pending his retirement, said Mr. Zieman.

Philip J. Stenger, research coordinator at the university's climatology 
office, has been handling its day-to-day operations for several years and 
has now taken over for Mr. Michaels, said Mr. Zieman. He does not, 
however, have the title of state climatologist.

Mr. Zieman said that he would meet later with university officials, who 
would make a recommendation to the president regarding the future of the 
title.