Institute of Development Studies

Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS) Centre

The Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS) Centre, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, is an interdisciplinary global research and policy engagement hub bringing together development and science and technology studies.

We are developing a unique pathways approach that interweaves socio-political, technological and ecological changes while acknowledging the dynamism of contemporary systems and the diversity of local conditions. The STEPS Centre addresses two vital global challenges: linking environmental sustainability with better livelihoods and health for poor people; and making science and technology work to reduce poverty and increase social justice.The STEPS Centre is a collaboration between the Institute of Development Studies and SPRU (Science and Technology Policy Research) with a network of partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Our research
Our research links three major domains - food and agriculture; health and disease; water and sanitation - with three themes - dynamics, governance and designs. Through linking findings across projects, domains and themes the STEPS Centre will connect new theory with practical approaches to create opportunities for poor and marginalised people.

Why STEPS, why now?
Environments, technologies and societies are changing at a growing pace and scale. Climate change, diseases like BSE, HIV/AIDS and avian 'flu, novel chemical and biotechnologies, and rapid population and information flows and growth of market relationships are just a few examples. The STEPS Centre will investigate what new concepts, methods and policy arrangements are needed to respond to such 21st century challenges? And how can environmental sustainability and advances in science and technology be linked with assuring better livelihoods, health and social justice for poorer people in developing countries?

For more information contact:
Harriet Le Bris, STEPS Centre administrative coordinator
E-mail: steps-centre@ids.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1273 915673

Media Inquiries:
Julia Day STEPS Centre communications officer
E-mail: j.day@ids.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1273 915671 / M: 07974 209148 / Skype: juliaday1

• IDS key contact: Melissa Leach
• Project dates: October 2006 - October 2011
• Project status: Open
• Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Researchers

• Gerry Bloom
• Melissa Leach
• Hayley MacGregor
• Lyla Mehta
• Ian Scoones
• John Thompson
• Linda Waldman
• Pritpal Randhawa
• Paul Forster
• Sarah Dry
• Julia Day
• Sally Brooks
• Harriet Le Bris
• Nathan Oxley
• Jeremy Allouche
• Adrian Ely , SPRU, University of Sussex
• Fiona Marshall, SPRU, University of Sussex
• Erik Millstone, SPRU, University of Sussex
• Paul Nightingale, SPRU, University of Sussex
• Adrian Smith, SPRU, University of Sussex
• Sigrid Stagl, SPRU, University of Sussex
• Andy Stirling, SPRU, University of Sussex