Issues: Security and disarmament | SGR: Responsible Science

Security and disarmament

SGR produces a range of resources on the issue of 'security and disarmament'. This covers military technologies, arms control and disarmament (esp. nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ‘Missile Defense’, conventional weapons) - as well as alternative concepts of security, peace building and conflict prevention.

Scientists and engineers have a central role in the development of weapons and therefore share a special responsibilty to society. SGR's project work has investigated the extensive influence that the military has over science and technology.

Tornado (MOD)

Arms conversion: initial lessons from the Covid-19 crisis

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, discusses the sudden interest by leading UK arms companies in manufacturing health equipment during the Covid-19 crisis - and the lessons for broader arms conversion.

29 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

Typhoons (MOD)

Holding the UK to account for its role in the war in Yemen

Prof Anna Stavrianakis, University of Sussex, explains how UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia have helped fuel the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and examines efforts to stop these exports.

6 February 2020

The carbon boot-print of the military

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the latest data on the huge carbon emissions of the world’s militaries – and argues that only reductions in military spending will lead to the necessary cuts in this form of pollution.

8 January 2020

Matrix

Threats from emerging weapons technologies

As NATO marks its 70th anniversary, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, highlights the serious risks from the race for new weapons technologies.

3 December 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

Defence diversification: international learning for Trident jobs

Barnaby Pace explores how international examples of defence diversification programmes show what success could look like in the UK – answering employment concerns and if Britain's nuclear weapons should be cancelled or curtailed.

10 September 2019

Will the demise of the INF Treaty take us back to dangerous times?

Dr Philip Webber, Scientists for Global Responsibility, considers the recent demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and recalls the dangerous decade before it was originally agreed.

29 August 2019

Moon landing 1969

The dark side of the Moon landings

As the world marks the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that human space-flight is highly polluting, very expensive and has contributed to international arms races.

20 July 2019

The carbon boot-print of the military

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, summarises the latest data on the large but neglected carbon emissions of military activities, and argues that they need to be rapidly reduced.

29 June 2019