Royal Society right to keep Elon Musk as member, says new astronomer royal
The Royal Society was right to keep Elon Musk as a fellow, the UK’s new astronomer royal has said, adding there was a benefit to the private sector playing a role in space exploration.
Speaking to the Guardian after becoming the first woman to hold the 350-year-old position, the planetary scientist Prof Michele Dougherty said she had not been involved in the meetings around Musk’s fellowship, but that she supported the academy’s stance.
“The outcome of those meetings, and I’ve seen emails about it, is that he remains as a fellow of the Royal Society, because the reason he was given the [fellowship] has not changed,” said Dougherty.
Musk was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 2018 for his contribution to the space and electric vehicle industries. But over the past year, a host of scientists have called for the Royal Society to take action, saying Musk had violated the academy’s code of conduct, including through his former role in leading the US department of government efficiency (Doge).
In July the Guardian revealed the Royal Society had corresponded with Musk, suggesting he should consider resigning his fellowship if he felt unable to help with concerns raised by scientists about the Trump administration’s attacks on research. Musk did not respond to the suggestion and the Royal Society decided to take no further action.
