Bishop Hill Smythe busted
Aug 2, 2014 Energy: gas Greens I was away from my desk yesterday, and in my absence we had a hugely amusing story from the Times about Professor David Smythe, who readers may recall has been a prominent critic of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas and who was an expert witness for objectors to the the Airth coalbed methane planning inquiry.
Eyebrows have already been raised about Prof Smythe's alleged expertise, since he hadn't published anything in the field since 1998 and has been living in comfortable retirement in the South of France for many years. James Verdon had noted that he seemed unaware of recent developments in drilling technology. However, it seems that both the Geological Society and Glasgow University are seeking to distance themselves from him, the former demanding that he not describe himself as a chartered geologist and the latter saying that he should not suggest that his views are representatives of scientists actually working at the university.
The story was broken behind the Times paywall and was picked up by James Verdon and a number of MSM outlets (for example here). The quote from Glasgow University's Professor Paul Younger is particularly strong:
He has published nothing on [shale gas] in any proper scientific forum - no doubt because he knows he would never get past peer review with his pseudo-scientific scaremongering. He falsely claims to be a chartered geologist. That’s fraudulent. It’s wilful untruth. I am concerned about the damage to the reputation of the university by someone who never fails to use his university affiliation.
I wonder how this news will affect the ongoing inquiry at Airth.
Reader Comments (22)
Green, eco zealots and charlatanry, were made for, by each other.
Smythe describes himself as Emeritus Professor of Geophysics, University of Glasgow.
Worth an enquiry to the registrar there. Universities don't give the title Emeritus to every retired/redundant prof.
"1988-1998: Chair of Geophysics, Department of Geology & Applied Geology, University of Glasgow. Area of expertise: applied seismology. During the last five years or so I was a member of the Basins and Geophysics research group, one of four such groupings within the Department. Following the closure of the Department in 1998 the University agreed a generous voluntary severance package with me.
1998-to date: Emeritus Professor (courtesy title) and former Director of Kelvin Biophysics Limited (dissolved 2010), a company set up to exploit my patents in ultrasound scanning using 3-D seismic reflection techniques. My current research interests are given here. My publications are listed chronologically, and some are grouped thematically."
http://www.davidsmythe.org/
Let's see if the BBC runs this story in the interest of balance. I'm sure Roger Harrabin will be keen to get to the bottom of this one.
Didn't Jim Hansen give evidence in a UK court about how many animal extinctions due to burning coal? I am not aware he has any biology qualification.
The Green Mafia are great at finding people to give evidence who are wholly unqualified to do so. But I suppose that is Climate "Science" for you.
The water melons are very good at lying and misleading. It just seems to come naturally to them - they have a total lack of integrity.
"The truth will out" O J Simpson 1995
How will it affect the ongoing inquiry? Water off a duck's back. They'll probably want an inquiry into his victimisation by "deniers" and arrange a few whitewashes (four normally). Then business as usual.
I know exactly the man to Chair the Enquiry: Lord Oxburgh.....
Kudos to Professor Paul Younger of of Glasgow University for calling out Smythe. If only others in academia had done the same when Michael Mann generated his hockeystick.
He doesn't seem to mention anything about holding The Britoil Chair of Geophysics (Britoil is now part of BP) since 1988.
‘A lot of British academics have in effect been bought off by the oil industry. They depend on grants from that industry so they dare not speak out critically,’ he said.
That's rich.
While individual companies in the private sector may 'focus on their own interests' or look at any problem 'from their own angle' I cannot see how 'not living in the real world' benefits them, long term, which is what shareholders are looking for, or should be! And academic institutions may not have shareholders, but they should a reputation to protect, or should have! :)
Individuals might think they can 'exit at the right time', with their pension intact, like Fred the Shred, but that is rarely open to organisations that are not dependent on subsidies and grants from those with more money than sense, or a lack of understanding of what is going on.
Re: Martin A
Sounds impressive. Lets see the reality ...
It was incorporated on 15th June 2005 and did not do anything for the first year. Its accounts show it as having £2 in hand from the 2 issued £1 shares.
The 2007 accounts show it has £24,903 in cash and owes £39,537 so it looks like they borrowed £40k.
The 2008 accounts show is has £20,233 in cash and owes £39,067 so it doesn't look like there is any income there.
The 2009 accounts show somebody owes them £360, they have £2,815 in cash and they owe £34,177
No more accounts are published and the company applied for voluntary strike off on the 5th anniversary of its formation.
It is possible (perhaps even probable) that the £40k the company borrowed was from the 2 shareholders who were David Smyth and Dr Duncan Fraser Campbell.
It looks to me like the company set up to exploit his patents didn't find any customers for his patents and probably lost him £20k.
TerryS, you mean Smythe s being economical with the truth over his business background as well as his academic background? Why am I not surprised.
The effort by big green to end fracking or prevent its use is a demonstration of bad faith and deception by them.
And it is an effort that is apparently as well organized in reality as they falsely claim skeptics to climate/enviro hype are.
We see the modern green movement in its stark reality: powerful, cynical, deceptive, organized, hurtful, and far removed from helping the environment.
This retired 'scientist' is attacking fracking, something that has been used without harming water tables or the environment for over 50 years.
There is no good faith or science in his attack.
tic-toc
tic-toc
Rogah Harrabin's report any moment now
tic-toc
His department did not close, it was merged.
Smythe used to play in the Rezillos between 1976-78. You may remember their hit, "Someones Going to Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight." He subsequently left the band and his career went downhill.
At least Smythe isn't as bad as another retired person like Ian R Crane who seems to have lost the plot and joined David Icke in La La Land.
Smythe used to play in the Rezillos between 1976-78. You may remember their hit, "Someones Going to Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight." He subsequently left the band and his career went downhill.
It is good to learn that the Glasgow University Geology faculty ( my old Alma Mater) is still headed by men of integrity.
Well done Professor Younger
I asked the University of Glasgow:
[1] I would be grateful if you would confirm that David Smythe was Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Geology & Applied Geology at the University of Glasgow from 1988 to 1998.
[2] Is the title Professor Emeritus a title currently conferred by Glasgow University?
[3] Does David Smythe currently hold the title Professor Emeritus, conferred on him by Glasgow University?
The university asked why I wanted this information and I explained why. The University replied: