Newsletter articles

SGR Newsletters are published roughly twice a year. The main articles are listed below. For details of the current issue and back issues, See our Newsletter page

Common climate myths

Given the recent media attention devoted to climate sceptic views, Stuart Parkinson debunks some of their most common claims.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 34, summer 2007
 

Patents and conflicts of interest: are scientists acting ethically?

Does the patent system encourage inappropriate commercial influence over biotechnology research? Helen Wallace, GeneWatch, argues that it does, and invites us to take part in an investigation to uncover and address the reality.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 34, summer 2007
 

Walking in minefields

The SGR report ‘Soldiers in the Laboratory’ prompted Steve Wright, Leeds Metropolitan University, to consider the real-life legacy of military involvement in science and engineering. Here he describes an eye-opening trip that showed him just what that means.

Article in SGR Newsletter no. 34, summer 2007
 

Building hope: global network tackles humanitarian problems

An increasing number of organisations are using skilled volunteers to provide practical help for humanitarian problems. Chris Medland introduces one such organisation, in the field of design: Architecture for Humanity.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 34, summer 2007
 

Sustainable energy at the local level – making it happen

Philip Webber describes how a small council-based environment unit implemented one of the UK’s largest programmes on local sustainable energy, despite a wide range of obstacles.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 33, winter 2007
 

Predators, Drones and Robofly: Robotics and the military

Chris Langley describes how military interests have become pervasive in robotic science and engineering and outlines the ethical problems this causes.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 33, winter 2007
 

 

Moving beyond terrorism in the security debate

John Sloboda, Oxford Research Group, argues that our governments’ obsession with terrorism is stopping us from tackling the underlying causes of global insecurity.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 33, winter 2007
 

Skills shortages - will nuclear or renewables lose out?

With the announcement of new nuclear power stations for the UK, Stuart Parkinson questions whether there will be enough skilled workers to deliver them, and asks whether the attempt will divert workers from sectors such as renewable energy.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 33, winter 2007
 

Challenging the nuclear future

Philip Webber and Stuart Parkinson summarise the recent developments surrounding nuclear weapons and nuclear power in the UK.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 32, June 2006

 

From space weapons to basic human needs – technology and the security agenda

Dave Webb, Leeds Metropolitan University, argues that the huge imbalance between the resources available to the military and those devoted to meeting basic human needs urgently has to change. As an illustration of the misdirection of scientific and technological effort, he discusses some of the latest military technologies such as space weapons.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 32, June 2006