Dive Summary:
- New York's University at Buffalo closed its shale gas research institute Monday after just seven months following an investigation by the State University Board of Trustees brought on by professors accusing the institute of having close ties to the industry.
- Environmental groups were critical of the institute ever since it released its first report in May, which concluded that Pennsylvania's state regulators had improved gas drilling industry oversight and that New York's regulations would prevent major environmental impacts.
- The university withdrew its initial statement that the study was peer-reviewed, and further inquiry revealed that the reports three authors had ties to the energy industry on top of being academics--though the institute's director, John Martin, said the report was funded entirely by the university.
From the article:
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The University at Buffalo on Monday closed its seven-month-old shale gas research institute, which was under investigation by the State University Board of Trustees after a group of professors accused it of having undisclosed ties to industry. UB President Satish Tripathi acknowledged that the university's policies governing disclosure of financial interests had been "inconsistently applied" and the appearance of independence and integrity of the institute's research impacted. ...