UC Berkeley says international wealth doesn’t affect research, damage intellectual freedom
An energy foundation linked to Chinese Communist Party officials has poured$ 630, 000 into four American universities for” clean energy” projects, according to a new report.
The University of California Berkeley, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Maryland, and Harvard University all received a portion of$ 630, 000 from the Energy Foundation, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis.
The foundation was founded in San Francisco years earlier, but it later split into an American and a Chinese organization. The Energy Foundation China did never respond to an email on Friday asking for comments on the statement and what it hopes to accomplish with its offers. A number of base professionals, including CEO Ji Zou, were identified by The Free Beacon.
But, UC Berkeley said the income does not impact intellectual freedom.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Executive Communications Dan Mogulof, an associate vice Chancellor for professional communications, wrote to The College Fix via message: “UC Berkeley has strict protocols and policies that protect the freedom of school researchers, as well as their intellectual freedom. ” The conditions in UC Berkeley’s research agreements reserve decision-making power and freedom to post for the school”.
The institution recently announced that it would end relationships with a Chinese institution. It had received$ 87.5 million for the venture.
In a recent statement from Mogulof to The Fix, “UC Berkeley is in the process of giving up all rights in the non-profit organization Shenzhen Institute,” which was announced roughly a year ago. The University” constantly reevaluates and listens to the risks and benefits posed by international engagement and takes concerns about analysis security very seriously.”
UCLA, the University of Maryland, and Harvard did not respond to questions about the document. In the past few days, The Fix has called and sent messages.
According to a scientist who studies the impact of international influences on higher education, these collaborations between the colleges and the Energy Foundation may raise questions in the United States.
Further: Cornell faculty condemn school’s CCP partnerships
Neetu Arnold said there is an “academic flexibility issue” about the “influence on syllabus” that may come with these issues.
The policy analyst for the Manhattan Institute said that funding is have” strings attached.”
This has an impact on faculty and students ‘ ability to freely engage in scientific inquiry, she told The Fix via internet. ” Universities may be urged to form their curricula or research priorities in ways that are in line with the needs of the Chinese govt.”
The Energy Foundation calls for lessening the use of fossil fuels and increasing use of renewable electricity, such as solar and wind. According to the Free Beacon, the money was used to advertise and “advance lower carbon places.”
Research and cultural exchange are the two main drivers behind institutions ‘ deals with China, according to Arnold. Colleges must carefully consider both the advantages and the prices of these partnerships.
Federal law mandates that institutions report any unusual checks over$ 250, 000, she told The Fix. These laws are in place to shield the nation from any international terrorists who might attempt to harm or elude the United States.
” There are presently two main strategies: funding restrictions and transparency steps,” Arnold said”. The obvious course of action is to ban foreign money, but it is necessary for them to be directed at a few nations in order to be socially worthwhile.
International donations without correct transparency can” bias education and research,” Arnold said.
According to The Fix, the overseas influence expert recently found that millions of dollars were being flown from TikTok, a Chinese company, to American universities for racial scholarships.
Less: Over 500 COVID research retracted, guardian finds
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