Irresponsible Science?

The document examines the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), finding extensive financial ties to the arms industry through event sponsorship, corporate partnerships, and donations. While the IET lacks a specific ethical investment policy and an overarching environmental policy, it demonstrates some environmental efforts, such as a 'very good' BREEAM rating for its London office. The study notes a lack of transparency regarding the specific corporations in which the IET's £110 million listed investments are held, suggesting likely but unconfirmed links to fossil fuel companies.

• The IET has extensive financial ties to the arms industry across multiple areas, with 23% of large event sponsors and 21% of corporate partners identified as part of the arms sector.
• The IET does not maintain a specific ethical investment policy, arguing that its investments are not detrimental to its charitable purpose of promoting science, engineering, and technology.
• The IET's listed investments totaled £110 million, managed by BlackRock, but the organization provided insufficient public data to determine the specific corporations in which these funds were held.
• The IET lacks a comprehensive environmental policy, although it has an Energy Policy Panel and achieved a 'very good' BREEAM rating for its main London office refurbishment.
• The IET's corporate partnership program offers a unique benefit of networking opportunities with the UK Ministry of Defence.
• In its school education programs, the IET has limited involvement with the arms sector and no direct financial links to fossil fuel corporations, though Bechtel serves as a prominent national sponsor for the FIRST LEGO League.
• The IET received donations from arms corporations in both 2017 and 2018, including BAE Systems, Thales, and Chemring Group.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/13-Institution_of_Engineering_and_Technology.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/13-Institution_of_Engineering_and_Technology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/13-Institution_of_Engineering_and_Technology.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scientistsforglobalresponsibilityndirresponsible, author = {{Scientists for Global Responsibility}}, title = {{Irresponsible Science?}}, institution = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/13-Institution_of_Engineering_and_Technology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }