Responsible Science

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.

Time to reinvigorate global nuclear disarmament

After President Obama's landmark visit to Hiroshima, we need concrete action on disarmament, argues Dr Philip Webber, SGR.

ResponsibleSci blog, 27 May 2016

How big is the average Briton’s carbon footprint, really?

After a year in which climate policy has gone backwards in the UK, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, analyses the latest data on our contribution to climate change, and finds some disturbing results.

ResponsibleSci blog, 10 May 2016

Reassessing the Chernobyl death toll

Dr Ian Fairlie argues that the health impacts of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster are continuing and are not taken into account by governments and health agencies.

ResponsibleSci blog, 25 April 2016

Science4Society Week 2016 – a brief review

Dr Jan Maskell, SGR, gives an overview of another successful week of inspirational science education activities.

ResponsibleSci blog, 24 March 2016

A climate of insecurity

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, critically examines the UKâ€™s latest policies on climate change and security in the context of the Paris climate negotiations â€“ and argues for a major change in direction.

ResponsibleSci blog, 27 November 2015

135 reasons not to replace Trident

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, reports on important UN discussions, ignored by the UK media, which are critical for the upcoming decision on the replacement of Britainâ€™s Trident nuclear weapon system.

ResponsibleSci blog, 20 November 2015

Rudd’s 'magic money tree' risks undermining investments in a low carbon economy

Dr Bridget Woodman, Exeter University, assesses the very disturbing developments in UK energy policy over the past few months.

ResponsibleSci blog, 13 October 2015

Intervening in the 'rise' of the lethal autonomous weapon

Researchers in AI and robotics have called for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons, loosely termed 'killer robots'. Prof Lucy Suchman, Lancaster University, explains why she added her name to the call.

17 September 2015

Making the case for effective climate policy

There is a gulf between the scientific reality of climate change and the political response to it. Tom Pashby, Fleming Policy Centre, outlines a proposal that could bridge that gap.

ResponsibleSci blog, 8 July 2015

UK scientists recommend actions to address the climate crisis

Ahead of the critical Paris climate summit in December and the upcoming climate lobby of the UK parliament on 17 June, SGR asked a number of energy and climate scientists at UK universities to provide roughly 50 words on what policies they would like the government to put in place. Their responses are as follows.

ResponsibleSci blog, 12 June 2015
 