Responsible Science

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.

An Allied correspondent stands in rubble, looking at the ruins of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall.

Has our society forgotten the extreme horror of nuclear weapons?

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the risk of nuclear war has markedly increased. But, as Dr Philip Webber, SGR, points out, the threat comes from all nuclear weapons, not just those in Russian hands.

3 March 2022

COP26, peace and the carbon bootprint of the military

In light of the agreements at COP26, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at the controversial role of the military in climate issues, including the latest data on military carbon emissions, and how demilitarisation programmes offer more potential for reductions than low carbon weapons systems.

29 January 2022

From arms, planes and racing cars to ventilators: industrial conversion during the Covid-19 crisis

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the UK’s crash industrial programme to scale up production of medical ventilators during the pandemic – and what lessons can be learned for conversion away from fossil fuels & arms.

10 December 2021

Announcing Globally Responsible Careers in STEM – new online resource

SGR today launches its new online resource – ‘Globally Responsible Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’ (GRC-STEM) – to help the growing number of job-seekers looking for ethical employment.

22 November 2021

Did COP26 deliver? Thoughts from Scientists for Global Responsibility

Andrew Simms, Phil Webber, Stuart Parkinson, and Jan Maskell give their initial thoughts on the outputs of the COP26 climate negotiations - and examine some options for future action.

17 November 2021

Science & activism: acting with the face of evidence

How should climate scientists get involved in campaigning activities? Dr Liz Kalaugher, SGR, Dr Alison Green, Scientists Warning, and Dr Aaron Thierry, Scientists for Extinction Rebellion, discuss the issues and options.

8 November 2021

Challenging the military carbon bootprint

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, summarises the huge carbon emissions of the military, the threat to the climate from nuclear weapons, and what can be done to challenge it.

8 November 2021

Are UK universities being drawn into developing autonomous weapons?

The UK government refuses to support a treaty to regulate lethal autonomous weapons systems, preferring instead to expand military R&D, including at universities. But, argues Leyla Manthorpe Rizatepe, these same universities could become a further focus of protest.

26 October 2021

What does 1.5C-compatible living look like? An update on the science

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, presents the latest data on which personal actions are most likely to reduce your carbon emissions to a level compatible with the international 1.5C temperature target.

19 October 2021

Scientists stand together with Science Oath for Climate

In light of The Trick, a new BBC drama about the “ClimateGate” hack of one scientist’s emails in 2009, Dr Liz Kalaugher, SGR, looks at how climate scientists today are banding together to speak out about their evidence and how urgently we need to act.

18 October 2021

Issues