SGR - promoting ethical science, design and technology

SGR is an independent UK-based membership organisation of about 1000 natural and social scientists, engineers, IT professionals and architects. We promote science, design and technology that contribute to peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

SGR's work is focused on four main issues: security and disarmament; climate change and energy, including nuclear power; who controls science and technology? and emerging technologies.

SGR is affiliated to the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES)

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Latest

The Big Bang Fair: A distorted view of the value of science

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that the UK's leading science and engineering fair for young people - which this year runs from 14 to 17 March - is distorted by the prominent involvement of arms corporations, oil companies and other controversial sponsors.

Article published by the New Left Project, 14 March 2013

The climatic impacts and humanitarian problems from the use of the UK's nuclear weapons

This briefing presents evidence that the detonation of the nuclear warheads carried on just one UK Trident submarine would lead to vast quantities of smoke being generated that would led to a sharp climate cooling, causing a global crop failure which would threaten the lives of some 1 billion people. This would be in addition to the deaths of over 10 million people killed directly by blast, fire and fallout from the nuclear explosions.

SGR briefing by Dr Philip Webber; 26 February 2013.

Humanitarian impacts from a single nuclear weapon detonation on Manchester

Assisted by Dr Philip Webber, SGR, the campaign group Article 36 has published a short case study of the direct humanitarian impacts from a single nuclear weapon detonation on Manchester, UK. This study is intended as a reminder of the devastating impact that just one nuclear warhead - of the size of a Trident warhead - can cause to a city.

26 February 2013

Slowly boiling the frog? Reasons for disquiet over synthetic biology

Dr Helena Paul and Dr Ricarda Steinbrecher, EcoNexus, warn that the rapidly developing field of synthetic biology – which proposes releasing artificial living organisms into the environment – is running ahead of the necessary precautionary controls.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 41, autumn 2012 (published online: 2 January 2013)

Recent SGR commentary on climate and energy issues

With details of the new UK Energy Bill starting to be released, and the latest round of UN climate change negotiations underway in Doha, Qatar, here is a summary of recent relevant analysis from SGR commentators.

27 November 2012

Tackling climate change: will technology save us?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that there is too much focus on technology within mainstream climate change strategies and that there needs to be a better balance between technology, economic and political solutions. This would lead to more effective climate policies and would contribute to quality of life improvements.

Presentation at Warwick Climate Forum, 24 November 2012.