Take Action- SEFI Members

SEFI has Member Institutions Around the World

It is appropriate to contact the institutional members and let them know about the issue of censorship at a SEFI 2015 conference. It is likely that the deans of engineering and the school administration many be unaware of the censorship issue.

Sending a short note letting them know about SEFI’s action and asking for a reply would be helpful:

Sample Letter

Dear Sir:

It has come to my attention that you are an institutional member of SEFI, the European Society for Engineering Education. Recently there was an event where SEFI behaved very unethically and I would like to ask your help in resolving this important matter.

A conference held in Orleans France, SEFI 2015 (29 June – 2 July) accepted a paper about ethics and the risk to the engineering profession. The paper discussed, as a case study, the errors in the peer-review process observed with an important engineering issue. The paper was peer reviewed and passed the technical review process. Just days before the conference began, the authors arrived in France to find that the paper had been withdrawn with no explanation. Additionally, the authors were refused entry to the conference when they asked for explanations.

A more complete explanation of the events, including a copy of the paper and the chain of correspondence can be seen at http://censoredbysefi.org/. Censoring discussion about ethical lapses is not in the best interests of the engineering profession. I agree with the requested remedies that the authors are calling for.

At a minimum, would it be possible for your institution to ask SEFI for a public statement explaining the specific reasons for their decision to exclude this paper from the conference. Currently no explanation has been given.

I thank you for your time and look forward to any response that you receive from SEFI which you would be able to share.

Thank You

Institutional Members

Institutional members are educational institutions and other teaching establishments involved in education and training. The institution should comply with the requirements expressed in the By-Laws.

Australia