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.

Military spending hits record levels, while climate finance falls short

Climate change can increase the risk of violent conflict, so why don't we redirect some of the funding for military technologies to help tackle climate insecurity? Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the potential based on the latest international data on military and climate spending.

Article from Laboratory News; republished: 22 June 2018

Mount Plutonium: the UK’s toxic, security risk left by an energy revolution that never happened

With nuclear issues leading the global political agenda, in an exclusive piece for the Responsible Science blog, based on his new book Fallout: A Journey Through the Nuclear Age, From the Atom Bomb to Radioactive Waste, science writer Fred Pearce exposes the toxic and security risks of the UK's growing 'Mt Plutonium' - 130 tons and rising of plutonium dioxide left behind by an energy technology that never took-off and is no longer wanted.

13 June 2018

The history of accidents in the UK’s nuclear weapons programme

Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un have reminded many of the risks of nuclear conflict, but have we forgotten the dangers of simply owning the weapons? David Cullen and Peter Burt, Nuclear Information Service, summarise a recent report on the frightening scale of accidents within Britain's military nuclear complex - and the shocking reality that the full extent of the problem can't be known because no central record has been kept.

23 April 2018

Abolishing nuclear weapons

With tensions high between the West and Russia, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, examines the growing threat of nuclear war - including key scientific and technical data - as well as the potential of a new UN treaty which bans nuclear weapons.

16 April 2018

Nuclear deterrence: a failed doctrine?

In the nuclear armed countries, our politicians routinely tell us that nuclear weapons are the ultimate guarantee of our security. They also claim that nuclear weapons have kept the peace through nuclear deterrence since their use by the USA against Japan in 1945 at the end of the Second World War. Dr Philip Webber, SGR, presents evidence in this article that throws serious doubt on both these claims.

Article from Huffington Post UK website; update with references published: 1 April 2018

In memory of Prof Stephen Hawking

We at Scientists for Global Responsibility are deeply saddened to hear of the death today of Professor Stephen Hawking - who had been a patron of our organisation since its formation in 1992, and of its predecessor Scientists Against Nuclear Arms.

Media release, 14 March 2018

Nuclear weapons: breakthrough or breaking point?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at the current crisis over North Koreaâ€™s weapons programme and contrasts it with the new UN treaty banning nuclear weapons.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.46; online publication: 22 February 2018

EU moves into military science and technology

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines plans for a huge increase in funding from the European Union for military R&D - and discusses how it can be challenged.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.46; advance online publication: 13 February 2018

This is what Earth could look like after a nuclear attack

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, describes the shocking effects should nuclear weapons ever be used again in war.

Article from Huffington Post UK website; re-published: 31 January 2018

Nobel Peace Prize: UK health and science organisations applaud nuclear ban treaty

SGR, Medact, and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health welcome the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN for its critical role in campaigning for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, agreed this summer. The organisations view the TPNW as a significant step forward towards eliminating these weapons of mass destruction - and urge the UK government to support the treaty.

Joint statement; 8 December 2017

Issues: Security and disarmament