Berol Robinson, PhD

Physicist

Retired UNESCO Science Officer, Paris Headquarters

Meudon, France

24 August 2001

 

 

Marc H. Brodsky (via e-mail)

CEO and Executive Director

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, Maryland 20740

 

Dear Dr. Brodsky:

 

I have received the information circulated by Speech Rights.  If the facts are as SR has depicted them, I join in the concern of colleagues and willingly sign their draft letter:

 

As physicists and other scientists concerned about freedom of expression in the science community, we were troubled to learn of your dismissal of Jeff Schmidt, who had been an articles editor at Physics Today magazine for over 19 years.

 

As we 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 we do not necessarily agree with Jeff's views about the situation of physicists and other salaried professionals, and do not expect you to, we believe that free debate within the physics community is healthy.  We expect you to encourage it, not stifle it.

 

We ask that you publish this letter in Physics Today, to bring our concerns to the attention of the wider physics community.

 

Sincerely,

 

Berol Robinson

 

Member:

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Physical Society

 

(Disclaimer:  This letter is signed by me personally and does not represent in any way the position of UNESCO.)