While looking for something else, I came across this, which is the list of names submitted by the British government to the IPCC for consideration as authors of the Fifth Assessment Report. One entry caught my eye. I noticed it because instead of the usual affiliation details - University of this, Department of that - it said:
University of Birmingham / Do It Yourself Non Governmental Organisation (DIYNGO)
Huh?
The affiliation belongs to one Dr Timothy Barker, who looks to be something of a character. For example, he has written two books. I particularly liked the look of Third Space:
Third space is a region in-between the accepted norms of 'here' and 'there'; a space where all can come to rejoice in the beauty of diversity in a spirit of understanding, peace and unity. Learn how to divorce yourself and your community from the historical 'baggage' that has prevented you embracing the future. Overcome your prejudices and all those preconceived ideologies that hamper true 'progress'. Embrace the Twenty First Century.
He also has a respectable list of academic publications. A few titles will give you a flavour...
And DIYNGO? Well, their website is here. As it says:
DIYNGO stands for “Do It Yourself Non Governmental Organisation”. We are an NGO (currently a voluntary organisation) who create an awareness of the usefulness of renewable technologies, e.g. wind and solar power. Specifically, we are interested in using this renewable energy to power a range of computing devices, from Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs or ’smartphones’) to Personal Computers (notably so-called ‘netbooks’). To this end we currently have two renewable energy ‘products’ which are in the final stages of prototyping: SOL-1 and SWIM-1. Additionally, we have written software to help people make decisions about the most appropriate renewable energy/ICT solution.
So what do you think? This is clearly one of our top academics. So should he be coordinating lead author or just lead author? Actually I can't find his name on the published list of AR5 authors at all, so regrettably it looks as if the IPCC did not recognise our man's talent.
Oddly, I can't find any information about Dr Barker on the Birmingham University Staff page either.
It's all very strange. I wonder how people get onto the British government list?