The fossil fuel industry's toxic influence on higher education and the case for fossil free research

Institutions of higher education around the world – including those that have divested from fossil fuels and that claim to be leaders on climate – continue to maintain close ties with the fossil fuel industry. Instances of fossil ties to higher education include university administrators who serve as board members and consultants to the fossil fuel industry, industry recruitment pipelines, industry sponsored events, industry funded professorships, and more. Most concerningly, the fossil fuel industry continues to funnel millions of dollars toward climate-related research. Fossil funded climate research enables greenwashing, lends undue social credibility to Big Oil, poses a grave threat to academic freedom, and undermines the ability of academic research to contribute to the urgently needed just energy transition. This presentation will introduce attendees to the landscape of fossil fuel ties to higher education, how an international student-led movement is organizing to cut off this avenue of influence, and how academic researchers can contribute to the movement. Pour en savoir plus : https://fossilfreeresearch.org.