Peter Ridd

Peter Vincent Ridd (born on 25 December 1960) is an Australian physicist, author, and former professor at James Cook University (JCU), North Queensland, Australia.[1][2][3] He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from James Cook University in 1978, and later a PhD in Physics from that same institution in 1980.[4][5] At this time, he also joined the Australian Institute of Marine Science. He started studying the Great Barrier Reef in 1984, mainly focusing on ocean currents and the movement of sediment.[6]

Peter Ridd
Born (1960-12-25) 25 December 1960
NationalityAustralian
Alma materJames Cook University of North Queensland

While teaching at James Cook University, Ridd was the head of the Physics department from 2009 to 2016, and head of the Marine Geophysical Laboratory at that institution for 15 years.[7]

Great Barrier Reef controversy

With Piers Larcombe, Ridd wrote an opinion piece in November 2017, published in the January 2018 issue of Marine Pollution Bulletin, challenging the prevailing understanding of the state of the Great Barrier Reef, drawing attention to what he argued was a reproducibility crisis and certain specific papers relating to the state of the Great Barrier Reef, and recommending a new review body for policy science.[8] A Viewpoint article in rebuttal was printed in the April 2018 issue of Marine Pollution Bulletin by Schaffelke et al.[9] Ridd replied in a further article in the June 2019 issue.[10]

Dismissal from James Cook University

Beginning in April 2016, James Cook University took a number of disciplinary measures against Ridd, which culminated in Ridd being fired. The university denied that the dismissal was over Ridd's views on climate change.[1] Ridd filed two crowdfunded lawsuits, the second over the dismissal.

On 16 April 2019, Ridd won the lawsuit,[3] with James Cook University found to be in violation of the Fair Work Act 2009; in September 2019, Ridd was awarded in excess of AU$1 million, together with AU$125,000 pecuniary penalty. While the two parties continue to disagree whether the case related to academic freedom, the ruling judge said the case was "purely and simply about the proper construction of a clause in an enterprise agreement",[3] although he also stated James Cook University had "not understood the whole concept of intellectual freedom".[11] In July 2020, James Cook University won an appeal against this judgement from the full bench of the Federal Court.[12]

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References
  1. Readfearn, Graham (6 June 2018). "Academic Peter Ridd not sacked for his climate views, university says". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. Charlie Peel (26 March 2019). "Professor Peter Ridd challenges James Cook University sacking". Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  3. Smee, Ben (6 September 2019). "Peter Ridd awarded $1.2m in unfair dismissal case against James Cook University". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-ridd-5ba3a98/
  5. https://platogbr.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/ridd-v-james-cook-university-no.2-2019-fcca-2489.pdf
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbKa015q4cI
  7. Bolton, Robert (22 July 2019). "Judge Vasta to proceed with existing cases". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  8. Larcombe, Piers; Ridd, Peter (January 2018). "The need for a formalised system of Quality Control for environmental policy-science". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 126: 449–461. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.038. PMID 29421125.
  9. Schaffelke, Britta; Fabricius, Katharina; Kroon, Frederieke; Brodie, Jon; De'ath, Glenn; Shaw, Roger; Tarte, Diane; Warne, Michael; Thorburn, Peter (April 2018). "Support for improved quality control but misplaced criticism of GBR science. Reply to viewpoint "The need for a formalised system of Quality Control for environmental policy-science" by P. Larcombe and P. Ridd (Marine Pollution Bulletin 126: 449–461, 2018)". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 129 (1): 357–363. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.02.054. PMID 29680560.
  10. Larcombe, Piers; Ridd, Peter (June 2019). "Viewpoint: The need for a formalised system of Quality Assurance for Environmental Policy-Science and for improved policy advice to Government on the Great Barrier Reef. Reply to – 'Support for improved quality control but misplaced criticism of GBR science' by Britta Schaffelke, Katharina Fabricius, Frederieke Kroon, Jon Brodie, Glenn De'ath, Roger Shaw, Diane Tarte, Michael Warne, Peter Thorburn (Marine Pollution Bulletin 129: 357–363, 2018)". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 143: 50–57. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.003.
  11. "Are climate skeptic Peter Ridd's controversial reef views validated by his unfair dismissal win?". ABC News. 23 April 2019.
  12. Nothling, Lily (22 July 2020). "University wins appeal over controversial academic's unfair sacking verdict". ABC News. Retrieved 22 July 2020.


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