Scientists feud

I used to think that most scientists are quality persons who think, feel and do things based on logics, therefore they would not do things which are very wrong.

That's why I was surprised when I read in Kompas on Wednesday, 19 November 2008, that the Chairperson of the Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Board (BMKG): Sri Woro Harijono has been accused by the Board’s Chief of Research & Development: Dr Mezak Ratag, of having plagiarized his scientific work and falsified his signature. Due to which fact, Dr Mezak has resigned from his job.
Kompas quoted Dr Mezak as saying that the alleged Plagiarism was related to the additional credit point given to Sri for her job promotion on May 2007 when Dr Mezak was BMKG’s Chief of Researcher Job Title Evaluation Team. Sri denied those allegations, saying that the additional credit point was recommended by a Team. Further, Sri shown a letter dated 21 May 2007 which enclosed a list of scientific works by Sri signed by Dr Mezak addressed to the Chairman of the Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI) with c.c to the Chief of LIPI’s Central Evaluation Team. Dr Mezak reacted by submitting a report to the Jakarta Police on Tuesday, 18 Thursday 2008, accusing Sri of violating the Copyright Law No. 19/2002 Art. 72 Par. 1&2 and falsification of letter based on the Penal Code (KUHP) Art. 263.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Research & Technology: Kusmayanto Kadiman has requested that the case to be settled academically through the Council of Research Professors and Central Evaluation Team of LIPI headed by Deputy Chairman of LIPI Lukman Hakim. According to Lukman, researchers who violate academic conditions for requesting job promotion shall be penalized. He said that the title of Sri’s scientific work :
“ Less Greenhouse Gas Emission Technologies in the Context of Climate Change “ is similar to the title of book published by the Ministry of Research & Technology in 2001. Dr Mezak agreed that an academic settlement is really needed for this case, while Sri Woro prefers the case to be settled through legal proceedings, and said that she is ready for it.

In conclusion I would like to say that this matter should be settled immediately first academically then if the allegation against Sri Woro is confirmed to proceed with the legal proceedings, so that the image of Indonesian scientists and BMGK would not be marred.

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