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National Cold Fusion Institute Director Fritz Will has submitted his resignation from the institute's board of trustees, but he said Thursday that he will continue as director as long as funding holds out.
Dr. Will declined to discuss his reasons for resigning from the board,
which oversees operations at the institute. "I have no comment on this. Many things have happened that we regard as confidential information. One is then, obviously, in no position to disclose confidential information."
He added, "I want to say very affirmatively that I have not resigned as director of the institute and have no intention to resign."
University of Utah spokesman Larry Weist said the resignation request has been received by other board members, but no action has been taken. If the request is accepted, the remaining trustees would be U. President Chase N. Peterson, U. Vice President for Research James J. Brophy and businessman and state Board of Regents member Ian Cumming.
Another board member, U. College of Science Dean and one-time institute director Hugo Rossi, resigned last year after it was revealed that a $500,000 "anonymous" donation to the institute had come from the university.
The institute was intended to draw millions of dollars in research funds to carry out work related to the controversial claims of University of Utah chemist Stanley Pons and his British colleague, Martin Fleischmann, nearly two years ago. But the claim has struggled to find acceptance and the institute has found little backing outside the $5 million appropriated by the Utah Legislature.
The institute is scheduled to close June 30, when the state money will be exhausted, unless further funding is found. Dr. Will said the remaining money is being spent on trying to find a way to make the elusive phenomena reproducible on demand.