Science Museum Education Leader Roland Jackson Dies in Mountain Climbing Accident

Sir Roland Jackson, former head of education at the Science Museum and chief executive of the British Science Association, passed away on January 10, 2026, while climbing Hellvelyn. Jackson led the Science Museum's education department from 1993 to 2003, where he pioneered internet-based museum education and research-informed public engagement. He later served as chief executive of the British Science Association, chaired the government's 'Science for All' expert group in 2009, and was a trustee and visiting fellow at the Royal Institution. His scholarly work included a 2018 biography of 19th-century scientist John Tyndall. Jackson's career focused on expanding public participation in scientific discourse.