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.

Why engineers should lead calls to rebalance defence R&D priorities

New analysis has revealed how much the funding of research into military technology outweighs spending to tackle the roots of conflict, says Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR

Article in Engineering and Technology Magazine, 11 November 2013
 

Military R&D: Is it helping or hindering our security?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that contrary to popular belief there are numerous reasons why military research and development is not helping to improve security, and makes the case for alternatives.

Presentation at York University, 23 October 2013
 

Humanitarian problems from the use of a nuclear weapon on a UK city

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, outlines the devastating impacts of a nuclear weapon attack on a UK city, using the case study of Manchester. He also summarises climatic and other effects should nuclear war ever happen.

Presentation at Manchester Town Hall, 4 October 2013
 

Conflict and climate change - film

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, appears in a new film produced by the Movement for the Abolition of War.

2 October 2013

 

Open letter on pro-GM bias at academic journal

An open letter to the publishers and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology, regarding the potential pro-GM bias introduced by the appointment of a new Associate Editor, Richard Goodman.

1 October 2013
 

UK military R&D is aggressive and counter-productive

Why is the UK government focusing R&D spending on offensive weapons in preference to tackling the roots of conflict?

Article by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, on The Guardian's Political Science blog, 30 September 2013
 

New SGR report uncovers aggressive focus of UK military research and development

The UK government’s military research and development (R&D) spending is heavily focused on offensive weapons systems, which do not tackle the main threats to our security, says a report out today.

Press release, 30 September 2013
 

Arctic ice cap melt: when will we reach the tipping point?

Recent climate research points to grim prospects for the Arctic ice cap. Vanessa Spedding reports on current scientific opinion.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.42, autumn 2013

Advance online publication: 20 August 2013 (update added: 23 September)
 

From Militarism to Sustainability

Campaigning for ethical engineering and science in the UK

A chapter, written by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, in a new book entitled Peace Engineering: When personal values and engineering careers converge

1 September 2013
 

Science campaign group moves to eco-village

Scientists for Global Responsibility – a UK campaign group, with about 1000 members – today moved into its new offices at Halton Mill, an eco-renovated former industrial building just outside Lancaster.

Press release, 31 August 2013