The responsibility of scientists Dr Philip Webber
Event Date: 16th July 2025
Location: Online 16:00 BST
Dear friends
The Science4Peace Forum invites you to the second Science4Peace Seminar on the responsibility of scientists by Phil Webber from Scientists for Global Responsibility.
The year 2025 marks 80 years remembrance of the nuclear bomb explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with all their horrific consequences. This year is also 70 years after the Russell-Einstein manifesto.
The militarization of society and also science requires more than ever, that scientists reflect on their research and take responsibility for applications.
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The responsibility of scientists
Dr Philip Webber
16 July 2025, 5:00 pm (CEST)
virtual event – ZOOM only
please register at: https://tinyurl.com/S4PseminarJuly2015
see also: https://tinyurl.com/S4P-July16-2025
Abstract: Scientists and engineers have played a vital role in the development of weapons since the early days of warfare, and this role has only grown, especially with the creation of nuclear arms: weapons of mass destruction (WMD) with the capability to end civilization.
I will give a brief description of the evolution of the Manhattan project and I would intend that this background can lead to discussion about the responsibility of scientists:
- to try to reduce harm – ideally to agree to ‘do no harm’ – a directive that every medical doctor should work to
- to influence decision-makers of the dangers of arms races and the extreme levels of destruction that WMD are capable of – including the ability to destabilize the global climate killing billions of people.
- to refuse work on arms, especially WMD or at least to avoid such work
Dr Philip Webber has chaired Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) since its creation in 1992 (except for 2001-3). He began his career as a research physicist at Imperial College. Phil has written widely on the unacceptable risks of nuclear weapons and growing militarism. He was one of the expert witnesses on the impacts of nuclear weapons for the conferences leading up to the UN nuclear ban treaty (TPNW). In 2017, this collective effort was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Looking forward to this seminar
Best
Hannes