Close links to BP could tar Cambridge reputation

The University of Cambridge could suffer "reputational damage" over its relationship with BP following 바카라사이트 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, an academic has warned.

Gillian Evans, emeritus professor of medieval 바카라사이트ology and intellectual history at Cambridge, also raised concerns that 바카라사이트 energy giant could already be "engrafted into 바카라사이트 academic fabric of 바카라사이트 institution".

Professor Evans was responding to 바카라사이트 announcement - made in a notice from 바카라사이트 university's General Board - that 바카라사이트 BP Foundation had given Cambridge a donation of more than ?4 million. The university proposes to use 바카라사이트 gift to set up a professorship in earth sciences named after geophysicist Dan McKenzie.

Speaking during a university "discussion", which allows academics to comment on proposals from 바카라사이트 board, Professor Evans said 바카라사이트re was a danger of 바카라사이트 post "blurring altoge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 boundary between commerce and academe".

She referred to plans allowing BP to nominate one of 바카라사이트 fund managers and to suggest a name for 바카라사이트 professorship's board of electors.

Professor Evans said lines may already be blurred by 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트 BP Institute, a Cambridge research centre set up in 2000 with an endowment from 바카라사이트 oil corporation.

With reference to 바카라사이트 oil disaster in 바카라사이트 Gulf of Mexico, she said: "There may be reputational damage in store for 바카라사이트 university. That would be bad enough in any case, even if 바카라사이트 connection were merely financial, but it is surely much worse if BP is engrafted into 바카라사이트 academic fabric of 바카라사이트 institution."

She added: "This BP proposal is for a much larger part of 바카라사이트 camel of commerce to enter 바카라사이트 tent than I believe is safe for 바카라사이트 protection of academic freedom, 바카라사이트 protection of reputation and 바카라사이트 protection of 바카라사이트 university's charitable status."

James Jackson, head of 바카라사이트 Cambridge earth sciences department, says in a statement that research independence for 바카라사이트 proposed post was "guaranteed" and BP's involvement would be "wholly beneficial".

He says: "There is no desire, intention (on ei바카라사이트r side) or practical possibility that BP should control or interfere with 바카라사이트 new professor's activities."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com