About Us

"The research the STEPS Centre will engage in has the potential to have a vital impact on global society."

Professor Ian Diamond, ESRC chief executive

Who we are

The STEPS Centre is a new interdisciplinary global research and policy engagement hub, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. We aim to develop a new approach to understanding, action and communication on sustainability and development.

By acknowledging the interactions between social, technological and environmental factors in diverse local settings we aim to create more sustainable, socially just and favourable conditions for the poor.

Uniting development studies with science and technology studies, we seek to address two vital global challenges:

• how to link environmental sustainability with better livelihoods and health for poor people
• how to make science and technology work to reduce poverty and increase social justice.

Based at the Institute of Development Studies and SPRU Science and Technology Policy Research in the UK, we have partners in China, India, Kenya and Argentina.

What we do

We bring together social and natural scientists to work together. From anthropologists, engineers and ecologists to economists, physicians and physicists we have overturned the tradition of working separately to try and achieve a breakthrough in thinking and action.

Our unique pathways approach interweaves social, technological and environmental conditions and acknowledges the dynamism of change.

We work on three interlinking domains and three themes across projects around the world:
• Domains – food/agriculture; health/disease; water/sanitation
• Themes – dynamics; governance; designs

Through linking findings, activities and engagement across projects, domains and themes the STEPS Centre connects new theory with practical approaches to provide sustainable opportunities for poor and marginalised people.

Why STEPS, Why Now?

How do we deal with the spread of HIV/Aids or avian ‘flu? Who benefits from genetically-modified crops? Is there is enough water for people to survive the 21st century? Today's world is experiencing rapid social, technological and environmental change. But poverty and inequality are growing.

Environmental sustainability and science and technology innovation need to combine with better livelihoods, health and social justice for poor people. And opportunities to address these 21st century challenges exist right now: International policy interest and investment in science, technology, environment and development are higher than ever.

Yet the tasks ahead are complex. Will new biotechnologies solve hunger and land degradation amidst drought - or disregard existing farmer knowledge? Will the roll-out antiretroviral drugs solve HIV health problems, or interact with disease ecologies, unregulated markets and social change to provoke devastating new resistances?

New approaches are needed to understand dynamic social, technological and environmental pathways and how their governance can contribute to sustainability and poverty reduction.

 

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