Home›Global Markets›Europe›London Science Museum ends decades-long partnership wi…

London Science Museum ends decades-long partnership with BP

The Science Museum Group said the BP relationship ended at the close of the current contract term, noting BP support for training more than 11,000 education and science professionals and programs for over 1 million young people.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Europe

The London Science Museum has ended its decades-long partnership with BP, a decision described as a seismic shift by campaigners who have pushed the museum to sever ties with the oil and gas company.

The Science Museum Group, which runs the museum and launched the Science Museum Group academy in 2018 to provide training and resources, said it would be ending the partnership at the end of the current contract term. In a statement, the group said BP’s contributions helped inspire more than 11,000 education, museum and science professionals through research-informed science engagement training, supporting work aimed at sparking curiosity for more than 1 million young people across the country.

The partnership has faced scrutiny from campaigners who accused BP of exerting influence over how science, technology, engineering and maths topics are taught in the UK through its relationship with the museum. The article also notes that in 2024 the museum cut ties with oil company Equinor over concerns about insufficient emissions reductions to align with the Paris climate agreement goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C.

A campaigner from Culture Unstained said the decision followed years of campaigning and growing pressure from educators and schools, with some indicating they would boycott museum trips over the BP partnership. The outlet also references protests connected to the museum’s sponsorship relationships, including demonstrations in the museum’s energy hall.

More like this

Sources