Berlin, 12 November 2025. One of the central highlights of the CETAF 2nd Directors’ Summit in Berlin—hosted by the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin / Freie Universität Berlin—was a high-level panel dedicated to examining how natural history institutions can foster effective partnerships while preserving scientific independence.
Moderated by Patrick Mihaely (NHM Luxembourg), the session brought together leading voices from across Europe: Klement Tockner (Director General of Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research), Gilles Bloch (President of the National Museum of Natural History), Ursula Warnke (Director of the State Museum Nature and Human in Oldenburg), and Esme Ward (Director of the Manchester Museum, University of Manchester).
Together, they offered critical insights into the ethical, financial, and societal challenges that shape collaboration today, underscoring the need for transparency, shared values, and resilient institutional frameworks.
Responsible Partnerships between the museums and the private sector
This talk focused on four central challenges currently facing natural history institutions, including how to balance collaboration with the private sector while avoiding the risk of greenwashing.
Collaboration with companies requires strict ethical boundaries, stressed Gilles Bloch, President of the National Museum of Natural History, France. “Before entering any partnership or accepting sponsorship, we thoroughly evaluate a company’s social and environmental responsibility to determine whether it is genuinely committed or simply greenwashing.”
He further underlined that public institutions need space to trial new collaborations: “When partnership involves expertise, we should stay open: we can assess a company’s commitment during a probationary phase. We need funding and must remain pragmatic, but always with a red line.”
“Before entering any partnership or accepting sponsorship, we thoroughly evaluate a company’s social and environmental responsibility to determine whether it is genuinely committed or simply greenwashing.”
Museum’s Financial Support
A second key discussion addressed how to engage banks and financial actors beyond sponsorship. As incentives and time horizons differ and data access and governance are uneven, there is a real risk of mission drift or perceived capture if transparency and shared values are not clearly defined.
Klement Tockner, Director General of Senckenberg – Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, explained that public investment in research in OECD countries has steadily declined over the past four decades, while the private sector now accounts for three-quarters of all R&D spending. He stated that this imbalance has profound implications for open science, as the share of publicly accessible knowledge continues to shrink.
He cautioned against placing unrealistic expectations on financial actors: “We must not delegate societal and political responsibilities to the financial sector. Expecting banks to solve these challenges for society is unrealistic and, in many ways, a myth. We need major efforts from all sectors to cope with accelerating environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss.“
“We must not delegate societal and political responsibilities to the financial sector”.
Museums as Trusted Intermediaries between Science and Society
The panel also reflected on the essential role museums play as trusted intermediaries between science and society, and how a lack of integrity can erode that trust. The challenge, they argued, is to make integrity visible, practical, and participatory for visitors, researchers, and partners, without slipping into neutrality theatre or public relations.
“Do not underestimate the public appetite for understanding and engaging with nature issues. Our events sell out instantly, with younger and diverse audiences who care deeply.” said Esme Ward, Director of the Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, current European Museum of the Year.
She urged museums to prioritise openness: “We’ve become increasingly timid, but our real strength lies in opening up our institutions, thinking in public, and equipping people to navigate a complex world. To do that, we must be brave enough to engage openly with questions of rights, colonial legacies, and ethical stewardship.”
“Do not underestimate the public appetite for understanding and engaging with nature issues. Our events sell out instantly, with younger and diverse audiences who care deeply.”
Museum’s Values in Political Volatility
Finally, the conversation turned to safeguarding knowledge in times of policy and funding volatility. Science depends on people, institutions, and processes that can be derailed by political and financial instability.
To secure stability and autonomy, natural history institutions must stand united to ensure that scientific priorities, credibility, and continuity are maintained across political cycles.
As Ursula Warnke, Director of the State Museum Nature and Human in Oldenburg, stressed, “We have to take the chance to be political and to fight for the rights of nature and for human rights. I believe this is our task for the future.”
She underscored the importance of institutional values, adding, “In Germany, we talk about Haltung, the foundation of our actions and our work. As a small state-funded museum, we must make our values clear to both visitors and politicians, even as we navigate uncertainty and rely on donors and foundations. Staying true to our values is essential.”
“We have to take the chance to be political and to fight for the rights of nature and for human rights. I believe this is our task for the future.”
At a time when biodiversity and climate science face declining recognition in several countries, CETAF and its members reaffirm their responsibility to uphold evidence-based knowledge and to engage new partners across science, policy, and the economy.