Issues: Who controls science and technology?

Who controls science and technology?

SGR produces a range of resources on the issue of 'Who controls science and technology?' This includes the power of vested interests (especially the military and private corporations), openness and democracy in science, and public engagement and participation. Two of our main projects focus on military influence on science and technology, and corporate influence on science and technology.

Letter to David Cameron, regarding public science funding cuts and nuclear weapons research

Open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, co-ordinated by SGR and signed by 36 UK professors, sent 13 October 2010
 

UK science funding: SGR letters

Summary of SGR letters to the Science Minister, David Willets, and the Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, regarding possible cuts to UK science spending (early September).
 

Scientists condemn government over cuts to environmental watchdogs

Press release, 23 July 2010
 

The detrimental effects of corporate influence on science and technology (Mar 10)

Presentation by Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at Cambridge Science Festival on 19 March 2010.
 

A few words from the Director

Stuart Parkinson discusses the latest twists and turns in the climate science debate, and its relevance for public interest science.

Editorial from SGR Newsletter no. 38; winter 2010
 

Stop selling out science to commerce

Stuart Parkinson and Chris Langley summarise SGR's latest report, Science and the corporate agenda

Article from SGR Newsletter, no. 38; winter 2010

 

Open ethics – a call for university commitment to ethical partnerships

A staff group at the Open University are proposing an ethical strategy for the development of external partnerships, which would include a severing of the institution’s links with the arms industry.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 38; winter 2010
 

Climate sceptics and the manipulation of scientific data

Article by Stuart Parkinson, SGR, orignally published as a blog entry on the website of The Times newspaper, 25 November 2009
 

Science and the Corporate Agenda

The detrimental effects of commercial influence on science and technology

SGR report by Chris Langley and Stuart Parkinson; October 2009

It is no secret that links between the commercial sectors and science and technology are increasing. Many policy-makers, business leaders and members of the science community argue that this is positive for both science and society. But there is growing evidence that the science commercialisation agenda brings with it a wide range of detrimental effects, including bias, conflicts of interest, a narrowing of the research agenda, and misrepresentation of research results. This report takes an in-depth look at the evidence for these effects across five sectors: pharmaceuticals; tobacco; military/defence; oil and gas; and biotechnology. Its findings make disturbing reading for all concerned about the positive role of science and technology in our society.
 

 

Corporate influence on science is compromising its social and environmental benefits

Press Release, 12 October 2009