Update! Dr. Emami's story has now been picked up by Newsweek!

Last year, a group of scientists from Southeastern Louisiana University, led by principal investigator Dr. Fereshteh Emami, published research findings showing high levels of toxic chemicals in Lake Maurepas. Methodologies developed by Dr. Emami traced those pollutants, which include lead and cadmium as well as high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, to years of heavy industrial and agricultural runoff into the lake. After Dr. Emami gave an interview about the work to the Louisiana Illuminator in June, she was told by the university communications team that she should check with them before speaking to the press. Less than two months later, she was removed from the project altogether.

University officials insist that Dr. Emami's removal from the project had nothing to do with her decision to speak out about what the team had found, first refusing to speak to a "personnel matter," then suggesting the action was taken because of data collection delays. Lawmakers, after meeting with SELU officials, seem satisfied with the university's answers. The university says the research will go on, and a replacement for Dr. Emami will be hired.

Hiring a replacement lead investigator on a major research project takes time, however. Time the industrial gas corporation Air Products, which is heavily in debt, needs as it prepares to start a carbon sequestration project right there in Lake Maurepas. Though Dr. Emami's research team found no link between the pollution in the lake and the company, any significant investigation or cleanup efforts would certainly delay their plans to profit from storing millions of tons of carbon dioxide below ground at the site.

Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship opposes any attempt to silence free speech, including the right of academics to speak freely about their research and its potential implications. We believe Dr. Emami's removal from this important project was an attempt to silence her, and we demand that university officials immediately reinstate her so that she may continue this important work.