Responsible Science

Science and technology develop with astonishing speed raising constant questions about their responsible practice. Our Responsible Science blog is where we tackle these issues as they arise. Please get in touch if there is something happening on our agenda that you think we should know about or would like to suggest an article.

Gianluca Grimalda travelling by cargo ship

An act of conscientious objection for the climate

Dr Gianluca Grimalda reflects on his legal victory, achieved following the termination of his academic contract when he refused to fly.

6 March 2025

Gaza: how the West’s weapons are fuelling a catastrophe

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, updates earlier analysis of the considerable humanitarian impacts of the war in Gaza, including probable genocide. In particular, he summarises the role of the arms industries in the USA, UK, and elsewhere.

12 February 2025 (updated)

How big is the carbon footprint of football?

Dr Stuart Parkinson and Andrew Simms summarise SGR’s new research on the greenhouse gas emissions of the global football sector, and explore whether reducing the carbon footprint of football can help accelerate wider climate action.

3 February 2025

Civil and military nuclear programmes: will they be derailed by skills shortages?

Alasdair Beal takes a look at the UK nuclear industry – and finds that the proposed expansion has a workforce problem.

4 December 2024

Tackling global risks in the second Trump era

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency undermines efforts to tackle urgent global risks such as climate change and the threat of nuclear war. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, gives an overview of the problems and assesses how best to respond.

14 November 2024

Picture of oily hands holding a miniature football pitch

Oil and gas ‘sportswashing’ now a 5.6 billion dollar industry

A new report uncovers the extent to which fossil fuel corporations use the popularity of sport to promote their ‘brand’, and divert attention away from their highly polluting activities.

27 September 2024

Nuclear power risks rising in Russia-Ukraine war

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, warns that another nuclear power plant is at major risk as the war enters new territory - and this plant includes Chernobyl-type reactors.

22 August 2024

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)

The extremism of the status quo

Andrew Simms, SGR, summarises the overlooked extremism of mainstream political positions on climate breakdown, militarism, and false technological solutions.

20 May 2024

After Paris’s coup against SUVs, the UK should slam the brakes on these polluting monsters too

Andrew Simms, SGR, argues that the vote by Parisians to triple parking charges for SUVs should be the start of a much wider crackdown.

14 February 2024

ResponsibleSci blog