Hi all,
are there any social scientist here who would like to analyse what's
been going on Germany, especially the reaction of the scientific world
and their influence? I think it's quite amazing and could give a lot of
insight into the role of science in (German) society.
Until a few days ago, zu Guttenberg was a popular minister who attracted
very little criticism, and now today he resigned - mostly due to the
enormous pressure from the scientific world, from the students as well
as the top ranks. Not for something he has done in politics, but for not
taking scientific integrity seriously.
It's also interesting to see that the outcry goes across all parties,
even conservative politicians with a science background came out openly
in support of scientific integrity, even though they said that he's
still a good politician.
Besides the open letter, signed now by 30000 Ph.D. students and
supporters, there has been another letter signed by 1000 university
professors
(http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2011-03/guttenberg-professoren-doktoranden).
The science minister (!), Annette Schavan, said yesterday she, as a
scientist, was "ashamed" of what zu Guttenberg has done (although he
should remain in his post as "everybody deserves a second chance").
The science speaker of the free democrats (part of the coalition
government!) said that "Guttenberg doesn't realise how much he is
damaging German science".
Angela Merkel, who initially ridiculed the whole thing, made a U-turn
and said yesterday that she "can understand why scientists are upset".
There have been more statements by influential science funders, for
example Margaret Wintermantel, President of the Conference of University
Rectors, gave an interview to the extreme left-green-alternative
newspaper taz.
Just now the news came in that he resigned.
Any social scientist who would like to analyse the whole story?
Cheers
Stephan
--
Stephan Matthiesen
http://www.stephan-matthiesen.de
Neu auf www.science-texts.de: Da ist der Wurm drin - Februarmuster
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