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RICE EARTH SCIENCE DEPARTMENT NEWS UPDATE:

Rice Earth Science professor refuses publication of report with systematic deletions
Texas state environmental agency accused of censorship relating to climate change findings

Dr. John Anderson, Rice University's W. Maurice Ewing Professor of Oceanography, charges that The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has systematically omitted all references to climate change and sea-level rise from an article he wrote about changes in Galveston Bay.

The deletions by the Texas agency are ideological and political, said Dr. Anderson. "I don't think there is any question but that their motive is to tone this thing down as it relates to global change," Anderson said. "...It's not about the science. It's all politics."

"Anderson said the TCEQ won't allow the article—written for a report by the TCEQ's Galveston Bay Estuary Program—to be published without the deletions. That, and Anderson's refusal to accept the changes, are holding up publication of The State of the Bay, a periodic report published by the program."

The rest of the Houston Chronicle article is here: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Professor-says-state-agency-censored-article-2211691.php

Additional media coverage on this issue:
UPI.com - Scientists Revolt over Texas Censorship: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/14/Scientists-revolt-over-Texas-censorship/UPI-60611318617220/

The Guardian (UK) - Rick Perry officials spark revolt after doctoring environment report: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/14/rick-perry-texas-censorship-environment-report?newsfeed=true

New Scientist - Texas officials censored climate change report: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/10/texas-officials-censored-clima.html

Houston Press' "Best of 2011" Scientific Breakthrough Award
Dr. Alan Levander and Team recognized for Colorado Plateau research

The annual Houston Press "Best of" awards are out, and Rice's Dr. Alan Levander has been recognized in the Scientific Breakthrough category.

From the Press: "The asthenosphere and lithosphere don't usually concern us, but thankfully a brainiac team over at Rice University led by Alan Levander has them on their radar. There's a huge section of land known as the Colorado Plateau; it has a "rising while it's sinking" quality that's had scientists scratching their heads for a while. Seems the bottom layers (that's the asthenosphere) are pushing up, while the top layers (the lithosphere) are sinking down..."

More details on the "Best of 2011" award: http://www.houstonpress.com/bestof/2011/award/best-scientific-and-10-breakthrough-2674712/

Last updated  05/2012 DBeck