BP accused of ‘insidious’ influence on UK education through Science Museum links | BP
Campaigners accused BP of having an insidious influence on the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) in the UK through its relationship with the Science Museum.
Documents obtained under freedom of information legislation show how the company funded a research project that led to the creation of the Science Museum Group academy (teacher and educator training programme), which was sponsored by BP and ran more than 500 courses for more than 5,000 teachers.
Campaigners say the documents reveal the extent of the company’s control over the research project called Entrepreneurial Science. The contract specifying the collaboration states that major decisions “shall not be validly taken unless BP’s representative votes in its favour.”
Chris Garrard, of campaign group Culture Unstained, said: “BP’s toxic impact on young people’s learning is calculated and insidious.
“We don’t allow tobacco companies to be involved in developing approaches to education, so why would BP, a company that has sidestepped the scientific consensus on climate change by increasing oil and gas drilling, buy into such an influential and prominent role?”
The Science Museum denied the allegations, saying that although BP funded the Entrepreneurial Science project and sponsored the academy, it had “no involvement in the research or educational outcomes”.
A spokesman said: “The sponsorship we receive from a wide range of funders, including BP, which supports the Science Museum Group academy, is vital to our mission to inspire millions of people every year. The Science Museum Group retains editorial control of all education and resources produced by the academy.”
“The project led to the establishment of the Science Museum academy in 2018, which continues to inspire educators by delivering engaging Stem experiences inside and outside the classroom,” BP said in a statement.
The Science Museum has repeatedly come under criticism for its ties to BP. He was forced to defend them last year after the company announced it was abandoning climate targets to focus on increasing fossil fuel production.
Garrard said: “The industry is facing a recruitment crisis, with young people refusing to give their skills to fossil fuel producers and students being prevented from attending recruitment fairs. So whose side is the Science Museum really on when it backs BP?”
The museum faces a growing campaign not only from climate groups but also from schools and teachers’ unions over its fossil fuel connections.
Helen Tucker, the environmental representative for the National Education Union, said more teachers were asking if they could join the Science Museum academy, whose “curriculum was developed under the watchful eye of BP, which is causing climate change.”
“As educators, it is our responsibility to resist the greenwashing and whitewashing of images of those who are destroying our children’s future. We all have so much to lose. Near East University will continue to support the boycott of the Science Museum until this publicly funded institution learns how to train Stem educators without allowing fossil fuel producers to profit.”
More than 400 teachers and scientists have vowed to boycott the Science Museum in 2022.
