BP launches effort to control scientific research of oil disaster.

[LongTomH]

British Petroleum is 'buying up scientists' in an effort to control publication of reports on environmental damage and to restrict scientists from testifying against them. According to the Climate Progress blog:

Scientists from Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University and Texas A&M have “signed contracts with BP to work on their behalf in the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) process” that determines how much ecological damage the Gulf of Mexico region is suffering from BP’s toxic black tide. The contract, the Mobile Press-Register has learned, “prohibits the scientists from publishing their research, sharing it with other scientists or speaking about the data that they collect for at least the next three years.”

The Mobile Press-Register blog article linked to above has statements from scientists who were approached by BP:

"We told them there was no way we would agree to any kind of restrictions on the data we collect. It was pretty clear we wouldn't be hearing from them again after that," said Bob Shipp, head of marine sciences at the University of South Alabama. "We didn't like the perception of the university representing BP in any fashion."

<snip>

More than one scientist interviewed by the Press-Register described being offered $250 an hour through BP lawyers. At eight hours a week, that amounts to $104,000 a year.

BP apparently is more interested in buying the silence of scientists, through confidentiality clauses in their contracts:

"It makes me feel like they were more interested in making sure we couldn't testify against them than in having us testify for them," said George Crozier, head of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, who was approached by BP.

<snip>

Richard Shaw, associate dean of LSU's School of the Coast and Environment, said that the BP contracts are already hindering the scientific community's ability to monitor the affects of the Gulf spill.

"This is not an agreement to do research for BP," Wiygul said. "This is an agreement to join BP's legal team. You agree to communicate with BP through their attorneys and to take orders from their attorneys.

"The purpose is to maintain any information or data that goes back and forth as privileged."

[gateley]

1. I heard they also bought up a lot of lawyers in that area. nt

[yella_dawg]

2. Hey BP! Need a statistician? Data modeling developer?

Times are hard and $250 per hour sounds sweet.

[blindpig]

3. Expropriate without compensation

It should be clear that they will put their financial interests above all and are not acting in good faith.