Academics at the University of Western Australia have demanded its hierarchy explain how "sceptical environmentalist" Bjorn Lomborg was appointed as an adjunct professor for a new "consensus centre", questioning whether the Danish researcher hand-picked by Prime Minister Tony Abbott has the proper qualifications.

On the day Fairfax Media revealed that the idea for the centre - which comes as a result of a $4 million grant from the federal government - originated in the Prime Minister's Office, academics stated their concern that the new centre has tarnished their reputations.

In a letter to David Harrison, UWA' s head of corporate and government affairs, obtained by Fairfax Media, the head of the School of Animal Biology Sarah Dunlop said one international research fellow is already set to transfer their fellowship to another institution in protest.

On behalf of her school, Professor Dunlop wrote that Dr Lomborg did not have the necessary academic track record to justify his appointment as an adjunct professor.