The Royal Society has decided against taking disciplinary action against Elon Musk, amid fears that stripping the world’s richest man of his fellowship “could do more harm than good” for science and the academy.

Earlier this month more than 150 fellows from the world’s oldest scientific society met to discuss whether the recent actions of the Tesla and Space X boss, who was elected a fellow in 2018, had violated the organisation’s code of conduct.

It followed controversial statements by the billionaire owner of X, including labelling Labour MP Jess Phillips a “rape genocide apologist”. His role in spearheading massive cuts to US research grants as head of the US Department for Government Efficiency has also caused dismay, with many scientists claiming that Musk’s actions amounted to an attack on science.

While the outcome of that meeting on 3 March was inconclusive, the Royal Society suggested “potential further actions” might be taken against Musk. However, this appears to have been ruled out by the society’s president Adrian Smith.

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In a confidential letter sent to fellows this week, Smith makes it clear Musk will not face an investigation, reported.

“The view of council is that making judgements on the acceptability of the views and actions of fellows, particularly those that might be regarded as political, could do more harm than good to the society and the cause of science in general,” writes Smith, adding that the “council believes that disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated on such grounds”.

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The letter is said to explain how the meeting of fellows had heard strong opinions on both sides of the argument, with some fearing that removing the billionaire’s fellowship could lead to accusations about the politicisation of science.

“The challenges that science is facing today go much wider than any individual and it was felt by many of those present, as well as others who have expressed their concerns separately, that we should focus our energies in making the principled case for science,” writes Smith.

Asked for a response by Times Higher Education, the Royal Society said it had nothing further to add, noting that the contents of Smith’s letter to fellows were confidential.

Dorothy Bishop, a University of Oxford neuroscientist who resigned her Royal Society fellowship in protest at Musk’s recent actions, condemned the academy’s stance, claiming it undermined claims that the academy would stand up for science across the world.

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“Saying you’ll stand up for attacks on science in the US while honouring the person responsible for the attacks is like handing out bandages to people who are being savaged by your pet dog, while doing nothing to restrain him,” Bishop wrote on .

Other scientists have also condemned the decision. University of Zurich �����DZ��Dz��������� described the inaction as “utterly pathetic and cowardly”, claiming that the Royal Society is “abandoning everything [it] stood for, just to not make fascist billionaires and anti-science crusaders uncomfortable”.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com