Working Group on International Responsibility of Scientists, 1969-1974

This sub-sub-subseries consists of 12 files relating to Martin Rivers Pollock's activities with the Working Group on International Responsibility of Scientists, 1969-1974. The idea of a working group of the British Society for Social Responsibility in Science (BSSRS) came from correspondence in Nature in 1969 regarding the forced resignations of scientists in Brazil on political grounds and the resulting discussions about the sort of action that should be taken in response. Pollock’s letter was published on 4th October 1969. Arising from Pollock’s letter and others, it was suggested that an international body should be established by the BSSRS and sister bodies in other countries in order to monitor the situation. In May 1970 Pollock wrote proposing that the BSSRS establish a working party on the international responsibility of scientists. After extensive correspondence with colleagues, the working party was convened in December 1970. It did not flourish and became moribund in 1971.