From Huffington Post

AP  |  By CAROLYN THOMPSON Posted: 11/20/2012 10:17 am EST

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The University at Buffalo on Monday closed its seven-month-old shale gas research institute, which was under investigation by the State University Board of Trustees after a group of professors accused it of having undisclosed ties to industry.

UB President Satish Tripathi acknowledged that the university’s policies governing disclosure of financial interests had been “inconsistently applied” and the appearance of independence and integrity of the institute’s research impacted.

“Research of such considerable societal importance and impact cannot be effectively conducted with a cloud of uncertainty over its work,” Tripathi said in a letter to the university community announcing the closure. He said the decision followed an internal assessment of the institute. Continue reading →