Jump to content

Kevin Folta: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Conflict of interest allegations: rmv redundant wording duplicating Folta quot, rmv editorialising " misrepresent", which strangely sounds like from an arbcom proceeding too
Undid revision 686672720 by Smartse (talk) tag teamed ? edit war. take it to dispute resolution
Line 82: Line 82:


Jack Payne, head of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, characterized this as an example of activist groups attempting to silence scientists who wish to engage in public discussion of politically controversial topics, describing it as a "spiral of silence".<ref name=tampa>{{cite web | url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/perspective-records-requests-hijack-scientists-time/2245131 | title=Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time| work= Tampa Bay Times | date=12 September 2015 | accessdate=12 September 2015 | author=Payne, Jack}}</ref> Professor and science communicator [[Steven Novella]] wrote that "The shill witch hunt is just getting started, and now they are emboldened by the PR bonanza they have found in FOIA requests for e-mails. All of this is likely to have a chilling effect on scientists speaking out in the public square on controversial issues."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/how-to-attack-a-public-scientist/ | title=How To Attack a Public Scientist| work=Neurologica Blog | date=11 September 2015 | accessdate=11 September 2015 | author=Novella,Steven}}</ref>
Jack Payne, head of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, characterized this as an example of activist groups attempting to silence scientists who wish to engage in public discussion of politically controversial topics, describing it as a "spiral of silence".<ref name=tampa>{{cite web | url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/perspective-records-requests-hijack-scientists-time/2245131 | title=Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time| work= Tampa Bay Times | date=12 September 2015 | accessdate=12 September 2015 | author=Payne, Jack}}</ref> Professor and science communicator [[Steven Novella]] wrote that "The shill witch hunt is just getting started, and now they are emboldened by the PR bonanza they have found in FOIA requests for e-mails. All of this is likely to have a chilling effect on scientists speaking out in the public square on controversial issues."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/how-to-attack-a-public-scientist/ | title=How To Attack a Public Scientist| work=Neurologica Blog | date=11 September 2015 | accessdate=11 September 2015 | author=Novella,Steven}}</ref>

==Further reading==
*Colleen Flaherty.[https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/08/14/researcher-finds-himself-center-battle-over-gmos-and-corporate-support Casualty of GMO Wars.] Inside Higher Ed, August 14, 2015
*Tom Philpott [http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2015/09/monsanto-professors-gmo-PR These Emails Show Monsanto Leaning on Professors to Fight the GMO PR War] Mother Jones, 2 October 2015.
* Ralph Nader [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ralph-nader/monsanto-and-its-promoter_b_8235936.html Monsanto and Its Promoters vs. Freedom of Information] Huffington Post, 2 October 2015.
* Jack Kaskey [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-02/how-monsanto-mobilized-academics-to-pen-articles-supporting-gmos How Monsanto Mobilized Academics to Pen Articles Supporting GMOs.] Bloomberg, 2 October 2015


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 16:04, 20 October 2015

Kevin M. Folta
Kevin Folta at The Amaz!ng Meeting 8 in 2010
Born
Chicago, Illinois[2]
Alma materNorthern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago
Known forLight control of plant traits, novel genomics approaches, science communication
AwardsNational Science Foundation CAREER Award, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Distinguished Mentor Award[1]
Scientific career
FieldsMolecular biology, horticulture, agricultural science
InstitutionsUniversity of Florida
ThesisBlue light regulation of the pea Lhcb1*4 gene in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (1998)
Doctoral advisorLon S. Kaufman
Other academic advisorsEdgar Spalding
Websitewww.talkingbiotech.com

Kevin M. Folta is a professor and chairman of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida.[3][4] Between 2007 to 2010 he helped lead the project to sequence the strawberry genome.[4] Folta is an active science communicator and utilizes outreach programs to confront misconceptions about modern agriculture technologies.[4]

Education and career

Folta received his B.S. and M.S. in biology in 1989 and 1992, respectively, from Northern Illinois University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in molecular biology in 1998.[3] He completed postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin, and joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 2002. He assumed the role of Interim Department Chair in 2012 and accepted the Chair position in 2013.[5]

Research

Folta's laboratory has two primary research areas—how to control plant traits with light, and use of genomics to identify molecular markers for key fruit-plant traits.[4]

Plants and light

Folta's first work in light began in 1987, when working with genetic mapping of genes associated with phytochrome responses. His research continued into blue-light-mediated control of gene expression and physiology through cryptochrome and phototropin receptors, using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Later work would investigate the unusual effects of green light wavelengths using a variety of physiological approaches. This work in basic plant biology would later extend to studies of sources using light emitting diodes to control discrete facets of plant biology, including nutrient accumulation, flavor and shelf life.

Strawberry genomics

Folta's work in strawberry genomics began in 2002.[4] His earliest publications helped to develop a set of molecular tools for strawberry research that quickly seeded community building among researchers.[citation needed] These early efforts raised the amount of public information in strawberry and other rosaceous crops,[citation needed] culminating in the sequencing of the strawberry genome in 2011, where Folta was the contributing author.[6][4] During the project, they discovered molecular markers that speed traditional breeding for enhanced flavors.[4] Ongoing work in the laboratory continues to use genomics tools to identify genes associated with flavors,[4] disease, and other important industry traits.[citation needed]

Science communication

Folta has formal training in communication, and has been active in the public discussion of politically controversial topics such as evolution, climate, vaccines, and agricultural biotechnology since 2002.[7] He has identified a disconnect between science and the public understanding, and believes there should be a priority to increase public awareness and "give scientists the tools to effectively participate at that interface.”[4]

He has said the scientific consensus regarding the safety of genetically modified foods is comparable to those regarding global warming and vaccines.[8] He is an outspoken critic of food blogger Vani Hari's claims about the alleged dangers of certain food additives.[9] Folta advocates for a "soft and effective" approach in handling anti-GMO activists, believing overly inflammatory responses from the scientific community will alienate the public audience.[10]

The journal Nature Biotechnology described Folta as "a gifted communicator—one of the rare scientists who has engaged the public, with over 12 years experience behind him. Not someone who merely discusses public engagement; but someone who actually communicates directly with non-expert audiences—at science fairs, in schools, at retirement homes, in blogs and podcasts."[11]

Folta has considered his outreach efforts among his proudest achievements and stated that his most important contributions to science "won’t come out of my lab. They’ll come out of my mouth.”[4]

Conflict of interest allegations

In early February 2015, the nonprofit and organic-industry funded[12][11] organization US Right to Know filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the University of Florida, on the basis that the organization suspected that Folta may have been pressured into claiming that GMOs are safe by food and agricultural companies.[8] The University released documents, including email exchanges with Monsanto, which indicated that he had not committed scientific misconduct.[7] Before releasing this information, Folta said to Science that he anticipated trouble: "Unfortunately, when you skim through the 70,000 e-mails I have … [USRTK] will find opportunities to pull out a sentence and use it against me. They will show I have 200 e-mails from big ag companies. While it is former students … or chitchat about someone’s kids, it won’t matter. They’ll report, ‘Kevin Folta had 200 emails with Monsanto and Syngenta,’ as a way to smear me.”[13]

In a Nature article from August 2015 Keith Kloor wrote that Folta had "close ties to Monsanto and other biotechnology interests".[7] Folta responded to this article by denying the article's claims that he had "close ties" to Monsanto.[14] He wrote that the claims were based on a few dozen emails and three professional direct interactions over thirteen years, and that he was reimbursed customary travel expenses by Monsanto for $719.76, covering airfare, a rental car, 2 hotel nights, and parking for one event to speak to farmers in Colorado in September 2014.[15][16] Folta has maintained that he has always acted according to his research as a public scientist.[14]

In September 2015, Eric Lipton wrote in the New York Times that scientists such as Folta had received money in special grants from Monsanto to help with biotechnology outreach and to travel around the country to defend genetically modified foods.[12] At the request of Folta, The University of Florida received a $25,000 grant from Monsanto that was to be used at the university's discretion in support of research and outreach projects, which was then earmarked for an already established biotechnology communication program. Folta submitted expense reports to use the biotechnology communication fund to pay for travel expenses, a small projector, and coffee and food for participants.[17][15] Most of these expenses had since been reimbursed to the fund with honoraria from his talks and private donations from individuals and small businesses, while none of the donation from Monsanto was used.[17][16] In response to the controversy and personal threats against Folta, the university, while denying any wrongdoing, offered to return the donation to Monsanto. When this was refused, they agreed to reallocate the funds into a university food pantry.[7][18][17] Folta has since promised to provide a complete accounting for his research and extension activities in a move he says "defines a new standard of transparency and a new tool to cultivate trust" which he hopes other scientists and advocates will adopt.[16]

In the October 2015 issue, Nature Biotechnology published an editorial describing scientists such as Folta as having been "targeted because they speak inconvenient truths about GM technology" and states that the funds "were tied neither to [Folta] directly nor to his research. His conflict of interest disclosures were wholly compliant with his university's rules. He never used industry funds for personal gain." The editorial criticized the journalists for "cherry-picking" and creating "hostile environments that threaten [gifted science communicators] with extinction."[11]

Jack Payne, head of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, characterized this as an example of activist groups attempting to silence scientists who wish to engage in public discussion of politically controversial topics, describing it as a "spiral of silence".[18] Professor and science communicator Steven Novella wrote that "The shill witch hunt is just getting started, and now they are emboldened by the PR bonanza they have found in FOIA requests for e-mails. All of this is likely to have a chilling effect on scientists speaking out in the public square on controversial issues."[19]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ "Kevin M. Folta, PhD" (PDF). Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  2. ^ "NIU alum has a taste for success". NIU Today. Northern Illinois University. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Kevin M. Folta". University of Florida. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Langford, Ellison (28 September 2015). "Sharing science: Kevin Folta's career in horticulture, research advocacy". University of Florida Genetics Institute. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  5. ^ UF/IFAS names Folta as horticultural sciences chairman
  6. ^ Shulaev, Vladimir; Sargent, Daniel J; Crowhurst, Ross N; Mockler, Todd C; Folkerts, Otto; et al. (2011). "The genome of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca)". Nature Genetics. 43 (2): 109–116. doi:10.1038/ng.740. ISSN 1061-4036.
  7. ^ a b c d Kloor, Keith (6 August 2015). "GM-crop opponents expand probe into ties between scientists and industry". Nature. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Folta did receive an unrestricted US$25,000 grant last year from Monsanto.
  8. ^ a b Levinovitz, Alan (23 February 2015). "Anti-GMO Activist Seeks to Expose Scientists' Emails With Big Ag". Wired. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  9. ^ Hamblin, James (11 February 2015). "The Food Babe: Enemy of Chemicals". The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  10. ^ ""Fear mongers" make good living by misrepresenting science, says GMO expert". McGill Reporter. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  11. ^ a b c "Standing up for science". Editorial. Nature Biotechnology. 33 (10). Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved.: 1009 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  12. ^ a b Lipton, Eric (5 September 2015). "Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show". New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  13. ^ Keith Kloor (11 February 2015). "Updated: Agricultural researchers rattled by demands for documents from group opposed to GM foods". Science. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  14. ^ a b Flaherty, Colleen (14 August 2015). "Casualty of GMO Wars". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  15. ^ a b Folta, Kevin (13 September 2015). "What are "Deep Ties" to Monsanto?". Illumination (blog). Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  16. ^ a b c Folta, Kevin (22 September 2015). "Setting A New Standard For Science Transparency". Science 2.0 (blog). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  17. ^ a b c Schweers, Jeff (28 August 2015). "UF to donate Monsanto funds to food pantry". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  18. ^ a b Payne, Jack (12 September 2015). "Perspective: Records requests hijack scientists' time". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  19. ^ Novella,Steven (11 September 2015). "How To Attack a Public Scientist". Neurologica Blog. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Folta&oldid=686673299"