SGR ENCOURAGES SCIENTISTS AT THE BA FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE TO TAKE AN ETHICAL CAREER PATH

Web version of a press release issued on 11th September 2003 by SGR

This week at the BA Festival of Science, Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) will be encouraging scientists and engineers to choose an ethical career path, with the help of their highly popular publications, ‘Thinking about an ethical career in science and technology’.

SGR has produced an introductory booklet and the first three of a series of in-depth briefings intended to give scientists and engineers a deeper understanding of the wider ethical dimensions of various careers in science and technology. Topics covered in these publications include military science, environmental issues and genetics.

To date over 3000 copies of the introductory booklet have been distributed since its launch in September 2001, while over 2000 copies of the three briefings, launched in March this year, have been distributed.

SGR's Director, Dr. Stuart Parkinson, said “The high demand for our ethical careers publications shows that young scientists and engineers are indeed concerned about making sure science and technology is used in positive ways.”

Visit our stall at the Festival of Science and talk with SGR between the 8 - 12 September. SGR’s Director, Dr Stuart Parkinson, will be available for interviews on Monday 8th September, and SGR’s Chair, Dr Phil Webber, will be available on Friday 12th September.

Contact SGR: Dr. Stuart Parkinson, +44 7941 953640, (stuartp@sgr.org.uk) Dr. Phil Webber, +44 7929 827322, (philw@sgr.org.uk) Richard Scrase, +44 7717 220749, (pressoffice@sgr.org.uk)

Notes:

SGR is a UK membership organisation promoting ethical science and technology - based on the principles of openness, accountability, peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Our work involves research, education, lobbying and providing a support network for ethically concerned scientists. More at http://www.sgr.org.uk

SGR’s introductory booklet on ethical careers includes articles by Prof. Sir Joseph Rotblat, Tim Berners-Lee, and Dr Mae Wan Ho. The first three of SGR’s ethical careers briefings are on Climate change, Clean technologies, and Animal experimentation. The next three briefings due for release later this year are on Sustainability, Nuclear issues and Military involvement in space technology.

Current SGR projects also include Understanding the Military Influence on Science and Technology - research to uncover the extensive involvement of the military in research and development.

The BA Festival of Science is one of the UK’s biggest science festivals. The festival attracts 400 of the best scientists and science communicators from home and abroad who reveal the latest developments in research to a general audience.

The BA Festival of Science 2003 will take place at the University of Salford, just one mile from the centre of Manchester, from 8 - 12 September. The theme for the Festival will be ‘Sustainable science’, spanning all aspects of how and whether science is sustainable, how science is working towards sustainability (in all its forms) and how science and technology can help us gain and maintain a high standard of living. More at http://www.britassoc.org.uk