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Royal Society will meet amid campaign to revoke Elon Musk’s fellowship

More than 1,300 scientists have signed a letter calling on the world’s oldest science society to reassess the billionaire’s membership following cuts to US science.

The Royal Society in London has called a meeting to discuss the behaviour of fellows following a growing campaign by scientists over the membership of Elon Musk. The 3 March meeting comes after more than 1,300 scientists signed an open letter expressing “deep concerns” about the conduct of billionaire Musk, who is a fellow.

Musk is working closely with US President Donald Trump on sweeping government reforms that threaten flagship US research programmes and are causing havoc to scientists in the United States and globally. He is also accused of spreading misinformation on the social media site X, which he owns.

Two Royal Society fellows have resigned over the institution’s perceived lack of action over Musk’s behaviour in recent months.

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Royal Society will meet amid campaign to revoke Elon Musk’s fellowship
www.nature.com /articles/d41586-025-00486-5
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Royal Society will meet amid campaign to revoke Elon Musk’s fellowship
www.nature.com /articles/d41586-025-00486-5
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13 comments

  • Musk became a fellow of the society — the world’s oldest science academy — in 2018 for his companies’ development of technologies such as space rockets, electric cars and brain implants.

    Is this prestigious science academy aware that space rockets and electric cars existed long before Elon Musk was even born? Even if they think his companies have contributed important innovations in those technological fields, what evidence do they have that Musk was the initiator of those innovations? Musk isn't an engineer or scientist. He employs engineers. Is that their rationale? That because he owns and/or controls the companies, the innovations (assuming the innovations coming from these companies are even worthy of such recognition) should be attributed to him, even if those innovations only came about because of engineers, scientists, and technicians who are in his employ? If so, that is absolutely ridiculous. If their academy wants to award a fellowship to someone, award it to the scientists and engineers themselves, not the super rich guy who happens to be those scientists' boss.

    • This step they’re taking shouldn’t stop with Musk. How many other Fellows are there not because of their impact on the scientific community, but because they have money?

    • Integrity is one thing, but academics aren’t usually well-paid enough to be completely immune to not merely gifts/bribes, but life-changing offers. Musk is more than able to utterly change lives without breaking a sweat.

      Academic integrity can be quite high, but it’s never infallible because people aren’t. I’m not saying money wasn’t involved, but I’d not be surprised, obviously.

13 comments