On Tuesday, the Science Museum will launch its new interactive gallery for children – Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery. Despite securing sponsorship from an oil and gas company that is recklessly planning to drill seven new wells in the fragile Arctic, the London museum has also introduced an entry charge, restricting access to those visitors able to pay.
It is unconscionable that in 2016 a museum of science is handing a fossil fuel company legitimacy by allowing it to sponsor a gallery designed to inspire the next generation. Statoil is pursuing new sources of oil that must stay in the ground if there is to be any hope of leaving a safe climate for the children that are to visit this gallery. And from the Norwegian Arctic to the Great Australian Bight, Statoil’s plans are opposed by local communities and indigenous peoples who want the company off their lands and out of their waters.
Putting a charge on galleries aimed at children denies those from less privileged backgrounds the opportunity to become engaged in science and excited by the renewable energies that will play a vital role in their future. It is unacceptable for the Science Museum and Statoil to make future generations pick up the bill for their ill-made decisions. Wonderlab’s entry charge and its unethical sponsor must both be dropped.
Bill McKibben Author, educator, environmentalist and co-founder of 350.org
Professor Jonathan Oppenheim Royal Society university research fellow, department of physics and astronomy, University College London
Dr Stuart Parkinson Executive director, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Dr Douglas Parr Chief scientist, Greenpeace UK
Caroline Lucas MP and Jonathan Bartley Co-leaders, Green party
Professor Simon L Lewis Professor of global change science, UCL
Dr Sarah Bell Senior lecturer in environmental engineering, UCL
Dr Stephen Webster Director, Imperial College science communication unit
Dr Philip Webber Chair, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Stephen Kretzmann Executive director, Oil Change International
Gunnar Kvåle Professor emeritus, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway
Danny Chivers Author of The No-Nonsense Guide to Climate Change
Dr Victoria Johnson Research associate, Sustainable Consumption Institute, University of Manchester
Professor David Colquhoun FRS Professor of pharmacology, UCL
Professor Richard Ashcroft Professor of bioethics, Queen Mary University of London
Dr David Kirby Senior lecturer in science communication studies, University of Manchester
Dr Emily Dawson Lecturer in science communication, UCL
Dr David McCoy Medact
Dr Felicity Mellor Senior lecturer, Imperial College science communication unit
Prof Andy Stirling SPRU, University of Sussex
Dr Matt Folley Senior research fellow, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Alice Bell Former Science Museum employee
Dr Sarah Davies University of Copenhagen
Drew Pearce PhD science researcher and member of Progressive Science Institute
Beth Rice PhD science researcher and member of Progressive Science Institute
Dr David Hookes Honorary senior research fellow, Department of Computer Science, Liverpool University
Sophia Collins Science engagement specialist
Phil Ball Environmental activist and member of the Arctic 30
Clara Paillard President of PCS culture sector
Sophia McNab UK Youth Climate Coalition
Mads Flarup Christensen Executive director, Greenpeace Nordic
Bunna Lawrie Mirning elder and whale songman, Nullarbor/Great Australian Bight
Peter Owen Director, Wilderness Society South Australia
Nnimmo Bassey Health of Mother Earth Foundation, poet
Maja Ratkje Musician and member of Stopp Oljesponsing av Norsk Kulturliv (End Oil Sponsorship of the Arts Norway)
Claire James National coordinator of Campaign Against Climate Change
David Powell New Economics Foundation
Almuth Ernsting Co-director, Biofuelwatch
Martin Hagfors Musician, End Oil Sponsorship of the Arts Norway
Elin Vister Artist, End Oil Sponsorship of the Arts Norway
Hasse Farmen Musician, End Oil Sponsorship of the Arts Norway
Ian Pocock London Campaign Against the Arms Trade
Dr Anna Galkina Platform
Bergljot Gjelsvik BP or not BP?
Lola Perrin Composer and pianist
Feral X Activist and projection artist
Rob Burbea Composer, Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement
Dr Chris Garrard Composer, musicologist and environmental campaigner
James Simon Telford Musicologist, composer and sound artist
Emma Johnston Primary school teacher
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