BP buys up Gulf scientists for legal defense roiling academic community

[Guest guest]

I have not verified the validity of this blog. But seemed on point with

the 1% discussion (plus money thrown into the equation)

Sharon

_http://blog.al.com/live/2010/07/bp_buys_up_gulf_scientists_for.html_

(http://blog.al.com/live/2010/07/bp_buys_up_gulf_scientists_for.html)

BP buys up Gulf scientists for legal defense, roiling academic community

Published: Friday, July 16, 2010, 5:00 AM Updated: Friday, July 16,

2010, 6:34 AM

(http://connect.al.com/user/braines/index.html) _Ben Raines,

Press-Register _ (http://connect.al.com/user/braines/index.html)

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(Press-Register file/ Mercer) " 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. "

For the last few weeks, BP has been offering signing bonuses and lucrative

pay to prominent scientists from public universities around the Gulf Coast

to aid its defense against spill litigation.

BP PLC attempted to hire the entire marine sciences department at one

Alabama university, according to scientists involved in discussions with the

company's lawyers. The university declined because of confidentiality

restrictions that the company sought on any research.

The Press-Register obtained a copy of a contract offered to scientists by

BP. It 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.