The Royal Society suggested to Elon Musk that he might consider resigning from his fellowship if he believed it wouldn’t assist in addressing an attack on research from the Trump administration, according to the Guardian.
The owner of X, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was elected as a member in 2018 due to the UK’s National Academy of Sciences’ contributions to the space and electric vehicle sectors.
However, in the past year, fellows and other scientists have informed the Royal Society that they feel the Academy has breached its code of conduct, leading some to resign, and the return of awards has become a point of contention amid protests against the Academy’s perceived inaction.
Among the various factors behind the protests was Musk’s position as the head of the U.S. Government Efficiency Office (DOGE), an agency criticized for reducing research funding and enforcing censorship within academia.
In March, the Guardian reported that the Royal Society decided that Musk would not be subject to an investigation regarding alleged violations of the Code. It was noted that Sir Paul Nurse, who is currently running for the presidency of the association, had advised Musk in May to think about resigning from his fellowship.
In an email sent to the Fellowship, Sir Adrian Smith, the current president of the Royal Society, disclosed that on March 19, he first communicated with Nurse about the “wide range of damages” inflicted on American science by the Trump administration and urged for “action to reverse this tragedy.”
Smith promptly responded, “highlighting his strong commitment to science and requesting further information regarding Paul’s concerns.”
Sir Paul Nurse, president of the Royal Society, expressed his concerns to Musk regarding American science. Photo: Paul Nurse
Nurse followed up with another letter on March 27, suggesting that Musk speak with U.S. public sector scientists to discuss the impact of the administration’s policies.
“Paul did not receive any responses to this communication or the follow-up reminders,” Smith stated.
On May 20, the nurse sent a letter outlining concerns shared with him by U.S. scientists, noting that “some of the proposed budget cuts seemed pointless.”
Smith mentioned: “In his letter of distress, Paul suggested, ‘If you feel you can’t help, you should consider whether you truly wish to remain a Fellow of the Royal Society.’
Nevertheless, Musk only replied after Smith and Nurse indicated that the contents of their correspondence would be shared with the fellowship.
A spokesperson for the Academy confirmed that Musk has not made any comments regarding proposals to consider resigning from his fellowship, stating, “Elon Musk remains a Fellow of the Royal Society.”
In an email to Smith’s fellowship, it was noted: “The society’s officers and council determined that pursuing disciplinary action against Musk does not align with the Royal Society’s interests.” Although significant disagreements were expressed during previous fellowship meetings, Smith acknowledged that defending science globally remains the society’s foremost objective.
Not all peers advocate for condemning Musk, with some expressing concerns about potentially questioning the views of others who have shared controversial opinions. However, one fellow familiar with Smith’s email described the situation as “a significant issue.”
Another fellow noted that the leadership approach seems to prioritize pragmatism over ethical considerations. “If a new party emerges around Musk, it could lead to significant repercussions, including potential repercussions for Royal Society archives from that period,” they commented.
Stephen Curry, a professor emeritus of structural biology at Imperial College London and a previous organizer of open letters, supported the correspondence but stressed that the academy should take a more resolute and explicit stance.
“They haven’t received any indications from Elon Musk that he aligns with the Royal Society’s declared values, so it should be made clear to him that without this commitment, his fellowship must end,” he stated.
“I am increasingly concerned that the Royal Society is unable to uphold its own code of conduct.”
A representative for Musk was requested for comment.
Source: www.theguardian.com
