Press release: Cambridge Climate Justice and ORCA challenged the oily sponsorship of the Magma Rising exhibition at Downing College

Four campaigners stand with their backs to the camera at Downing College, Cambridge, to protest the oily sponsorship of an art exhibition there. The central placard reads "This event is sponsored by Güralp". Flanking placards read "Güralp makes seismometers for the fossil fuel industry", "Companies use university events to greenwash their business", "This is one example of how the University is tangled up with destructive industries.", "Kick fossil fuels out of Cambridge".

Image credit: ORCA

Volcanoes are pretty cool, but fossil fuels aren’t.

Cambridge Climate Justice

This Earth Day, 22nd April 2025, Cambridge Climate Justice and local group ORCA protested oily sponsorship and “artwashing” — the use of art to distract from unethical practices.

We paid a visit to the closing party of the Magma Rising exhibition on volcanoes at the Heong Gallery, Downing College, Cambridge.

During the closing party, students and community members distributed leaflets. They highlighted oily sponsorship of the exhibition by Güralp, which produces seismometers for use by fossil fuel companies.

Exhibition visitors were interested to learn this and some came to thank us!

Find out more about getting Big Oil off campus

Güralp’s website says: “Güralp instruments are well suited for early exploration of oil and gas reserves.”

A spokesperson for Cambridge Climate Justice said: “It’s not just magma that’s rising; global temperatures are too. But who on Earth are Güralp? Downing College would probably prefer you didn’t check.

“Güralp profits from fossil fuel companies exploiting new places at the expense of all our futures. Is this really the type of company Downing College wants to promote?”

The International Energy Agency said there can be no new oil and gas fields from 2021. That’s in the hope that the world can have even just a 50/50 chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The spokesperson for Cambridge Climate Justice continued: “Volcanoes are pretty cool, but new fossil fuels aren’t.

“If Güralp were serious about science and people’s lives, it would end its support for new oil and gas, which scientists say are incompatible with tackling climate change. If Downing College were serious about science and people’s lives, this Earth Day, it would end its relationship with Güralp until it cleans up its act.”

A spokesperson for ORCA said: “Too often Earth Day functions as an event where corporations and institutions can put out celebratory fluff to cover their own destructive actions. It’s time for the University of Cambridge and those associated with it to stop greenwashing itself at the expense of people and planet.”

Get involved!

Questions? Get in touch at climatejustice@cambridgesu.co.uk