An Exxon-funded scientist speaks out | “There are definitely ways that [fossil fuel funding] can influence the research," she tells HEATED, as the fight for university divestment heats up.
An Exxon-funded scientist speaks out | “There are definitely ways that [fossil fuel funding] can influence the research," she tells HEATED, as the fight for university divestment heats up.
“There are definitely ways that [fossil fuel funding] can influence the research," she tells HEATED, as the fight for university divestment heats up.
That’s why Grekin and five other graduate students signed their names to an Oct. 5 letter proposing new rules that would force a much stricter standard for fossil fuel funding for Stanford’s research.
The letter focuses on Stanford’s industry “affiliate” research programs—meaning that for a membership fee, corporations can contribute to research at Stanford—and proposes to “eliminate financial sponsorship” from any company that “does not provide a credible transition plan.” It also proposes to block funding from any company that has obstructed climate policy in the last five years.
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Maybe a dumb question but how does funding from fossil fuel companies influence the research? Does it not just get sent to the college to use as they see fit?
Even if the funding is applied with no strings attached, there's the implication that if you upset the sponsor they won't donate in the future.
In general, industry grants have strings attached:
- The company chooses which topics they fund, so for example you see the fossil fuels industry paying to study methane from agriculture
- The company chooses which researchers to fund, with the implicit understanding that the publication of unfavorable results will mean that you don't get the next grant
Government grants could technically do the same, but tend to be handled by a committee looking at interesting research topics, rather than commercial advantage
I will give you money to research something. If the results are favorable to me, I will be able to give you more money to continue researching the thing. If they are not favorable to me, you will be required to find new sources of funding.