Frequently asked questions
Do you have a question you can't find the answer to?
Here are our top 20 FAQs. Click on the questions below to go straight to the answer. If you query is not listed here or anywhere else on the site, email steps-centre@ids.ac.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What is the STEPS Centre about?
What is the STEPS Centre trying to achive?
What is the STEPS Centre 'pathways' approach?
How are where did the STEPS Centre start?
How is the STEPS Centre funded?
Who are the STEPS Centre's partners?
How do I contact the STEPS Centre?
How do I get to the STEPS Centre?
How do I study at the STEPS Centre?
Where did the names STEPS come from?
I'm a member of the press, how do I contact STEPS?
I'm a student writing about STEPS -related issues, how do I contact STEPS?
Can I view this website as text only?
Can I put a link on my website to STEPS?
Can I have a reciprocal link on the STEPS website?
I can't listen to the audio clips or see the visuals, what should I do?
I can't open a PDF document, what should I do?
Do I need permission to quote or reporduce work from the website?
What is a Creative Commons licence?
Q What is the STEPS Centre about?
A Read all about who we are and what we do
Q What is the STEPS Centre trying to achive?
A Read about the STEPS Centre's aims
Q What is the STEPS Centre 'pathways' approach?
A STEPS is developing a new theoretical pathways approach to understanding interactions between social, technological and environmental dynamics in diverse local conditions. We have called it the pathways approach because it aims to understand the complex, non-linear interactions - or paths - between social, technological and environmental systems. Some pathways may threaten poor peoples' livelihoods and health while others create opportunities for sustainability.
Q How and where did the STEPS Centre start?
A The STEPS Centre came in to being on 1 October 2006 and holds its official launch on 25 June 2007. We are based across two institutions on the University of Sussex campus, in Brighton, UK - the Insitute of Development Studies and SPRU Science and Technology Policy Research. For more information read a potted history of the STEPS Centre
Q How is the STEPS Centre funded?
A We are funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It provides independent, high quality, relevant research to business, the public sector and government. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2006/7 is £169 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes. More at www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk
Q How is the STEPS Centre run?
A STEPS Director Melissa Leach, Co-directors Ian Scoones and Andy Stirling and STEPS members are based at the Institute of Development Studies and SPRU Science and Technology Policy Research at Sussex University in the UK. We are overseen by an International Advisory Committee of globally renowned academics, policy-makers, business and media professionals, chaired by Professor Judi Wakhungu, executive director of the African Centre for Technology Studies in Kenya. And we have a network of partners around the world.
Q Who are the STEPS Centre's partners?
A Our research project strategy for the next two years will feature five major cross- projects linked to regional hubs and core partners in China, India, Kenya and Argentina. These five projects are now in a planning phase and confirmation of our core partners for each will be made in summer 2007.
Q How do I contact the STEPS Centre?
A You can write to us at:
STEPS Centre,
Institute of Development Studies,
Brighton,
BN1 9RE,
UK
E-mail us: steps-centre@ids.ac.uk
Fax us: +44 (0)1273 621202 or 691647
STEPS Centre general enquiries, tel: +44 (0)1273 876808
Or for more information go to our Contact us page
Q How do I get to the STEPS Centre?
A Before you plan your journey, please check if the person you are visiting is based at IDS or SPRU's The Freeman Centre, both on the University of Sussex campus. STEPS members are split between these two buildings: IDS at Brighton, BN1 9RE, UK and SPRU at Freeman Centre at Brighton, BN1 9QE, UK.
Getting to the STEPS Centre in Brighton (Multimap link)
University of Sussex campus map (PDF 684KB)
How to get to the University of Sussex
By rail: Falmer Station is the nearest railway station, change at Brighton for visitors travelling from London and the west.
By car: The University is on the A27 road between Brighton and Lewes, about four miles (six kilometres) from the centre of Brighton.
By bus: Bus number 25 runs between the centre of Brighton and the University - stopping at Churchill Square and Old Steine - bringing passengers directly onto the campus.
For more details, see our Contact Us page
Q How do I study at the STEPS Centre?
A One of STEPS Centre's key activities is training a new generation of students and researchers in our concepts, methods and approaches. We run MA and PhD courses and host postdoctoral and visiting fellows. STEPS aims to share our learning and build capacity among a new generation of scientists and social scientists.
For more information on our courses contact: Julia Brown, IDS Teaching on + 44 (0) 1273 678869 or e-mail: teaching@ids.ac.uk . Or visit our Teaching page
Q Where did the names STEPS come from?
A STEPS stands for Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability
Q I'm a member of the press, how do I contact STEPS ?
A STEPS Members are very experienced in working with the media and our Communications Officer Julia Day is a former journalist. Get in touch with Julia on +44 (0)1273 571637 or 07974 209148. Or find out more about our Media Centre
Q I'm a student writing about STEPS -related issues, can you send me information?
A Please have a look through our website and see if you can find the material that interests you. Check our domains, themes and projects pages. If you still canot find what you need, do get in touch and we will try to help.
Q Can I view this website as text only?
A Yes, you can. Click on 'text only' link in the top right-hand corner of the homepage.
Q Can I put a link on my website to STEPS?
A Yes, please do. We are very happy for you to link to our hompage(link) or our research pages. One of our main aims is to generate debate and we actively want to engage with a diverse local and global audiences, from local communities to international governments and global institutions to help make change happen. Putting out link on your page can help do that.
Q Can I have a reciprocal link on the STEPS website?
A We do have external links on our site, as this helps link our research in toa global network of STEPS -related work and organisations. If your link is highly relevant to our work do send it to us and we will consider using it, but cannot promise to include it.
Q I can't listen to the audio clips or see the visuals, what should I do?
A Visit our downloads page for details of the free programmes you need to view our audio
Q I can't open a PDF document, what should I do?
A Some of our documents are stored in PDF format, which requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download the reader free from Abobe's website (link)
Q Do I need permission to quote or reproduce work from the website?
A you are welcome to reproduce articles from the STEPS website, but you must not alter their meaning or context, must acknowledge the authors and www.steps-centre.org as the source, and you cannot use our work for commercial purposes. Our work is published under a Creative Commons licenc, see below. However images are only available for editorial use with our express permission. To request an image, email Julia Day or phone on +44 (0)1273 876814.
Q What is a Creative Commons licence?
A Our work is published under a Creative Commons licence.
