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

A view of the earth

Science in the Trump-May era

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines key challenges to progressive science from the Trump and May governments.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.45; advance online publication: 18 January 2017

John Holmwood

Universities, democracy and science: the UK Government’s neo-liberal knowledge regime

Prof John Holmwood, University of Nottingham, critically examines the increasing commercialisation and privatisation of UK universities, as demonstrated by the new Higher Education and Research Bill.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.45; advance online publication: 16 December 2016

Marcellus Shale Gas Pipelines

Fracking and public health: research update

Prof Andrew Watterson, University of Stirling, assesses key academic research published in 2016 on the risks of fracking to public health.

22 November 2016

Active brain

The quest for ‘brain-like machines’

Are computers a biotechnology? One place from which the future of computing and robotics technologies is being thought about is a bit unexpected – the neuroscience lab. Over the past three years, a number of large research initiatives have been announced.

1 September 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.

1 September 2016

 

Ocean acidification: a threat to life

Wiebina Heesterman examines the other threat from carbon dioxide emissions: that of ocean acidification.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.44; online publication: 8 June 2016

World War I Howitzer

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.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.44; online publication: 5 April 2016

Statistically assessing of the risks of commercial nuclear energy

As we approach the 5th anniversary of the Fukushima emergency and 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.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.44; online publication: 7 March 2016

RAF Tornado

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.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.44; online publication: 7 March 2016

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.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.44; online publication: 23 February 2016