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.

Militarisation of science and technology: lessons from the UK

Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at the workshop, ‘Militarization of Science 1914 and Today’, at the Sarajevo Peace Event, Bosnia. Similar presentations were given at the NATO counter-summit, Newport, Wales and the CAAT/STW campaigners day, Manchester, England.

6 June; 31 August; 11 October 2014
 

Will nuclear weapons be the deciding factor in the Scottish referendum?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that different views on the ethics of technology could be the deciding factor in the Scottish independence referendum.

ResponsibleSci blog, 11 September 2014
 

Shale gas and fracking

Examining the evidence

This report, published by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), critically reviews current evidence across a number of issues associated with shale gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing (fracking). These include environmental and public health aspects, and socio-economic considerations. The report raises a number of important concerns, especially regarding regulation of the industry and problems related to climate change.

Following subsequent criticism by some supporters of fracking, we have also produced a rebuttal of their main points.

21 July 2014 (updated 14 August 2014)
 

The struggle to ban chemical weaponry: lessons from World War I to the present

On the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, Prof Peter Nicholls, University of Essex, examines the development and use of chemical weapons from that period to the modern day, highlighting some of the ethical debates involving scientists and policy-makers.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.43 (advance publication), 28 July 2014
 

Shale gas and fracking: examining the evidence

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) have today published a report which reviews current evidence across a number of issues associated with shale gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing (fracking). These include environmental and public health aspects and socio-economic considerations.

Media release, 21 July 2014
 

Climate change: an introduction to the key issues

Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at Halton Mill, nr Lancaster, UK

17 July 2014
 

Evidence, uncertainty and values: some key issues

Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at the 'Circling the Square' conference, Nottingham University.

Based on SGR's research, the presentation summarises how powerful interests - such as large corporations and the military - can and do distort science for their own ends.

22 May 2014
 

DECC creates more chaos in the energy efficiency sector

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, takes a hard look at the government's track record in the UK home energy efficiency sector.

ResponsibleSci blog entry, 19 May 2014
 

Modelling the transport of pollen by wind

Dr Eva Novotny, SGR, and Dr Jean Perdang, University of Liege, present in-depth analysis of the transport of pollen by wind, which has significant implications for setting separation distances between fields of GM and non-GM crops.

Two in-depth papers, 18 May 2014
 

Joint letter to Prime Minister on National Security Strategy

SGR has signed a joint open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for a rethink over the UK's security strategy, arguing that there needs to be more focus on tackling the roots of conflict.

30 April 2014