Science Museum ends BP partnership

The London Science Museum Group Academy has ended its partnership with the oil and gas company BP. The academy announced the decision on Friday, with the partnership drawing to a close on Monday, 31 August at the end of its agreed contract term.

Sir Ian Blatchford, director and chief executive of the Science Museum Group, acknowledged BP's support. He said the company's contributions helped inspire over 11,000 education and science professionals through training, supporting work to engage more than 1 million young people.

Campaigner pressure

The decision follows years of campaigning and growing pressure from educators and schools. Some institutions had pledged to boycott trips to the museum over its BP links.

Chris Garrard of the campaign group Culture Unstained described the move as a 'seismic shift'. He said BP's commitment to climate action was 'never worth the paper it was written on' and accused the museum's director of passionately championing the partnership with a 'major polluter' year after year. Garrard stated that with the world facing droughts and wildfires and BP 'recklessly ramping up its production of dirty fossil fuels,' the museum had 'finally come to its senses.'

Previous scrutiny and other sponsors

BP's relationship with the Science Museum, which spanned decades, had faced previous scrutiny. Campaigners accused the company of exerting an 'insidious influence' over the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and maths (Stem) in the UK through the museum.

This is not the first time the museum has cut ties with an energy company. In 2024, it ended its relationship with Equinor over the oil company's failure to sufficiently lower carbon emissions to align with the Paris climate agreement goal.

However, Chris Garrard called the BP decision only a 'partial victory.' He noted the museum still accepts funding from Adani Green Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of the Adani Group. The Adani Group is one of the world's largest private coal mining and energy conglomerates.

The academy's role

The Science Museum Group Academy was established in 2018. It provides training and resources to teachers, museum practitioners, and the Stem industry both nationally and internationally. A BP spokesperson confirmed the partnership's end, as reported by The Guardian.