The Science Museum has released a statement from Dame Mary Archer following the resignation of Science Museum Group trustees Hannah Fry and Jo Foster.
Fry and Foster’s resignations from the board of the Science Museum Group come as London’s Science Museum prepares to open a climate change gallery supported by Adani Green Energy.
Adani Green Energy is the solar power arm of Adani, an Indian multinational conglomerate with major holdings in coal. The Science Museum has already attracted criticism over sponsorship deals with companies such as Shell, BP and Equinor.
“I have reluctantly accepted the resignation of Jo Foster and Hannah Fry from the Science Museum Group’s board of trustees,” said Archer, chair of the Science Museum Group board of trustees. “On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Hannah and Jo for their significant and valued contributions as trustees.”
Energy Revolution gallery opening
“We fully respect their decision to step down, which reflects views they expressed during recent board discussions on accepting sponsorship from Adani Green Energy, and they will both remain critical friends of the Science Museum Group,” she added.
The gallery, called Energy Revolution, is set to open in 2023. Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Green Energy, said it “will explore how society can power the future through low carbon technologies”.
“Nothing short of an energy revolution is required to replace fossil fuels with renewables, as a new gallery at the Science Museum will explore,” Archer said. “Governments need to do more to drive forward regulatory frameworks that help green tech to prosper and make fossil fuels less attractive options.”
“But the big energy companies, whose fossil fuel products power so much of the global economy today with all its impacts on climate, also have a responsibility to show more leadership in speeding up that transition to low-carbon energy sources such as blue and green hydrogen, solar, wind and nuclear, and smarter and more sustainable storage and distribution of electrical power,” she said.
Adani supporting ‘green’ gallery
Last month, climate scientist Chris Rapley resigned from the Science Museum Group‘s advisory board. In March, science author and historian Sarah Dry withdrew as a trustee.
“Given the enormous expertise and wealth tied up in those energy companies, they need to play a much bigger role in urgent change to prevent a climate catastrophe,” Archer added.
“This potential explains the position taken by the Science Museum Group over the past decade that it would be counter-productive to rule out engaging with the entire sector; sponsorship decisions are made on individual companies, but with so much at stake there will continue to be robust internal discussion about where to draw the line.”
Images: Science Museum Group
