Seven months ago, University of Utah officials called the press together to explain experiments they said could change the world.
Now they have $4.3 million from public coffers. But things aren't going so well at the National Cold FusionInstitute - established with public money - and officials now want to shut off public inquiries into research there.
Reporters were told last week they would not be allowed in the U.'s new fusion center, and they would be informed when news would be available to report.
"For example, if there are some cells that suddenly start operating - or there are pertinent pieces of information that the public needs to know, by all means we will be announcing those," said Pam Fogle, director of U. public relations. "Additionally, if things are working doggedly and the research is continuing, we will be issuing regular progress reports out of the institute, as well."
Fogle said the U. has told researchers to stop doing interviews with the media, but "in no way are we trying to close down the information flow from the institute to the public. That is still intact."
To observers of the Utah fusion process, it appears researchers at the institute are having serious problems with their grandiose dreams of revolutionizing the world's energy supply, and U. officials are anxious to stop the public scrutiny they invited in March.
Contrary to promises U. officials made when asking for public money, companies are not lining up to sign expensive contracts to work with the institute in the development of the phenomenon.
Westinghouse Corp., one of the companies with which the U. expected to collaborate, became the latest major company to reject overtures to help fund the experiments last week. Company officials said they have been unable to duplicate the experiments and are reconsidering their efforts.
The U. decided to stop granting interviews after the Fusion Institute's director, Hugo Rossi, told reporters recently that the institute so far has been unable to produce fusion and may have to stop trying if nothing develops within six months.
Since then, Rossi hasn't been available to the press and all inquiries are now directed to James Brophy, the U.'s vice president for research.
Ironically, the people who first developed the cold-fusion experiments, B. Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann, still answer phone calls and conduct interviews.
But then, Pons and Fleischmann are merely advisers to the institute their research spawned.
Steven E. Jones, the Brigham Young University physPlease see FUSION on B2
icist who also has been pioneering fusion research, willingly grants interviews. BYU's own fusion center is operating on a mere $100,000, less than it costs the U. just to lease the building used by the fusion institute. Jones' money comes from BYU and an ongoing grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Some wonder why officials at the U. - with state tax dollars in hand - suddenly believe they can't work unless the public quits asking questions.
"It is inconsistent with a public institution using public funds to not allow the public, through the press, to be informed on a timely basis," said Pat Shea, attorney for the Utah Society of Professional Journalists. `Their unilateral and unconstitutional closing of access violates strong Utah and American traditions. Good science does not require this."
Government officials are not alarmed by the U.'s decision to sequester the institute's staff and researchers.
"One thing that's been made clear is that good scientists don't make good media stars," said Bud Scruggs, Gov. Norm Bangerter's chief of staff. Bangerter selected the committee that decided to give tax money to the fusion center.
Officials in the governor's office say they are concerned with how the U. spends the money, but they are willing to wait a while before they start prying.
"All of the lay people are at this point willing to give the scientists three or four months to work in their labs, as opposed to constantly doing media interviews and government briefings," Scruggs said. "There are people there with their whole professional lives at stake."
Ray Hixon, chairman of the state fusion council, said he will wait two more months before calling a meeting to ask about progress at the center.
Meanwhile, the public will have to wait for the next press release.