UK's Science Museum Tied to Big Oil, Campaigners Allege 'Insidious' Influence on Education
Documents obtained under freedom of information legislation have shed light on a lucrative partnership between BP, a leading oil and gas company with a record of climate denial, and the Science Museum in London. The museum's "Enterprising Science" academy has received over £1 million from BP to sponsor its teacher training program, which has run more than 500 courses for over 5,000 educators.
Critics claim that this cozy relationship is not only morally dubious but also undermines the integrity of science education in the UK. Chris Garrard of Culture Unstained, a campaign group that opposes such collaborations, warned: "BP's toxic influence over young people's learning is calculated and insidious." He argued that the company's vested interests in fossil fuels should exclude it from shaping educational approaches.
In response, the Science Museum claimed to have "no involvement" in the research or educational output produced by the academy. However, critics point out that BP was given significant control over major decisions made during the development of the project, with its representative having a vote on key matters.
The controversy has already led to widespread criticism, not just from environmental groups but also from schools and teachers' unions. The National Education Union's green representative, Helen Tucker, stated: "We all have too much to lose." Over 400 teachers and scientists had pledged to boycott the Science Museum in 2022, citing concerns about the academy's ties to fossil fuel producers.
As BP continues to shun scientific consensus on climate change and prioritize drilling for oil and gas, campaigners are questioning whose side the Science Museum is really on. With young people increasingly turning away from fossil fuel companies, it remains to be seen how long this lucrative partnership will endure.
Documents obtained under freedom of information legislation have shed light on a lucrative partnership between BP, a leading oil and gas company with a record of climate denial, and the Science Museum in London. The museum's "Enterprising Science" academy has received over £1 million from BP to sponsor its teacher training program, which has run more than 500 courses for over 5,000 educators.
Critics claim that this cozy relationship is not only morally dubious but also undermines the integrity of science education in the UK. Chris Garrard of Culture Unstained, a campaign group that opposes such collaborations, warned: "BP's toxic influence over young people's learning is calculated and insidious." He argued that the company's vested interests in fossil fuels should exclude it from shaping educational approaches.
In response, the Science Museum claimed to have "no involvement" in the research or educational output produced by the academy. However, critics point out that BP was given significant control over major decisions made during the development of the project, with its representative having a vote on key matters.
The controversy has already led to widespread criticism, not just from environmental groups but also from schools and teachers' unions. The National Education Union's green representative, Helen Tucker, stated: "We all have too much to lose." Over 400 teachers and scientists had pledged to boycott the Science Museum in 2022, citing concerns about the academy's ties to fossil fuel producers.
As BP continues to shun scientific consensus on climate change and prioritize drilling for oil and gas, campaigners are questioning whose side the Science Museum is really on. With young people increasingly turning away from fossil fuel companies, it remains to be seen how long this lucrative partnership will endure.
! Like, what's up with their 'Enterprising Science' program, right? Sounds like they just wanted a fancy-schmancy way to push their fossil fuel agenda on our kids 
. And now the museum's all "no involvement" but I'm calling BS 
. It's pretty obvious that BP had a major say in shaping this whole thing. Can't trust big oil, fam 
. The Science Museum needs to step up its game and make sure our science education is about actual science, not just serving the interests of fossil fuel giants 
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And the Science Museum is right there in the middle of it, taking money from BP while pretending they're not involved. It's like, what's going on here? Are we really just letting a fossil fuel company dictate how our kids are taught? 
I mean, I get that BP has its own agenda and all, but shouldn't we be teaching them to think critically about climate change instead of supporting their 'science'?! 
And what about the teachers who already spoke out against this partnership back in 2022? It's like they're being silenced now. 
. I mean, who needs oil and gas when we've got science on our side? 
And it's not just the teachers, but the whole curriculum - it's like, BP's pulling the strings from behind the scenes 
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And what's with the museum saying they've got no involvement in the research? Like, don't even try to spin this one 
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. Anyway, fingers crossed this partnership gets called out for what it is - a dirty deal 
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The fact that they were given so much control over the teacher training program is just gross. What's next, having a tobacco company sponsor a program on healthy eating? 
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. The fact that they have such a stranglehold on the Science Museum's teacher training program is just sickening 
. We need to hold these institutions accountable and make sure our education system isn't compromised by corporate interests 
! #NoCorporateInfluence #ScienceMatters #FossilFuelFree
500+ courses funded by BP = £1m = total coziness 
stats: 
. It's time for some transparency and accountability from the Science Museum. Can't have a museum promoting science education if it's tied to industries that are literally poisoning our planet 
. Anyway, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that BP shouldn't be involved in shaping education like this. It's not just a matter of moral principle – it's also about maintaining public trust in science institutions