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A long-running education partnership between Queensland Museum and Shell’s Queensland Gas Company is facing scrutiny after claims it downplays the role of fossil fuels in driving global warming.
The multimillion-dollar collaboration has shaped classroom materials used widely across the state.
A review by advocacy group Comms Declare argues that key scientific explanations have been selectively presented, omitting the central cause of rising greenhouse gases, The Guardian notes
Disputed materials
According to The Guardian, Shell has supported the museum’s Future Makers program since 2015, providing funding and helping to produce worksheets and teacher training sessions
But Comms Declare says these resources fail to explain that the rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases is largely driven by fossil fuel combustion.
The group said lessons on ocean acidification “never identify fossil fuel combustion as the dominant source”, and noted that students are encouraged to design carbon
capture and storage systems presented as tools “many scientists” are developing to remove carbon dioxide from air and oceans.
Belinda Noble of Comms Declare said: “This is climate obstruction dressed up as education. We wouldn’t let big tobacco sponsor teaching materials – fossil fuel companies shouldn’t shape how kids learn about the climate.”
Criticism from scientists
Lesley Hughes, a climate scientist at Macquarie University and Climate Council councillor, said she was “appalled” that a fossil fuel producer was influencing classroom science at a time when young people “will be the ones to suffer the most from their climate-wrecking activities”.
Comms Declare said it had been told Shell had provided $10.25m to various museum programs. T
The museum reported that Future Makers materials had been downloaded 400,000 times and that the program had funded STEM professional development for 1,700 teachers, The Guardian notes
Museum response
According to The Guardian, Australia asked Queensland Museum whether it would review or withdraw the program and whether the sponsorship was appropriate
The museum said the initiative had “delivered hands-on science and technology programs and events inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators” and provided “real results for Queensland teachers and students”.
The museum also said its resources comply with state and federal curricula and would undergo updates as new curriculum versions are released. Shell Australia declined to comment.
Calls for change
Comms Declare argues that leaving fossil fuels out of climate lessons “undermines students’ understanding of cause and effect” and erodes basic climate literacy.
The group wants the museum to overhaul the materials and end its relationship with Shell once any contractual obligations expire, The Guardian reports
Source: The Guardian
