SGR Conferences

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) organises a conference roughly once a year on issues of concern related to science, design and technology. Keynote speakers are leading researchers/commentators in their field, and the event also includes SGR's Annual General Meeting, together with poster sessions or workshops.

This section of the website includes details of the current/forthcoming conference, together with reports of previous conferences. Links to conference presentations and related material are provided where available.

Security and sustainability: the role of science, design and technology
Date:

SGR conference and AGM 2013

Presentations included:

From Offensive Insecurity to Sustainable Security: The Role of Science and Technology
Dr Stuart Parkinson, Scientists for Global Responsibility

Humanitarian Problems from the Use of Nuclear Weapons - and Some Solutions?
Dr Philip Webber, Scientists for Global Responsibility

UK Energy Policy: Secure, Sustainable, Sane?
Dr Ian Fairlie, independent environmental consultant

A summary of the event is available to download, together with presentation slides and some video recordings.

SGR AGM and strategy forum
SGR’s 20th Anniversary Annual General Meeting and Strategy Forum
Date:

SGR members gathered for the organisation’s 20th anniversary AGM and strategy forum in London in May. Over 30 people attended, including long-standing members (some of whom had first been active with either Scientists Against Nuclear Arms or Architects and Engineers for Social Responsibility) as well as recent joiners.

Emerging technologies: are the risks being neglected?
Date:

The SGR Conference and AGM 2011 was held at the Alan Baxter and Associates’ Gallery, London, UK on 21st May. Presentations included: Geo-engineering the Climate, Prof Joanna Haigh, Imperial College London; Robots on the Battlefield: Ethical and Humanitarian Implications, Prof Noel Sharkey, Sheffield University; Emerging Technologies and Risk: the Social, Cultural and Political Dimensions, Dr Bronislaw Szerszynski, Lancaster University.

Eight posters were presented in the afternoon session. A summary, Powerpoint presentations, and newsletter articles are available from this event.

Building a low carbon economy: the pathway from recession
Date:

SGR Conference and AGM 2009

Alan Baxter and Associates’ Gallery, London, UK; 24 October

Presentations:

  • The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan - Where are we going?
    Dr Tim Foxon, Sustainability Research Institute, Leeds University/ SGR
  • Arms conversion for a low carbon economy
    Prof David Webb, Praxis Centre, Leeds Metropolitan University
  • A trade union programme for the creation of one million climate-change jobs
    Dr Gareth Dale, Brunel University

Eight posters were presented in the afternoon session.

Summary by Kate Macintosh and Stuart Parkinson

Sustainable Buildings and Communities: Their role in meeting environmental and social goals
Date:

SGR Conference and AGM 2008

Alan Baxter and Associates’ Gallery, London, UK; 25 October

Presentations:

  • Social Housing: From Paternalism to Cooperatives
    Kate Macintosh MBE, Vice Chair, SGR
  • Making Sustainable Building and Places
    Prof Sandy Halliday, Gaia Research

Ten posters were presented in the afternoon session.

Summary by Alasdair Beal

Fighting over the leftovers: Resource depletion and the potential for conflict
Date:

SGR Conference and AGM 2007

University of London Union, UK; 6 October

Main presentations:
'Climate change and conflict' by Dan Smith, Secretary-General, International Alert
'Energy, peak oil and conflict' by Dr Mandy Meikle, Depletion Scotland

Workshops: Water and conflict - past, present and future; Using less in our homes; Volunteering for SGR

Summarised by Stuart Parkinson, Martin Quick, Tim Foxon, Sean Macintosh

Positive Futures: Successful Applications of Ethical Science, Design and Technology
Date:

Around 50 attendees gathered in London for the SGR Conference and AGM 2006. Dr Stuart Parkinson, the Executive Director of SGR, gave the customary welcome to start the day’s proceedings. He explained that, as the title suggested, the aim of the day was to focus on some of the ways in which scientists, architects, engineers and technologists are making positive contributions to the World.

Science, design and technology: pursuing an ethical agenda
Date:

SGR/AESR Conference and AGMs 2005

Friends Meeting House, London; 22 October 2005

Main presentations:
'From Space Weapons to Basic Human Needs – Technology and the Security Agenda' by Prof David Webb, Leeds Metropolitan University
'Nuclear Power – They Can’t Be Serious!' by Prof Mark Whitby, Whitbybird Ltd
'The Role of Solar Electricity in Sustainable Building' by Prof Keith Barnham, Imperial College, London

Summary by Patrick Nicholson

Challenging the military involvement in science and technology
Date:

On 19th January 2005, SGR launched its groundbreaking new report 'Soldiers in the Laboratory: Military involvement in science and technology - and some alternatives' at the Houses of Parliament. We assembled some eminent speakers for the event: Ian Gibson (Chair, House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology) and Steven Rose (Professor of Biology, Open University), as well as report author, Chris Langley.

From Greed to Need: Reshaping Consumption and Technology for a Sustainable World
Date:

SGR Conference and AGM, 2004

University of London Union; 15 May 2004

Main presentations:
'Eco-efficiency of Quality of Life, not Economic Activity' by Roger Levett, Levett-Therivel Sustainability Consultants
'Sustainable Consumption, Eco-Taxation and Social Justice' by Dr Simon Dresner, Policy Studies Institute

Workshops: The link between unsustainable consumption and conflict; Overcoming the barriers to sustainable energy use; The role of new technologies in the transition to a sustainable world; Moving to a sustainable food system

Summary by Patrick Nicholson