We've been talking about Pat Michaels, professor at UVa and ostensibly the Virginia State Climatologist, and how he's a bit like Milton, appointed 20 years ago in a position that appears to have escaped the notice of every subsequent governor.



Now Kaine has noticed, reports the Richmond Times Dispatch, and he's not too thrilled with his extracurricular activites.

The governor's office has sent a letter to the University of Virginia requesting that Patrick J. Michaels not use his title of state climatologist when conducting his private consulting business.

The state is concerned that the U.Va. professor's controversial views on global warming could be mistaken for the state's views.

Katherine K. Hanley, the secretary of the commonwealth, wrote University of Virginia President John T. Casteen III on Thursday, asking that Michaels "avoid any conflict of interest or appearance thereof by scrupulously avoiding the use of the title of state climatologist in connection with any outside activities or private consulting endeavors."
...
Hanley's letter also addressed the question of whether Michaels' position as state climatologist is an appointment of the governor or of U.Va. Hanley does acknowledge that Michaels was originally appointed state climatologist by Gov. John Dalton in 1980.

However, she said the code of Virginia "does not provide for the governor to appoint a state climatologist."

She also asserted that the university assumed authority for the state climatologist's office and title in the 2000 certification application to the American Association of State Climatologists.

"Therefore, it is the prerogative of the university to make that appointment," Hanley wrote.

The university did not directly address that issue. But U.Va. spokeswoman Carol Wood provided this statement: "We are grateful to the secretary of the commonwealth for her letter about the state's relationship to the Office of the State Climatologist. As it has since 1978, the University will continue to operate the office as an institutional program in accord with the American Association of State Climatologists, the body that oversees state climatology offices nationwide."

The governor's office said Michaels could refer to himself as the "AASC-designated state climatologist."

So to sum up. He is, in fact, kind of the state climatologist. However, he is not appointed directly by the state, instead he occupies a position designated by UVa, which should be more appropriately called the "AASC-designated state climatologist." Further, his views don't reflect the view of the state government and Gov. Kaine made sure to clarify this.

What does this do about his conflict of interest problems though? It now appears to be out of the hands of the state, but should UVa be concerned that he raises money from energy companies to criticize global warming as their "AASC-designated state climatologist"?

I'm left somewhat confused. Further, I did some Thomson searches on his articles, of the few that I have full text for online, I don't see a statement of conflict of interest or competing interests. Any subscribers to Geophysical Research Letters or Climate Research that could look into this? We're not talking very high impact journals here, so I'm afraid my institutional subscription isn't doing it.

Via Deltoid.