The responsibility of scientists

Dr Philip Webber

16 July 2025, 5:00 pm (CEST)

ZOOM only

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.