SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

ANOTHER UNIVERSITY OUTRAGE – FROM COLLEGE FIX:   Chemistry Professor Patanjali Kambhampati said he has been denied two grants over the past two years for failing to properly pledge allegiance to equity, diversity and inclusion.  Kambhampati was born in India. He grew up and was educated in the United States.  Since 2003, Kambhampati has successfully conducted cutting-edge research at the intersection of chemistry and physics as a member of the Department of Chemistry at McGill University in Canada.  “What I do is I develop lasers and laser-based instrumentation to measure the motion of electrons and atoms in materials that might be used in anything from solar cells to flat panel displays to lasers to next generation computers,” he said in a recent phone interview with The College Fix. Kambhampati said he has raised close to $7 million over the last 15 years to further his work, receiving funding from the government of Canada in addition to various organizations, provinces and corporations.  “But everything seemed to change about a year or two ago,” Kambhampati said. “In the last two years the federal grants have begun to ask for equity, diversity and inclusion statements.”  “Initially, they started asking us to state our EDI position, which is a new thing,” he said. “The newer thing happened in the last one year where the federal agencies said we’re going to look at your EDI statements first and foremost. That will be the gatekeeper.” If a researcher doesn’t write a satisfactory EDI statement, some federal funding agencies will not even look at the scientific merits of the work anymore, Kambhampati said.  May I note that Professor Patanjali is a scientist of color, but it made no difference to the thought police.  They came for him also.  Read the rest of the piece.  It's worth it.

December 18, 2021