Dear editors,
Today I saw some news about the Royal Society which made me very uncomfortable. As a result, I am afraid I will withdraw my voluntary reviewing work for Royal Society. I will not after all be completing this review for Royal Society Open Science.
The uncomfortable news is about the Royal Society's refusal to uphold its code of conduct with regard to Elon Musk. It's very clear that Musk's continued association with the RS brings the society into disrepute. I can feel this disrepute - in my own changed opinion of the society.
I am not a member of the RS, although I have been proud to act as a reviewer for some of its journals. I don't feel proud today, and I don't feel I can continue donating my voluntary labour to the society so long as it fails to uphold its own values.
Please pass this message on to your colleagues. The society's honour can be restored, I hope.
Best wishes
Dan Stowell