ResponsibleSci blog

Science and technology develop with astonishing speed raising constant questions about their responsible practice. Our Responsible Science blog is where we tackle these issues as they arise. Please get in touch if there is something happening on our agenda that you think we should know about or would like to suggest an article.

Cover of Scientists behaving responsibly report, shows a burger, a plane, a scientist in a lab and someone installing solar panels

Over 100 sign Science Oath for the Climate

Scientists, engineers and academics working in climate commit to personal behaviour change and calling out policy conflicts to tackle the climate emergency

10 December 2020

Drone and barbed wire

UK military & security policy announcements: SGR response

SGR response to UK govt announcements on boosting military spending, cutting aid spending, and slightly increasing climate spending.

30 November 2020

Plane

How the aviation sector should be reformed following the Covid-19 crisis

The aviation sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis. But its huge environmental impacts mean we should take the opportunity to carry out major reforms, argues Prof John Whitelegg, Liverpool John Moores University, in the second of two blogs on transport issues.

29 June 2020

Bike symbol

Envisioning a post-Covid-19 transport landscape: surface travel

Prof John Whitelegg, Liverpool John Moores University, looks at how the UK can transition to a sustainable transport system by building on some of the changes pursued during the Covid-19 ‘lockdown’. In the first of two blogs, he focuses on surface travel.

12 June 2020

A face mask over a public crowd

Do we need an Office for Science Responsibility?

Andrew Simms and Dr Philip Webber, SGR, argue that the failure to follow principles of responsible science during the Covid-19 crisis compromises policy-making and threatens to undermine public trust.

6 May 2020

World face mask

Covid-19: time for a paradigm shift?

Dr Phil Webber, SGR, looks at some emerging implications from the Covid-19 crisis for policies related to health, social justice, science, economics, environment protection and security.

28 April 2020

 

Virus (PIRO4D)

Learning from the Covid-19 crisis

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are profoundly affecting our world. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, takes an initial look at some of the lessons we should be learning.

25 March 2020

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New poll reveals a climate ‘awareness – action gap’ – but big behaviour changes under way

A new poll of scientists reveals a gap between awareness of international climate goals and lifestyles, writes Andrew Simms, SGR, but there are signs of radical shifts.

16 November 2019

Irresponsible Science? cover (SGR)

Irresponsible Science?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at how the fossil fuel and arms industries finance professional engineering and science organisations - and the many issues this raises - in this summary of the new report, Irresponsible Science?

6 October 2019

The School Strike for Climate in London (A Simms)

The Climate Strike - why we should all stop work to start change

It can seem odd that a refusal to act is a good way to motivate action, writes Andrew Simms, SGR. But striking has been a tool of change for most of recorded history and for good reasons.

17 September 2019