People send me stuff.
Amid complaints about the veracity and ethics of his psychological research trying to equate climate skeptics to conspiracy theory nuts and “moon landing deniers”, it seems that Professor Lewandowsky is no longer at the University of Western Australia and has moved to the UK and is practicing his craft at Bristol University, managing to convince the Royal Society to give him a grant:
Professors Stephan Lewandowsky, Chair in Cognitive Psychology in the School of Experimental Psychology, and Fred Manby, Professor of Theoretical Chemistry in the Centre for Computational Chemistry, have both been successful in securing this prestigious award from the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science.
I know of at least two, possibly more, professional complaints that are in progress against Lewdandowsy (and his sidekick, Skeptical Science’ s John Cook) at the University of Western Australia for his data fabrication and his questionable science composed of outlandish made-up claims designed to smear climate skeptics worldwide.
His most recent skeptic smear paper has been taken down, pending investigation.
No announcement or reason for the move was made that I (or others) can find so far. UWA still has his page in place here and there’s a new page at Bristol University here. Neither page says anything about this move or status, and at his blog Shaping Tomorrow’s World there’s no mention of this change in his bio page. The last update was by John Cook on March 22nd.
It will be interesting to see how Lewandowsky’s furtive exit will affect UWA’s handling of the various complaints.
h/t to A. Scott and to Jo Nova who also has some thoughts here on how Bristol University and the Royal Society have now come to “own” Lewandowsky’s baggage.
UPDATE: Richard Tol provides some insight in comments. I wasn’t aware of a “mobility award” and there is nothing in the announcement he cites about it or its conditions.
Lewandowsky won a mobility award: http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2013/9330.html The grant is conditional on him moving to Bristol.
There is a long lag between initial idea, grant application, and award. This has nothing to do with recent events.
So while his move may cool the complaints raised at UWA, it seems that he’s simply “following the money”.
Here’s Lewandowsky’s video:
Related articles
- Lewandowsky Doubles Down (climateaudit.org)
- Lew’s Gong: like … wow. (geoffchambers.wordpress.com)
- Stephan Lewandowsky and John Cook – making things up (wattsupwiththat.com)
- Lew’s Guru and the Science of a Beautiful You (geoffchambers.wordpress.com)
- Why people believe in conspiracy theories (salon.com)
- Denier Déjà Vu: Conspiracy Theories In The Blogosphere In Response To Research On Conspiracy Theories (thinkprogress.org)
- Lewandowsky Timeline (geoffchambers.wordpress.com)
richardscourtney
He wont get the chance of accusing the Skeptic Movement of being Anti Semetic (just anti bad science) One ultra rightwing nut job rant on an extremist website is the excepton that proves the rule.
Give a Junk Psycologist enough Sustainably Sourced Fair Trade Hemp Rope and he will eventually Hang Himself.
Steve dont delete that Youtube Clip look totally crediball in it.psst.
A Cospiracy Theorist accusing another bunch of Cospiracy Theorist of being Conspiract Theorist.
Keep talking Steve doing a great job for our movement. Soon be back on the plane to OZ to face the discipliary charge of bringing his old University into disrepute for fiddling his Data.He can always claim its a Consracy Theory by a bunch of Conspiracy Theorist i suppose to prove a Conspiracy Theory.He can always get a job at Roswell .Is AREA 51 recruiting?
Skeptics claim yet another easy scalp.
@max Hugoson:
“Where does one meet up with Lucifer, and where does one sign one’s soul away, is my primary question???”
You jest, but please re-think your words. That is not a joke. You still possess something no money can buy or restore and which, by implication, Mr Lew has squandered for eternity.This is as much true whether your “belief” is metaphysical or existentialist.
Of course the former allows the possibility of redemption, which the latter does not.
@Suffolk Boy
UWE has its own Psychology Dept Moonbat, one Susan Blackmore.
atarsinc says:
April 28, 2013 at 7:35 pm
I could agree with what you’re saying about Lewandowsky if it wasn’t for the obvious fact that “climate change denial” in and of itself isn’t necessarily a conspiracy theory. So he’s wrong to label it such, and wrong to label all “deniers” as conspiracy theorists. As richardscourtney has pointed out, the background and core beliefs of “deniers” are remarkably diverse. Some might go so far as to suggest conspiracy, yes, while at the other extreme some might simply be questioning some relatively minor aspect of the science – a minor quibble overall, and yet still get labelled as a “denier”. I would go so far as to say that the level of diversity amongst so-called deniers is equal to any race or other grouping of people…the only thing linking them being this ridiculous label…and therefore to suggest that all these people are “the same” and mentally deficient in some way, is plainly fascism.
@Suffolk Boy
..no its a place where academics openly display anti-Bush posters on their office door.
To be fair, it really is sad that the department so recently departed by the late Richard Gregory should take into its embrace such as Lew.
As someone pointed out earlier, its peculiar that a guy given a post as cognitive psychologist should be spending all his time conducting what is (nominally) social psychology.
Conspiracies disavowed, but there really a whiff of “old boys club” going on here: “Not what you know but who you know”.
As for computational modelling, it is actually a well established and respectable approach to attempting to understand cognitive processes. But how survey papers can be connected with that appears cryptic to say the least.
Jim South London:
re your post at April 29, 2013 at 2:32 am .
“Yes, the ultra-right does oppose AGW because that opposition fits their agenda.
Indeed, if you review the files of WUWT you can find more examples of it in their posts which e.g. claim H1tler was “left wing”!”
He defined his own movement as being in the middle, open to all people from the left and the right; Stalin denounced him as right wing; so if you share the opinion of Stalin, that is your choice.
The criminals were supposed to be transported to Australia, not the other way round.
I’m betting he’ll be a favourite with the BBC as a climate change authority.
There’s nothing new about types like Lewandowsky.
http://thepointman.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/the-real-bastards/
Pointman
Nah – he’s just over here for the cricket: the Oz touring team starts the 4-day county warm-up matches in June and the Test series on 10 July.
Otherwise he must have changed career to become a dentist, like all the rest 😉
The Gillard has stated that it will take funding from Universities and funnel that into schools. And today, the Australian treasurer, who incidentally was voted as the “Best Treasurer in the World” by some 2bit EU economist magazine a couple of years ago, along with it, have announced a $12bil shortfall in tax revenue. Really? Are you surprised about that Gillard, après the “Proice ohn cahbohn” (Making the business of doing business, already expensive in Australia, even more expensive. Further placing pressure on business to export that business overseas. Textiles and Bangladesh anyone)? Now he knows his day are “Gonski”, along with the Gillard too.
Lew Flew? Who knew?
I don’t see any downside, by leaving down under for up yonder, Lew will raise
the average IQ of both countries.
Clearly, earning an honest living just doesn’t pay.
DirkH:
I am copying your post at April 29, 2013 at 5:51 am so others can see your proclamation of the truth of the part of my post from which you have quoted. Those who want to read the whole post – and so see your quotation of me in context – can jump to it by use of this link
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/04/28/stephan-lewandowsky-flees-australia-in-wake-of-investigations/#comment-1290949
H1tler was a fascist; i.e. ultra-right. He claimed he was “in the middle”.
You say you agree with H1tler that “he was in the middle”..
I do NOT agree with H1tler and that does NOT mean I agree with Stalin; I do not.
Richard
“richardscourtney says:
April 29, 2013 at 7:34 am”
Actually, Hitler *was* ultra left, initially in his early political career. He became ultra right wing a short time after Hindenburg promoted him.
PS. Sorry Mods, spelling error in my email addy.
Patrick:
Your post at April 29, 2013 at 7:42 am says to me
If that were true then it would have no relevance.
Stalin commented on the ultra-right H1tler long after “Hindenburg promoted him”.
I was objecting – and do object – to an ultra-right nutter claiming I must be a Stalinist because I mentioned that H1tler was ultra-right.
Richard
PS Churchill was on the Liberal benches before he walked across the House, but nobody objects to statements that he was a Conservative.
Does this mean a new edition to the Bristol Stool Chart could be on the cards?
Type 8 (Lewandowsky): As Type 7 but comes out of your mouth.
“The Gillard has stated that it will take funding from Universities and funnel that into schools. And today, the Australian treasurer, who incidentally was voted as the “Best Treasurer in the World” by some 2bit EU economist magazine a couple of years ago, along with it, have announced a $12bil shortfall in tax revenue. Really? Are you surprised about that Gillard, après the “Proice ohn cahbohn” (Making the business of doing business, already expensive in Australia, even more expensive. Further placing pressure on business to export that business overseas. Textiles and Bangladesh anyone)? Now he knows his day are “Gonski”, along with the Gillard too.”
One of the objects with the carbon tax and quotas is to hurt the private sector economy. That means less production, consumption and taxes!!
Why surprised?
Come listen to my story about Lewandowsky
A poor academe who disgraced all that’s science-y
Went out one day looking for a government grant
when out from his brain came a loony denier rant
greenie gold… eco tea…
Well the first thing you know, old Lew is on the team
the consensus hailed his genious and his new insulting meme
they said you’ve really done it, you have proved that they’re all dumb
and with this meme we can keep them under thumb
aw, screw it, I’m sick of Lewandowsky…
richardscourtney,
Fascism only works with an extremely strong central government that is largely in control of the means of production. There is no functional difference between Soviet Communism and Fascism. In Fascism the means of production is owned by a powerful party member and controlled by the party. In Soviet Communism the means of production is officially owned by ‘the people’ but it is run by a powerful party member and controlled by the party.
There is very little difference between either system only difference is who officially owns the means of production. In either case control which is far more important than ownership rests in the hands of party members, the party and the state which are essentially one.
Tom:
No, I will not grab your red herring. This thread is about Lewandowsky and not your politics. As my last word on this side-track, I point you to my first comment on the matter. This link takes you straight to it
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/04/28/stephan-lewandowsky-flees-australia-in-wake-of-investigations/#comment-1290949
Richard
Tom…you dont understand the concept of Fascism at all. It is totally different to Communism. The core principle is the rule by force of substantial minority co-ordinated population groups or communities. EG, an ethnic group or party. That is the very source of the word “fascism”: the fascine, a bundle of twigs (the symbol of ancient Rome), illustrating how individuals are weak and together they are unbreakable. This is precisely how fascism came to power in Europe, through the focused application of force and terror by minority parties bound by focused intent.
Now if you want to say Communist states have in practice been fascist states then you have a point, but the Marxist ideal was (pasttense) that the state is an expression of popular social revolution reflecting fundamental socio-economic processes.
The two things are utterly different. Fascism only requires a focused “will to power” and the application of force by one minority to succeed. This is why we can sensibly compare Environmentalism to fascism, even though the manifest ideology of individual Environmentalists may be Marxism..
Well Richard you should know when to bit your tongue. Conservatives do not like being associated with Hitler and Mussolini. As a student of government who understands exactly how fascism works, something I have yet to see a single leftist actually demonstrate even the faintest understanding of, I find the knee jerk response of Fascism is right wing to be similar the AGW. Its taken at face value by those who propose it with little inspection to see if it is actually true.
The simplistic study of how Mussolini’s fascists system is supposed to work makes it ever clear that it is not right wing. A limited Lockean government is antithetical to Fascism.
Wamron,
I made no comparison with Fascism and what you read in a book written by Marx. I specifically said “Soviet Communism”. In caps specifying a specific thing. This was not an error or a typo. In other words the real thing that actually existed in practice. I suggest you read more critically next time before jumping on a high horse.
Let me fix that for you:
“practicing his witchcraft”
There. Done.
(Fulsome apologies to [real] witches).
Tom:
To be clear and for the benefit of others, I don’t “bite my tongue”.
Fascism disgusts me.
If you want to promote and/or excuse it then that is your right.
But do not expect me to engage in a discussion which enables you to promote it.
Richard