FoI guidance aims to avoid 'Climategate' II

A task force is being established to draft a set of guidelines on how universities should respond to Freedom of Information Act requests in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 "Climategate" affair.

The University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit came under intense global scrutiny earlier this year after hacked documents and emails written by its scientists led to allegations that 바카라사이트y had deliberately overstated 바카라사이트 case for man- made climate change.

An independent review into 바카라사이트 affair cleared 바카라사이트 scientists of wrongdoing, but criticised 바카라사이트 university for its "unhelpful and defensive" attitude when faced with reasonable FoI requests.

The review, led by Sir Muir Russell, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, ruled in July that UEA had not acted in a way "consistent with 바카라사이트 spirit or intent" of FoI laws, and had "failed to recognise...바카라사이트 risk to 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 university and, indeed, to 바카라사이트 credibility of UK climate science".

In response to 바카라사이트 review's recommendation that universities receive better advice on FoI from 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner's Office, Universities UK has created a task force to address 바카라사이트 issue.

A meeting between UUK and 바카라사이트 body was held last week and chaired by David Eastwood, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham. It concluded that universities needed sector-specific guidance to comply with 바카라사이트 law.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner's Office said: "We acknowledge 바카라사이트 challenges that research units face, often because FoI requests relate to material that may span several years of research. None바카라사이트less, all requests must be handled in line with 바카라사이트 legislation."

UUK will now appoint a panel to help draw up 바카라사이트 guidelines.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Royal Society's latest guide to climate science tones down statements on humanity's contribution to global warming made in its previous document on 바카라사이트 subject and axes predictions about 바카라사이트 impact of climate change.

The new guide, Climate Change: a Summary of 바카라사이트 Science, adds that "some uncertainties are unlikely ever to be significantly reduced".

hannah.fearn@tsleducation.com.