From: Ian L. Jones

To: interested persons

Re: my status as ACWERN Chair at Memorial University

Hi!

As of the end of fiscal year 2006/2007 (i.e., March 31, 2007) I will no longer be the ACWERN Research Chair here at Memorial University. I will remain here as a Professor in the Department of Biology and continue my active research program related to seabird ecology, demography and conservation.

In September 2006 I realized I was no longer comfortable in my ACWERN Chair position, so I decided to quit, urging my Head and the Dean of Science to find a replacement for me if they wish to do so. I originally became a seabird researcher because of my interest in promoting sound management and conservation of seabirds and marine ecosystems. After eleven years as ACWERN Chair, I realized I can make a greater contribution to conservation by departing ACWERN and pursuing a strong independent research program here at Memorial.

I am not pleased with ACWERN's sponsoring agency, Environment Canada, and I do not wish to be actively associated with this organization. I have come to regard Environment Canada as having a generally negative influence on conservation by its support of policies that cause environmental damage while promoting short-term economic interests. I am troubled by Environment Canada's do-nothing approach to climate change, its lack of action on seabird deaths due to offshore oil and gas development off Newfoundland, its role in covering up the certain damage caused by dumping mine tailings in Newfoundland lakes, its failure to protect endangered species, its muzzling of and information control over its scientists, and a variety of other issues related to conservation. I have been equally troubled by attempts by Environment Canada to stifle my free speech and academic freedom, including threats of defunding my graduate students, when I chose to speak out and cover these issues on my Memorial University web pages. This kind of bullying is incompatible with a university research network, contrary to university guidelines, and unacceptable to me, as well as casting doubt on the scientific integrity of ACWERN. I am not comfortable with an organization whose policy is that 'the role of science is to support government policy'. I have also been very displeased with management of the Atlantic Cooperative Wildlife Ecology Research Network - in my opinion this has resulted in countless wasted opportunities. These are the factors that led me to unilaterally separate myself from ACWERN.

Sincerely,

Ian L. Jones

iljones 'atsign' mun.ca

March 31, 2007

This page is maintained by Ian L. Jones (iljones 'at' mun.ca)

Official disclaimers: nothing in the contents of this site or its links should be taken to represent MUN policy; links to external sites are provided for education and research purposes, their inclusion here in no way implies that MUN endorse the content or use of these sites.