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Ghost Academy Terrifies Delft ProfessorEver wonder what it would be like to receive a membership letter from an organisation that may not even exist? Professor GuusBerkhout knows exactly how it feels.

A few weeks ago, the prominent Delft physics professor received a letter from the ‘European Academy of Sciences’, congratulating him for being elected to join “the most distinguished group of scientists of this century, including Nobel Prize winners.” And along with it came a bill for administration costs: $ 115.

And there were more downsides. When Berkhout asked which ‘distinguished scientists’ joined the Academy before him, he

learned that EURASC is not willing to share its membership list until late November. Berkhout contacted the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences – only to find the local academy has never even heard of a European Academy of Sciences.

The climax came last week, when Nature magazine published more

revealations: the Academy could only be traced to a rented office in Brussels, and the people in charge couldn’t be reached, didn’t speak English or denied involvement with EURASC.

Still, Berkhout doesn’t believe the Academy is a hoax. Several years ago the European Union tried to found a new Academy of Sciences, but the attempt stalled for political reasons. “Apparently, a small group of people are now trying to revive that Academy,” Berkhout says. “But they are doing so without

consulting the local Academies first, which I find very clumsy.”

The ghostly Academy itself is furious and plans to take Nature to court. “It is real, it exists and will exist,” EURASC-‘governor’ Rane Krapez wrote in an email to the magazine. Berkhout, however, has decided not to reply to the letter for the time being.

Ghost Academy Terrifies Delft Professor

Ever wonder what it would be like to receive a membership letter from an organisation that may not even exist? Professor Guus

Berkhout knows exactly how it feels. A few weeks ago, the prominent Delft physics professor received a letter from the ‘European Academy of Sciences’, congratulating him for being elected to join “the most distinguished group of scientists of this century, including Nobel Prize winners.” And along with it came a bill for administration costs: $ 115.

And there were more downsides. When Berkhout asked which ‘distinguished scientists’ joined the Academy before him, he

learned that EURASC is not willing to share its membership list until late November. Berkhout contacted the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences – only to find the local academy has never even heard of a European Academy of Sciences.

The climax came last week, when Nature magazine published more

revealations: the Academy could only be traced to a rented office in Brussels, and the people in charge couldn’t be reached, didn’t speak English or denied involvement with EURASC.

Still, Berkhout doesn’t believe the Academy is a hoax. Several years ago the European Union tried to found a new Academy of Sciences, but the attempt stalled for political reasons. “Apparently, a small group of people are now trying to revive that Academy,” Berkhout says. “But they are doing so without

consulting the local Academies first, which I find very clumsy.”

The ghostly Academy itself is furious and plans to take Nature to court. “It is real, it exists and will exist,” EURASC-‘governor’ Rane Krapez wrote in an email to the magazine. Berkhout, however, has decided not to reply to the letter for the time being.

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