‘It would be seen as political’: why the Royal Society is torn over Elon Musk
by Nicola Davis Science correspondent from Science | The Guardian on (#6VRMG)
Many fellows feel the billionaire has breached its code of conduct, but others say scientific neutrality is at stake
It is a 365-year-old institution revered the world over, with past members including luminaries such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Dorothy Hodgkin. But now a row over a billionaire maverick has thrown the Royal Society into crisis, splintering the fellowship and raising existential questions about its role in society.
A growing number of scientists have called for the academy to investigate the conduct of Elon Musk - who was elected a fellow in 2018 - resulting in a passionate debate at a meeting of the scientific body on Monday evening.
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