date: Mon Aug  2 09:49:16 2004
from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: Reference for Michael Mann
to: "E. Scott Bair" <bair.1@osu.edu>

   Dear Professor Bair
   Had you asked me this a year or two back , I would have sent a generally
   positive response as regards his drive (i.e. energy and ambition). Technically
   he is a gifted analyst and he obviously has an eye for recognizing the important
   issues at the interface between climatology and palaeoclimate data , and how
   both should be used to explore important questions about the precedence of
   recent climate change , and its causes and implications for the future.
   All very well - and probably enough for some departments, but yes there IS
   (or at least WAS) a sting in the tail.
    Mike was certainly not the best
   collaborator , and in some aspects of his work , not sufficiently aware
   of the characteristics of some of the data with which he worked. This would not be
   bad in itself , were allowance made and advice sought and accepted from a wider
   circle of colleagues or specialists than he was inclined to consult. There was a
   certain , apparent , overconfidence in  his work which bordered on seeming arrogance
   and this has led to SOME EXTENT to a degree of unnecessary conflict with researchers and
   some
   members of the wider public , as regards the validity and certainty of some of his (and the
   IPCC) conclusions. I qualified this statement , because it is undoubtedly true that some of
   his critics have strong vested interests in attacking his work , and almost without
   exception ,
   their criticisms have bee ill founded , even fraudulent.
   So why tell you all this ? The reason is that I now consider Michael to have mellowed!
   Perhaps matured is a better word. The experience gained in the last year or so , in
   relation
   to attacks by the "sceptics" , and in his slowly widening circle of collaborations, seems
   to have made
   him more measured in his work and less prone to over-reaction to criticism. When viewed in
   conjunction with his undoubted statistical excellence and unshakable desire to do
   "important" science, he has to be a great addition to any department. Rest assured he will
   continue to contribute
   major work , and if you judge that he will be able to collaborate within the department ,
   as well as beyond it , he will make a great addition to your team.  My recent experience of
   him is that he very
   likely will , and overall, I recommend him very highly.
    hope these initial thoughts help
   best wishes
   Keith

   At 19:56 30/07/2004, you wrote:

     Dr. Keith R. Briffa
     Climate Research Unit
     University of East Anglia
     Norwich NR-4   7TJ   UK

     Dear Dr. Briffa:

     The Ohio State University is actively considering an appointment of Dr. Michael Mann
     as a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences.  He is
     currently an Assistant Professor at another university.

     We are on a short lead time, and I would very much appreciate your emailing me
     your impressions of Dr. Mann's research and its impact.

     Your email response to me need not be long or overly detailed, but I do need it to be
     followed
     up by a formal letter.

     I thank you in advance for your efforts

     Sincerely,
     E. Scott Bair
     Professor and Chair
     Geological Sciences
     Ohio State University
     275 Mendenhall Lab
     Coilumbus, OH  43210

   --
   Professor Keith Briffa,
   Climatic Research Unit
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

   Phone: +44-1603-593909
   Fax: +44-1603-507784
   [1]http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/

