Dr. Hermann Kurthen
Department of Sociology
Co-Editor, International Sociology
Director of the Federated Learning
Community Program
State University of New York
Stony Brook, New York
27 August 2001
Marc Brodsky
(via e-mail)
CEO and
Executive Director
American
Institute of Physics
One Physics
Ellipse
College
Park, Maryland 20740
Dear Dr.
Brodsky:
As an
immigrant sociologist from Germany and co-editor of International Sociology,
the flagship journal of the International Sociological Association, I am
concerned about freedom of expression in the scientific community. I am really troubled to learn of your
dismissal of Jeff Schmidt, who had been an articles editor at Physics Today
magazine for over 19 years.
As I
understand it, you fired Jeff after you saw his book, Disciplined Minds,
and in particular after you learned that Jeff had used some of his spare time
at the office for critical writing about education and employment in physics
and other fields.
While I do
not necessarily agree with Jeff's views about the situation of physicists and
other salaried professionals, I believe that free debate within the physics
community is healthy. I expect you to
encourage it, not stifle it, especially because physicists are known for
speaking out when physicists internationally are punished for expressing their
views. Your actions as head of the
American Institute of Physics help to shape society's view of the physics
community. I urge you to reconsider
your decision, and offer to reinstate Jeff as an editor at Physics Today.
I am asking
you to bring my and other colleagues concerns to the attention of the wider
physics community and Physics Today.
Sincerely,
Hermann Kurthen
-------------------------
3 September
2001
Dear Mr. Brodsky,
I understand
from your response that you fired Mr. Schmidt in response to hyperbole in Schmidt's
book introduction.
Do you have
any other proof that he "abused" his employment contract? If not, I believe your dismissal reason is
weak and very superficial, and will not hold up to further legal, professional,
and ethical scrutiny.
I hope you,
AIP, Physics Today, or whoever else is involved will do the utmost to
solve this issue in a fair, reasonable, and for both parties satisfactory way
as soon as possible.
Otherwise, I
fear this issue will create more unwanted and damaging domestic and international
publicity for you, AIP, and for Physics Today.
Sincerely,
Hermann Kurthen