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.

What should the next UK government prioritise? Views from scientists

Leading SGR figures outline some policy recommendations for the incoming British government on issues including climate change, energy, military and security, and AI.

18 June 2024 (updated)

Elsevier is still enabling high-carbon emitters

Academic publisher’s response to SGR/UCS petition on climate pledges falls short.

19 September 2023

Science groups launch petition urging journal publisher to share plan for halting anti-climate practices

SGR and UCS call on scientists to support our campaign on Elsevier's fossil fuel industry links.

20 March 2023 (updated)

Encouraging a culture of climate activism in universities

Dr Emily Heath, SGR, shares 9 tips based on her experience of leading and supporting sustainability campaigns within the UK higher education sector.

19 April 2022

Are the UK’s professional science organisations putting their money where their mouths are?

Dr Liz Kalaugher details progress on SGR’s latest investigation into the financial links between professional bodies and the fossil fuel and arms industries.

14 April 2022

SGR's Stuart Parkinson and Jan Maskell at COP26 march

A new era of activist science

Andrew Simms, SGR, looks at whether scientists can be activists too, and finds that far from being anything new, many of history’s household-name scientists have for generations been getting involved in the moral campaigns of their day.

8 April 2022

Militarising research: The dark side of Global Britain’s science agenda

The British government wants the nation to be a 'science superpower' – but, asks Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, is this just a smokescreen to hide the expansion of military and economic priorities within the science and technology sectors?

5 April 2022

From arms, planes and racing cars to ventilators: industrial conversion during the Covid-19 crisis

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the UK’s crash industrial programme to scale up production of medical ventilators during the pandemic – and what lessons can be learned for conversion away from fossil fuels & arms.

10 December 2021

Science & activism: acting with the face of evidence

How should climate scientists get involved in campaigning activities? Dr Liz Kalaugher, SGR, Dr Alison Green, Scientists Warning, and Dr Aaron Thierry, Scientists for Extinction Rebellion, discuss the issues and options.

8 November 2021

Are UK universities being drawn into developing autonomous weapons?

The UK government refuses to support a treaty to regulate lethal autonomous weapons systems, preferring instead to expand military R&D, including at universities. But, argues Leyla Manthorpe Rizatepe, these same universities could become a further focus of protest.

26 October 2021