CORRESPONDENCE WITH NSF      

Dec. 17, 2003          

Dear Mr. McIntyre,

I apologize if my last electronic message was not clear but let me clarify the US NSF's view in this current message.  Dr. Mann and his other US colleagues are under no obligation to provide you with any additional data beyond the extensive data sets they have already made available.   He is not required to provide you with computer programs, codes, etc.  His research is published in the peer-reviewed literature which has passed muster with the editors of those journals and other scientists who have reviewed his manuscripts.  You are free to your analysis of climate data and he is free to his.  The passing of time and evolving new knowledge about Earth's climate will eventually tell the full story of changing climate.  I would expect that you would respect the views of the US NSF on the issue of data access and intellectual property for US investigators as articulated by me to you in my last message under the advisement of the US NSF's Office of General Counsel. 

Respectfully,

David J. Verardo
Director, Paleoclimate Program
Division of Atmospheric Sciences (Room 775)
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA  22203
phone: 703-292-8527
fax: 703-292-9023
email: dverardo@nsf.gov
http://www.nsf.gov

cc Michael Mann