Winter 2016

Feature articles cover: failings in UK climate policy; the flaws of nuclear deterrence; climate impacts of space tourism; the risks of another Chernobyl/ Fukushima; ocean acidification; military science and technology; the Paris climate agreement; teaching science ethics
 

Feature articles

• UK climate policy unravelling
  The government claims that the UK is taking a leading role in tackling climate change – but support mechanisms for renewable energy and energy conservation are rapidly being cut. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, examines what is going on.
   
• Trident, deterrence and UK security
  Dr Philip Webber, SGR, summarises the flaws in the theory and practice of nuclear deterrence for the UK.
   
• Statistically assessing of the risks of commercial nuclear energy
  As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Spencer Wheatley, Prof Benjamin Sovacool and Prof Didier Sornette argue that the risks of another major nuclear accident are much greater than the industry believes.
   
• Ocean acidification: a threat to life
  Dr Wiebina Heesterman examines the other threat from carbon dioxide emissions: that of ocean acidification.
   
• A new phase for ‘offensive insecurity’?
  Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, gives an overview of the UK’s new military and security strategies, and highlights the increasing focus on militarism.
   
• Science4Society Week: SGR’s latest science education project
  Dr Jan Maskell, SGR, describes the activities for young people which our organisation undertook as part of its first Science4Society Week in 2015 – and looks at what is planned for March 2016.
   
• 25 years of science ethics at Cambridge
  Dr Richard Jennings, University of Cambridge, reflects on lessons learned from the teaching of science ethics at one of the UK's leading universities.
   
• The Paris Agreement: key points
  Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, summarises the most important aspects of the new climate treaty agreed in Paris.
   
• Flights from sense: how space tourism could alter the climate
  Philip Chapman investigates the potential environmental impacts should space tourism recover from its recent setbacks and become a thriving global industry.
   
• The quest for ‘brain-like machines’
  Dr Michael Reinsborough, King’s College London, discusses the leading international neuroscience projects and the growing interest of the military.
   
• The industrialisation of war: lessons from World War I
  Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, examines how technological innovation contributed to one of the most devastating wars in human history – and asks what lessons we should take from this.

SGR News

• A few words from the Director
• New SGR report on nuclear weapons
• Updates on other SGR activities on the militarisation of science, climate change and energy
   

Reviews

• SGR conference: Messages for the Paris conference – The forgotten dimensions of climate change
• Book: The burning answer – A user’s guide to the solar revolution by Keith Barnham
   

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