The following guest blog post was written by Lauren Kurtz, Executive Director of the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund.

In recent years, a small but growing number of climate scientists have found themselves the targets of politically motivated groups.  In an attempt to distract and discredit, these groups have launched legal challenges against scientists, who have then needed to legally defend their work, their correspondence, and their public statements.  The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) was founded in 2011 by Scott Mandia and Joshua Wolfe to protect the scientific endeavor by providing legal assistance to climate scientists facing such attacks.

Since its founding, CSLDF has collaborated with AGU to offer scientists free one-on-one private sessions with an attorney during the AGU Fall Meeting.  This year, the attorney available for consultations will be me, CLSDF’s new Executive Director.  I’m thrilled to be attending the 2014 AGU Fall Meeting and I’ll be available to answer any questions related to legal implications of scientific work in Moscone South (MS): Mezzanine – Room 264. To set up a meeting, send an email to [email protected] or sign up outside the room (you may sign up anonymously if you would prefer not to put your name down). Additional details on the attorney sessions are available on the Fall Meeting website.

In addition, CSLDF is teaming with AGU to produce a legal handbook for scientists, to be co-published by AGU and Wiley.  This handbook will provide accessible, plain language answers to scientists’ potential legal concerns, covering issues from funding to FOIA.

CSLDF’s co-founders Josh and Scott will also be representing CSLDF at this year’s AGU Fall Meeting at Exhibit Hall Booth 2612 in Moscone South, and we are all looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible.  Please stop by Booth 2612 or MS Room 264 to talk to any of us about your concerns or questions, to share any ideas you may have, or just to say “hi”.

Lauren Kurtz
Executive Director
Climate Science Legal Defense Fund