Prominent climate scientist Michael Mann resigned this week from one of his positions at the University of Pennsylvania because he said it conflicted with his ability to advocate for political actions to address rising temperatures.
Mann announced Monday that he is no longer the school’s vice provost for climate science, policy and action, an administrative job that he was appointed to in November. He is still the director of UPenn’s Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media and an earth and environmental systems professor.
He wrote on his blog that he could no longer remain in the vice provost role because his advocacy for science policy “feels in conflict with the nonpartisan role demanded of me as an administrator at a university with an established institutional neutrality policy.”
Mann, who has clashed with conservative lawmakers and officials who question people’s role in driving climate change, said the move was necessary after the publication of his new book with co-author Peter Hotez, “Science Under Siege,” which includes some criticisms of high-profile Republicans.
