“Last month, the University of Colorado Boulder released a scathing audit about the events that led to the firing of Detlev Helmig, formerly an associate research professor at CU’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research.
According to the audit, which was released June 18, Helmig improperly diverted more than $700,000 in funding intended for university research to a private company he founded called Boulder Atmospheric Innovation Research.
The audit also says Helmig misused university property for personal gain and improperly handled a number of financial transactions.
All of which sounds really bad. But some of the circumstances surrounding the well-respected researcher’s departure from CU seem as hazy as the Colorado skies he monitors for air pollutants.”