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Finding an Ethical Career in Science, Design and Technology

Finding an Ethical Career in Science, Design and Technology. Dr Stuart Parkinson. http://www.sgr.org.uk/. Scientists for Global Responsibility. Independent organisation of 1000 natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, architects, IT workers

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Finding an Ethical Career in Science, Design and Technology

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  1. Finding an Ethical Career in Science, Design and Technology Dr Stuart Parkinson http://www.sgr.org.uk/

  2. Scientists for Global Responsibility • Independent organisation of 1000 natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, architects, IT workers • Promotes science, design and technology which contributes to reduction of conflict, environmental protection, social justice • Ethical careers publications and website • Education and support network http://www.sgr.org.uk/

  3. Why an ethical career in science, design and technology? • Global environmental damage • Actions and policies during the next 10y very likely to decide whether the world will experience dangerous, irreversible climate change • Current extinction rate for wildlife could be 1000 times the nature level • 300,000 people die each year in wars • ~1 million people killed each year in road crashes • Over 1 billion people live in absolute poverty • Science, design and technology can help tackle these problems or can make them worse

  4. Total: 267,000

  5. Govt 10y science & innovation plan • Timescale: 2004 - 2014 • Economic and military aims dominant • Pushing closer collaboration between universities and business • Some significant environmental, health programmes

  6. Rise of the ‘green collar’ sector • Global market for environmental products and services worth ~€1,000,000,000,000 • About 2.3 million work in renewable energy industries worldwide • Environmental industries employ over 400,000 people in the UK

  7. Low carbon economy in the UK • New targets on renewable energy expansion • National Home Energy Saving Programme • New ‘Super Express’ trains • New support for ‘greener cars’ • Carbon Trust • Building Schools for the Future

  8. Green jobs – some examples • Research • e.g. climate scientist, ecologist, agricultural scientist • Engineering • e.g. renewable energy, home insulation, efficiency in industry • Project management • Key in making things happen • Environmental consultancy • Advice to industry & government on reducing emissions • Education and campaigning • Green economics • e.g. designing and implementing eco-taxes, carbon trading

  9. More possibilities… • Health charities are major R&D funders • Research Council programmes on sustainable energy, sustainable agriculture, health inequalities, understanding conflict • Growing number of courses on environmental/ development/ security issues

  10. Guiding principles • Apply precautionary principle • Guard against malicious use • Follow democratic principles • Consider distributional effects • Look for contribution to peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability

  11. Which Employer?

  12. Tips on being successful… • Educate yourself on the wider social/ environmental issues affecting your field • Don’t be fooled by ‘greenwash’ • Incrementalist or revolutionary? • Develop your ‘transferable skills’ • Get voluntary/ vacation experience beyond science & technology • Get support

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