Royal Society

Royal Society to Vote on Expelling Elon Musk

The Royal Society will convene a meeting to address calls for Elon Musk’s expulsion due to his controversial actions, including support for Donald Trump, downplaying climate change, and attacking scientists. Over 2,300 scientists have signed an open letter criticizing Musk’s behavior, while some Royal Society fellows have resigned in protest. Debate exists within the Society regarding whether expelling Musk would set a precedent and potentially damage public trust in scientific objectivity, given the lack of expulsions for over 150 years. The Society’s president acknowledges the complexities of balancing scientific contributions with controversial public statements.

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Royal Society Urged to Expel Elon Musk Amidst Fellow Backlash

Over 1,700 scientists signed an open letter urging the Royal Society to expel Elon Musk from its fellowship, citing his controversial public statements and actions as head of “Doge,” a US government efficiency department. This follows the resignations of two fellows due to the Royal Society’s inaction on previous concerns regarding Musk’s behavior, including inflammatory comments targeting a UK MP. The letter highlights Musk’s association with a Trump administration actively undermining scientific research and criticizes the Royal Society’s lack of transparency in addressing these issues. A Royal Society meeting is scheduled to discuss the principles governing fellows’ public conduct.

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