Newsletter articles

Martin Quick CEng discusses concerns about tar sands and shale gas in relation to the drastic reductions in fossil fuel use shown to be needed in the latest IPCC report.

13 January 2014

Dr Jan Maskell discusses the potential of environmental cohousing to encourage and support sustainable living. She describes the recently completed Lancaster Cohousing project in the UK as an example of what can be achieved.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.42, autumn 2013; published online: 7 January 2014
 

Dr Stuart Parkinson picks his choice of the best non-fiction books of recent years to mark SGR’s 21st anniversary.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.42, autumn 2013; published online: 19 December 2013
 

Recent climate research points to grim prospects for the Arctic ice cap. Vanessa Spedding reports on current scientific opinion.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.42, autumn 2013

Advance online publication: 20 August 2013 (update added: 23 September)
 

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)
 

Insulation has little 'wow' factor compared to solar panels, but greater potential to reduce carbon emissions cheaply. However, it is crucial that we consider the energy required for their manufacture: natural, non-toxic
materials consume the least energy and are safer for human health, argues Dr Tom Woolley, Rachel Bevan Architects.

2 January 2013

Dr Tim Foxon, University of Leeds, summarises new academic research examining the major choices for the UK as the nation tries to de-carbonise its electricity system.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 41, autumn 2012 (published online: 14 November 2012)
 

Prof AbuBakr Bahaj, University of Southampton, outlines the recent positive progress in generating electricity from offshore wind, wave and tidal current resources in the UK. He also assesses the future challenges in a sector in which the UK is a global leader.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 41, autumn 2012 (published online: 14 November 2012)
 

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at the factors that have led to the prominence of climate change sceptics over the past two decades and asks whether they are as influential as they seem.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 41, autumn 2012 (published online: 12 November 2012)
 

Dr Alice Bell argues that corporate sponsorship of science communication has gone too far, and announces a new campaign to challenge it.

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