More detail on the Kormendy controversy: 1. Archive copy of withdrawn paper: https://web.archive.org/web/20211028230225/https:/arxiv.org/pdf/2110.14115.pdf htt

More detail on the Kormendy controversy: 1. Archive copy of withdrawn paper: https://web.archive.org/web/20211028230225/https:/arxiv.org/pdf/2110.14115.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20211028230225/https:/arxiv.org/... 2. Coverage at Retraction Watch: https://retractionwatch.com/2021/11/03/astronomer-apologizes-withdraws-preprint-slated-for-pnas-about-impact-in-the-field-after-criticism/ https://retractionwatch.com/2021/11/03/astronomer-apologizes... "The book required 5 years of intense, essentially full-time work. I believe in it. But for now, all advice to me has been that it is dangerous and unwarranted even to defend the work. I therefore am unable to comment further on events. I am sorry — more than words can say." -- Kormendy 3. Kormendy's Apology: https://chandra.as.utexas.edu/apology.html https://chandra.as.utexas.edu/apology.html "I apologize most humbly and sincerely for the stress that I have caused with the PNAS preprint, the PNAS paper, and my book on using metrics of research impact to help to inform decisions on career advancement. My goal was entirely supportive. I wanted to promote fairness and concreteness in judgments that now are based uncomfortably on personal opinion. I wanted to contribute to a climate that favors good science and good citizenship. My work was intended to be helpful, not harmful. It was intended to decrease bias and to improve fairness. It was hoped to favor inclusivity. It was especially intended to help us all to do the best science that we can. A specific aim was to provide calibration of the "black box" of jump-starting successful research careers. One of my aims throughout was to help young people as they start their careers and to help established scientists as they make decisions on how to lead the scientific enterprise at their institutions and beyond. But intentions do not, in the end, matter. What matters is what my actions achieve. And I now see that my work has hurt people. I apologize to you all for the stress and the pain that I have caused. Nothing could be further from my hopes. The PNAS paper and arXiv preprint have been withdrawn as thoroughly as the publication system allows. The arXiv withdrawal is accepted by arXiv and appears in the posting for Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. The same may be the fate of the book. I hoped to generate healthy discussion and to provide practical aids. We will see in the coming few months whether any good can be salvaged from its development. Meanwhile, publication of the book is "on hold". I fully support all efforts to promote fairness, inclusivity, and a nurturing environment for all. Only in such an environment can people and creativity thrive."