Karolinska moves to shrink Johansson’s office space again

Karolinska moves to shrink Johansson’s office space again 

During a meeting held last week Asst. Prof. Olle Johansson was informed by the Head of Administration of the Neuroscience Department at the Karolinska Institute, Åsa Garmager, that his office space is to be reduced substantially.

The symbolic importance of down-sizing Prof. Johansson's space is two-fold.

One, it has a psychological effect on him personally intended to grind him down and render him voiceless. Two, within the academic establishment, the down-sizing represent a marginalization of the man and his work.

When this happens to most scientists - as it did with Dariusz Leszczynski and Andrew Goldsworthy and Dimitris Panagopoulos - they remain reluctant to discuss their circumstances thus people can not defend them.

This is the second time Johansson has been marginalized. See below.

The following e-mail was submitted 5 September to Ms. Garmager and copied to the Department Chair Sandra Ceccatelli and HR Administrator Christina Ingvarsson.

Ms. Garmager,

I am reliably informed that you intend to reduce the space allocated for research by Asst. Prof. Olle Johansson of The Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, and that as an administrator you are unaware of the importance of Prof. Johansson’s work on behalf of humanity.

As an administrator you may not be aware why a university exists. Your proposed actions run counter to the purpose of a university which, as John Henry Newman explained, is “the diffusion and extension of knowledge”. This is further clarified by The Oxford and Cambridge Act, 1877  (which) defined the purpose of a university in terms of its "duty to foster religion, education, learning and research". By limiting Asst. Prof. Johansson’s resources you are acting in direct contravention of the very purposes of the Karolinska Institute.

As a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) it would be much more beneficial to humanity and true to your purpose to either directly fund Prof. Johansson’s research or direct research funding to him through LERU rather than limit his resources. This situation reveals an institutional bias against the protection of individuals affected by electromagnetic radiation.

Writing in 1987, Saul Bellow, 1976 Nobel Laureate, said, “...the university in a society ruled by public opinion, was to have been an island of intellectual freedom where all views were investigated without restriction.” (Italics mine.)

Thus, by limiting (diminishing incrementally - this is the second time Johansson’s resources have been curtailed) Asst. Prof. Johansson’s resources you and those directing your actions are acting in direct contravention of the publicly perceived and supported purpose of the Karolinska Institute both by raison d’etre and the explanation of your own Nobel Laureate.

Morally, ethically, philosophically and spiritually you are obliged to cease this exercise immediately.

Respectfully,

John Weigel

Ireland

For general distribution 9 September 2011

Sandra Ceccatelli, Department Chair,

Phone: 08-524 875 76

Fax: 08-33 03 56

E-mail: Sandra.Ceccatelli@ki.se

Åsa Garmager, Head of Administration,

Phone: 08-524 878 55

Organizational unit: Department of Neuroscience (Neuro), C4

E-mail: asa.garmager@ki.se

Christina Ingvarsson, HR administrator,

Phone: 08-524 878 80

Organizational unit: Department of Neuroscience (Neuro), C4

E-mail: Christina.Ingvarsson@ki.se

The effect of the proposed changes will have a great impact on Johansson's ability to further his work. "I am being stripped of yet remaining rooms; the only reason being that I do not have the money needed to cover the lab rent," he said. "This is dramatic and definitely will hamper me even much more, but again with the big losers being the people trusting me and trusting the system."

When asked why he simply does not retire, Johansson replied, "I do not want to retire. I want to help persons with questions and issues related to the on-going artificial bombardment with 'safe' electromagnetic fields." 

Regarding Stephen Clarke's circumstances, Johansson said, "This is becoming more and more of a nightmare; for Stephen Clarke, and - thus - for all of us."

No one from the Karolinska has responded.