Critics: Smithsonian too cozy with oil

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The Smithsonian Institution has expanded its research ties to oil companies seeking to explore drilling, a newspaper's analysis shows.

Since 2000, researchers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have received more than $5 million from oil companies to conduct biological studies and help choose sites for drill platforms, The Washington Times reported Sunday.

Records showed some of the grant money also went to work with public relations firms to publicize researchers' findings, the newspaper reported.

The grants are in addition to millions of charitable contributions from such oil companies as Shell, Exxon Mobil and the Spanish firm Repsol YPF.

"The Smithsonian has sold out to oil companies," said Rudy Rudran, a former Smithsonian scientist who worked as a conservation biologist at the institution for 40 years before retiring recently. "They are dancing with the devil."

Linda St. Thomas, a spokeswoman at the National Zoo, said the oil companies have no control over scientific data.

"The Smithsonian does not permit sponsors or grantors to edit or change our data or research," she said. "When the research project is complete, results are submitted for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal. This is the case with all research grants, regardless of the source of funding."