BP under fire for sponsoring UK science education through museum links

ANKARA

BP is facing criticism for its ties to the Science Museum in London, as campaigners allege the oil company exerts “insidious” influence on science education in the UK through sponsorship of a key training program, according to media reports.

Documents obtained under freedom of information laws reveal that BP helped fund a research project called Enterprising Science, which laid the groundwork for the Science Museum Group academy -- a teacher and educator training initiative that BP continues to sponsor, The Guardian said Thursday..

According to the documents, the collaboration contract required that “major decisions would not be validly passed … unless the representative of BP votes in its favour,” raising concerns about the company's control of the project’s direction.

The newspaper quoted campaigner Chris Garrard from Culture Unstained, who said, “BP’s toxic influence over young people’s learning is calculated and insidious.”

“We wouldn’t allow tobacco companies to be involved in crafting approaches to education, so why should BP… be able to buy such an influential and prominent role?” he added, referencing the company’s investment in oil and gas.

The Science Museum rejected the claims, stating that BP “had no involvement in the research or educational output.”

A spokesperson emphasized that “editorial control of all training and resources” remained solely with the museum.

In a statement, BP said the project “led to the creation of the Science Museum academy in 2018, which continues to inspire educators delivering engaging Stem experiences.”

The backlash is growing among educators.

Helen Tucker from the National Education Union (NEU) said more teachers were questioning whether they could participate in a program “whose curriculum was developed with oversight from very people who are causing climate change – BP.”

The NEU said it would continue to support the boycott of the Science Museum “until this publicly funded institution learns how to train STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educators without allowing fossil fuel producers to profit from it.”