NSAC prof claims wrongful termination

TRURO - A fired Nova Scotia Agricultural College assistant professor is fighting for his job, saying he was unjustly dismissed.

Alex Martynenko was notified about the college's decision minutes before his three-year probationary period was to end. The college made the decision on Monday, May 31 after a committee completed its review on Friday, May 28 into an allegation that the 51-year-old Ukrainian man falsified data in two publications relating to the drying of ginseng and apples.

"This destroyed my professional reputation," Martynenko told the Truro Daily News this week. "This ruined all my partnerships with local industry."

At issue are two papers. According to Martynenko, one dealing with ginseng was published while he was working at the University of Guelph. Martynenko said he used the same introduction for a submission dealing with apple drying for a conference submission, but it included different methodology, data and discussion. Martynenko said a conference submission is different than a published paper although it could lead to information being published, but before that happened the information would be updated and details added.

"It's apples and oranges that can't be compared," he told the Truro Daily News.

Martynenko also admits that he made an error by adding a chart included in the submission that was from the ginseng paper.

The Truro resident was notified on May 31 of the college's decision. Since then he has written letters to government officials trying to have the decision reviewed and overturned. He is even open to having his probation period extended, if necessary, to continue his work at the NSAC.

Martynenko has met with deputy minister of Agriculture Paul LaFleche, who signed the termination letter, and is expecting his decision by Tuesday.

"This week will be critical," he said. "I have some hope he may change his decision."

An internal review committee had concerns with the level of duplication in the two papers, lack of attention to detail and omissions. It said a discipline decision is up to the co-presidents but suggested Martynenko must in the future work with a mentor or senior colleague to review papers before submitting them.

Martynenko said he taught nine courses, developed three labs, supervised two graduate students and was involved in projects that had more than $500,000 in research funding.

The former professor said there has been a gag order placed on staff discussing the issue publicly. NSAC co-president Bernie MacDonald said the issue was a private, confidential personnel matter that he could not speak about publicly.

jmalloy@trurodaily.com