UK Science and technology museums: possible conflict of interest

Head of UK science and technology museums sacked after investigation

Acting director of group including London's Science Museum dismissed for failing to declare a possible conflict of interest in a business deal

• Ian Sample, science correspondent
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 September 2009 14.38 BST
• Article history

The acting director of some of Britain's leading science and technology museums has been sacked for failing to declare a perceived conflict of interest relating to a business deal.

Molly Jackson was dismissed from her post as head of the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI) following an investigation into a deal that would have seen the Science Museum in London stock clothing from a firm owned by a male friend.

The NMSI is a family of museums that includes the prestigious Science Museum in London, the National Railway Museum in York and the National Media Museum in Bradford. Together they attract four million visitors a year, including one and a half million children.

Although the transaction did not go ahead and Ms Jackson did not benefit financially, the governing board found she had made "a serious error of judgement" in failing to declare her friendship with the man. Jackson left her £120,000-a-year job on Monday after the two-month investigation concluded.

Lord Waldegrave, chairman of the NMSI, said: "In allowing a perceived conflict of interest to develop, she clearly fell short of the high standards expected of her.

"This is a great shame because until this Molly Jackson had done a very good job for NMSI."

A spokesperson for the Science Museum refused to identify the company involved in the deal or the value of the contract, but added: "There was no financial impropriety, but we would expect all members of staff to comply with the code of conduct, and that goes for all staff from the director down."

Jackson worked for the organisation for six years and was managing director of the group's trading arm. She was appointed acting director of the NMSI in March and was awaiting government approval to continue as full director of the organisation. The the NMSI is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Andrew Scott, who has been director of the National Railway Museum since 1994, takes over as acting director with immediate effect.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/sep/22/head-science-museums-sacked