Bar Ilan University International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB) Raises Concerns of American Association of Petroleum Boycott of Manuscripts Submitted by Iranian Petroleum Engineers

SPME Editor's Note: Consideration of Issue Raised by Stanley Dubinsky, University of South Carolina, SPME Board Member
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Bar-IlanUniversity(RA)

International Advisory Board

for Academic Freedom (IAB)

Press Release: April 25, 2006

The International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB) is concerned by Political Boycotts in Academic Geology

The International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB), established at Bar-Ilan University in response to the Association of University Teachers-United Kingdom boycott last April (http://www.aut.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1201), views with growing concern the introduction of extraneous political considerations into the acceptance policy of all academic publications, including those in the academic study of geology.

On 20/4/06, CHE reported that the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) turned down manuscripts submitted to its Bulletin due to connections of the authors with National Iranian Oil Companies (http://chronicle.com/daily/2006/04/2006042005n.htm ). This rejection occurred despite the ruling of the US Treasury Department in December 2004 to remove restrictions on US publications by authors in countries embargoed by US policy (http://chronicle.com/daily/2004/12/2004121602n.htm ).

The IAB calls upon the American Association of Petroleum Geologists to reconsider its decision and to publish both the manuscripts submitted to its Bulletin. The IAB opposes academic boycotts and political censure and believes that such boycotts have no place in the academic community. Scholarship and research, and their expression in the open and free exchange of ideas, are among the foundations of civilization, and without them there can be no true advancement of human knowledge.

For further information / full texts contact:

Ofir Frankel, Manager, International Campaign for Academic Freedom

Mobile: +972-545-424043 E-mail: fofir@netvision.net.il ;

Elana Oberlander, Spokesman office

Mobile: +972-524-668567 E-mail: elana.oberlander@mail.biu.ac.il ;

Website: http://www.biu.ac.il/rector/academic_freedom/

Office of the Rector, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel

International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB)

Executive Committee:

Prof. Yosef Yeshurun (Chair); Prof. Joshua Schwartz; Prof. Gerald Steinberg;

Prof. Eitan Gilboa; Dr. Jonathan Rynhold

Bar Ilan University International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom (IAB) Raises Concerns of American Association of Petroleum Boycott of Manuscripts Submitted by Iranian Petroleum Engineers

SPME Editor's Note: Consideration of Issue Raised by Stanley Dubinsky, University of South Carolina, SPME Board Member
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