Issues

We currently focus on four main issues: disarmament and security, climate change and energy, questions of who controls science and technology and issues surrounding new and emerging technologies. You will also see that we work on some other issues too. You can explore these with the menu on the left of this page and with the search function. Material in this section includes all SGR's main outputs since 2005, with a selection of the more important material from before then.

From Corporate Science to Science for Society

Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at a TEDx event organised by Lancaster University

Online release: 8 June 2015
 

UK energy R&D – time for a rethink?

With a new government in power and a new international call for action on energy research from the Global Apollo Programme, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses whether the U's energy R&D is heading in the right direction. One question, in particular, is whether nuclear R&D or renewables R&D should be prioritised.

ResponsibleSci blog, 3 June 2015
 

 

Why now is the right time to abolish the UK's nuclear weapons

Politicians are debating updating the UK's ageing Trident weapons system, but security and money pressures make renewal wrong, says Dr Philip Webber, SGR

Article in New Scientist, 28 May 2015
 

Shale gas and fracking: Introducing the key issues

Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, to local councillors in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK

Published online: 20 April 2015.

 

Military-university collaborations in the UK – an update

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, reviews recent developments in military involvement at UK universities.

Article for INES report (advance publication), 13 April 2015
 

Too Close for Comfort: Cases of Near Nuclear Use and Options for Policy

Sasan Aghlani, Chatham House, outlines just how close the world has come to the inadvertent use of nuclear weapons in the last 60 years – and suggests some immediate measures to reduce the risks.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.43; online publication: 3 April 2015
 

S4S logo

Students get inspired by ethical science and technology

Dr Jan Maskell, SGR, summarises the activities of our first Science4Society Week, including school visits to community renewable energy projects and classroom debates.

ResponsibleSci blog, 27 March 2015

SGR supports open letter on US museums and the fossil fuel industry

Media release, 24 March 2015

 

UK household energy policy: another fine mess

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, describes the recent string of failures in the government’s home energy efficiency programmes and what needs to be done about them.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.43; online publication: 19 March 2015
 

Announcing Science4society week 2015

Science4society week is a new collection of science education activities, designed to inspire young people. The project was set up to provide an alternative to activities funded by the arms and fossil fuel industries, such as 'The Big Bang Fair'. Science4society week 2015 runs from 16th to 23rd March.

Media release, 6 March 2015