Scientists are calling for an end to the controversial relationship between the Kochs and the world-renowned science museums they have a hand in funding, including the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

In an open letter, the scientists wrote:

We are concerned that the integrity of these institutions is compromised by association with special interests who obfuscate climate science, fight environmental regulation, oppose clean energy legislation, and seek to ease limits on industrial pollution.

When some of the biggest contributors to climate change and funders of misinformation on climate science sponsor exhibitions in museums of science and natural history, they undermine public confidence in the validity of the institutions responsible for transmitting scientific knowledge. This corporate philanthropy comes at too high a cost.

While the public affairs director for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History insists that David Koch only sits on an advisory board that is “not a governing board,” there is ample evidence of the climate change denier’s influence throughout the museum.

One particularly damning display promotes the baseless idea that humans will evolve to survive global warming,

Smithsonian visitors are asked to “imagine” a time (“Era 3″) that is “far into the future” when “Earth’s temperature has risen and it’s really hot.” Unbelievably, you are then asked “How do you think your body will evolve?” Your choice is “Will you have a tall, narrow body like a giraffe? Or more sweat glands?”

Note to Smithsonian: The “really hot temperatures” are literally decades away. And of all the proposed science-based approaches for dealing with the multiple, irreversible catastrophes that such global warming entails, waiting for Homo Sapiens to evolve ain’t one of ‘em. As long as this anti-scientific video is part of the Koch exhibit, visitors will have every right to assume the museum is intentionally misleading the public on the gravity of the climate situation.

Museums are meant to educate the public with facts. They should not be a place where scientific truth gets sold off to the highest bidder. Take a stand against the Kochs and sign the petition to kick the Kochs off the boards.