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London Science Museum ends long-term partnership with BP

The museum's educational academy concluded its contract with the energy company following years of public pressure.

The short version

  • The Science Museum Group academy has ended its decades-long partnership with oil and gas giant BP after its current contract expired.
  • The decision follows extensive campaigning and boycott pledges from educators and schools concerned about BP's fossil fuel operations.
  • While campaign groups welcomed the move, they noted that the museum continues to accept funding from other fossil-fuel-linked companies.

Key facts

  • The Science Museum Group academy, established in 2018 to train science and education professionals, concluded its partnership with BP at the end of its contract term.[The Guardian]
  • Science Museum Group director Sir Ian Blatchford acknowledged BP's past contributions, stating they helped provide science engagement training to over 11,000 professionals.[The Guardian]
  • Campaigners and educators had long criticized the partnership, with some schools pledging to boycott visits to the museum over its association with the oil firm.[The Guardian]
  • The campaign group Culture Unstained highlighted that the museum still maintains a funding relationship with Adani Green Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of the Adani Group conglomerate.[The Guardian]
  • In 2024, the museum previously severed its relationship with Equinor due to the energy company's failure to adequately align its carbon emissions with the Paris Agreement targets.[The Guardian]

Sources