One of our fellow columnists here on Forbes.com, Peter Gleick, had an unfortunate experience recently.

FORBES: No Wonder We're Losing Jobs: Science In Our Culture Is Under Assault

The theme that ties Gleick and Spitzer together is personal imperfection on the part of someone who is doing important work.

FORBES: No Wonder We're Losing Jobs: Science In Our Culture Is Under Assault

Gleick has publicly confessed that he contacted The Heartland Institute fraudulently pretending to be a member of the Board of Directors.

FORBES: Fakegate: The Obnoxious Fabrication of Global Warming

Gleick is known internationally as a water expert, but his Ph.

FORBES: Climate Politics Stand Between Students and Science Education

Gleick then forwarded the documents to 15 global warming alarmist advocacy organizations and sympathetic journalists, who immediately posted them online and blogged and wrote about them.

FORBES: Fakegate: The Obnoxious Fabrication of Global Warming

It matters that people like Gleick and Spitzer, imperfect but on the side of the angels, can be taken out by determined forces guilty of far worse offenses.

FORBES: No Wonder We're Losing Jobs: Science In Our Culture Is Under Assault

Gleick was frustrated at having to defend his science from jabs taken from behind a blind by people he suspected were simply paid mercenaries rather than real scientists.

FORBES: No Wonder We're Losing Jobs: Science In Our Culture Is Under Assault

Scientist Peter Gleick, head of the Pacific Institute and a moderately well-known commentator on such matters, spilled the beans in the Huffington Post and proffered an apology.

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New NCSE board member Peter Gleick, brought on to help with the climate campaign, said it should be taught across the curriculum because it affects all other areas of science.

FORBES: Climate Politics Stand Between Students and Science Education