The Independent Climate Change Email Review

“The Review will investigate allegations arising from the series of hacked emails from the Climatic Research Unit. We will investigate whether there is evidence of poor scientific practice and data management which could call CRU research into question. The Review is about scientific rigour and honesty, freedom of information procedures and data handling."---Sir Muir Russell

The very informative FAQ's page of The Independent Climate Change Email Review explains:

The University of East Anglia announced the independent Review on 11 February to investigate key allegations arising from the series of hacked emails from the Climatic Research Unit in December 2009.

The incident saw an anonymous hacker steal 160MB of data from the UEA server (including more than 1,000 emails and 3,000 other documents) and leak it online...

This review is not a criminal investigation. However, Norfolk Constabulary are investigating criminal offences in relation to the hacking incident. The Information Commissioner is examining Freedom of Information and Data Protection issues. The Review has met Norfolk Constabulary and the Information Commissioner’s Office and will remain in touch on matters of mutual interest.

This press release (2-11-10) is posted on the news site of "The Independent Climate Change Email Review."

INDEPENDENT CLIMATE CHANGE EMAIL REVIEW ANNOUNCES TEAM, WORKPLAN AND CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The independent Climate Change Email Review today announced its membership, published its workplan and issued a call for submissions from interested parties. It also invited comments on the issues which it has identified for investigation.

Sir Muir Russell, chair of the review, made the announcement with other members at the Science Media Centre in London. He also launched the Review's website at www.cce-review.org.

Other members of the team are: Professor Peter Clarke, Professor Geoffrey Boulton, Dr Philip Campbell, Professor Jim Norton, and David Eyton.

Sir Muir explained that the Review team had finished a preliminary appraisal of the evidence, and would now look at the issues in detail, as well as review submissions. He said:

“The Review will investigate allegations arising from the series of hacked emails from the Climatic Research Unit. We will investigate whether there is evidence of poor scientific practice and data management which could call CRU research into question. The Review is about scientific rigour and honesty, freedom of information procedures and data handling."

“The Review team has an exceptional range of scientific backgrounds and expertise, designed to ensure we can cover all the issues involved.

"However, it is not our role to re-appraise the CRU's scientific conclusions. The University of East Anglia has today announced a separate independent review which will undertake this re-appraisal, and the Royal Society been asked to advise on identifying possible assessors.

"We aim to reach preliminary conclusions during the Spring."

The deadline for submissions to the Review is 1 March 2010. Full details of the workplan, the issues identified by the Review, and contact details can be found on the Website at www.cce-review.org.

Sir Muir Russell to head the Independent Review into the allegations against the Climatic Research Unit (CRU)

To read the University of East Anglia’s full press release on the announcement of the Review click here.