Rafael Luque, a Spanish chemist who is widely considered one of the world’s most cited scientists, was suspended without pay by the University of Córdoba after working there for 13 years, according to El Pas.
According to the Spanish newspaper, the prolific scientist, who has published approximately 700 studies—mostly in the field of so-called green chemistry—was sanctioned for working as a researcher for other universities, including the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in Moscow.
“Without me, the University of Córdoba is going to drop 300 places [in the Shanghai ranking],” said Luque, who has published over 700 research, mostly on the subject of “green chemistry.”
“They have shot themselves in the foot,” stated the 44-year-old scientist.
Chemist Rafael Luque joined King Saud as a researcher
Despite being a professor at the University of Córdoba, Luque joined King Saud as a researcher in 2019, more than a decade after the kingdom’s major universities launched intensive marketing to acquire the world’s most cited scientists.
Its only requirement was that they spend only one week a year on its campus and, in exchange for a fee, add the name of the Saudi college as a second affiliate. Luque, on the other hand, said that aside from payments for his analysis, business class travel, and luxury hotels, he never received money “directly” from either the Saudi or Russian institutions.
“In my [bank] account, they would not have found a single cent from Russia or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else,” he was quoted as adding.
Luque admitted to skirting established protocols in order to interact with other organizations, but said that he was targeted out of “envy” and a “lack of understanding.”
“They have a grudge against me because I am a very prolific scientist and a lot of people adore me because they know my worth. They are envious and mediocre people,” he said.
“I have never felt supported by the University of Córdoba, even though I put it on the Shanghai ranking. Being on the ranking is entirely due to me.”