Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is facing the risk of being expelled from the Royal Society, the UK’s oldest scientific academy. This comes after more than 2,700 scientists signed an open letter protesting against Musk’s membership in the prestigious institution. A meeting is scheduled to take place on March 3 to discuss this matter.
In an open letter, Professor Stephen Curry from Imperial College London criticized the Royal Society for its “continued silence and apparent inaction” regarding Musk’s fellowship that was granted in 2018. He also questioned why the society has not taken action against Musk despite being aware that his behavior goes against the Society’s Code of Conduct.
Professor Curry highlighted the resignation of Professor Dorothy Bishop, who cited Musk’s promotion of unfounded conspiracy theories and malicious accusations towards Anthony Fauci, the former Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United States, as reasons for her departure. He expressed confusion over how Musk’s actions align with the code of conduct that requires fellows to uphold the values of the Society.
The situation is considered serious due to Musk’s involvement in the US administration, where he serves as an advisor to President Donald Trump and heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Several members, including Professor Dorothy Bishop, have already resigned in protest, with Bishop stating that she does not want to be associated with an institution that includes Elon Musk as a member.
The Royal Society, founded in 1660 in London, plays a crucial role in supporting scientific research, providing advice to policymakers, and fostering international cooperation. Its members, who have made significant contributions to natural knowledge in fields such as mathematics, engineering science, and medical science, include scientists and engineers from the UK and the Commonwealth.
Throughout its history, the Royal Society has honored esteemed members like Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Charles Darwin. The current president, Adrian Smith, succeeded Venki Ramakrishnan in November 2020.
In the more than 150 years of its existence, the Royal Society has only expelled one member, Rudolf Eric Raspe, for fraud. The potential expulsion of Elon Musk would be a significant and unprecedented event in the history of the institution.
