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.

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: Where are we going? (Oct 2009)

Presentation by Dr Tim Foxon, Sustainability Research Institute, Leeds University, at the SGR conference, 24 October 2009
 

Arms conversion for a low carbon economy (Oct 2009)

Presentation by Prof David Webb, Praxis Centre, Leeds Metropolitan University at the SGR conference, 24 October 2009
 

"Green Jobs Charter": A trade union programme for the creation of one million climate change jobs

Presentation by Dr Gareth Dale, School of Social Sciences, Brunel University at the SGR conference, 24 October 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
 

Universities, the military and the UK's security needs

Summary of a seminar by Dr Chris Langley, Principal Researcher, SGR at the 'Power & the Academy' Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, 6 - 8 April 2009
 

Time for global responsibility in the global economy

Stuart Parkinson looks at the potential for a sustainable, low-carbon economy to be created through efforts to tackle the current global economic problems.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 37; spring 2009
 

Key principles in making sustainable buildings and places

Sandy Halliday traces the evolution of the principles behind sustainable design, and argues for their much wider use.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 37; spring 2009
 

Social housing projects could learn from past successes

Past collaborative efforts of architects and policy-makers have produced elegant social housing solutions. Kate Macintosh reflects on two examples and how their lessons could help the housing crisis.

Article from SGR Newsletter, no. 37; spring 2009
 

Deterrence irrelevance: Trident, Britain and nuclear weapons

Nick Ritchie, Bradford University, outlines the serious flaws in the logic of nuclear deterrence upon which the proposed replacement of Trident is based.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.37, spring 2009