Ghastly. I get variations on the "academic freedom" and "I am an expert in this research area therefore I am an expert on this research area's safety" arguments all the time.
On Dec 27, 2018, at 11:41 AM, Ralph Stuart <000005bc294e9212-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> wrote:This is an interesting case study for those of us overseeing academic laboratories.
https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/2018/12/21/clemson-university-lab-shuts-down-over-safety-concerns/2268019002/
The article above includes an interesting take on academic freedom. Wikipedia describes academic freedom as
"Academic freedom is the conviction that the freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment."
The story doesn't indicate that any of those consequences are likely as a result of the University's action. The professor's case that he operates safely would probably be stronger if he wasn't pictured dispensing liquid nitrogen barehanded as part of the story...
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
rstuartcih**At_Symbol_Here**me.com
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