Dr. Gian Luca Lippi

Prof. 2eme Classe

Departement de Physique

Universite de Nice — Sophia Antipolis

France

7 January 2002

Dear Madam, Sir,

I am writing in support of author Jeff Schmidt who has been fired by Physics Today after the publication of his book Disciplined Minds. I have had the opportunity of reading some parts of the book and I find that the author should be praised for his effort of analysis, rather than being fired! Whether one agrees or disagrees with the content, the book is an extremely valuable piece of scholarly work that should spark debate, not repression!

Sincerely yours,

Gian Luca Lippi