BASF’s university job sparks green fury over biased science

The Pesticide Action Network has accused the German chemicals company BASF of buying credibility for industry views within academia, after one of its employee was offered a professorship at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

BASF employee Bernhard van Ravenzwaay will officially get a professor seat at the Dutch agricultural university in exchange for BASF funding, PAN Europe said in a statement issued on the 2 May 2013.

The environmental organisation said van Ravenzwaay has a track record of studies published with a favourable outcome for the chemicals industry, suggesting his university research will be biased.

By acquiring a professorship in university, BASF might try to buy credibility for the views of industry, PAN Europe claimed.