STEPS Centre

The STEPS Centre (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) was an interdisciplinary research centre hosted at the University of Sussex, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The Centre's research brought together development studies with science and technology studies. It was launched at Portcullis House in London on 25 June 2007[1] and closed in 2022.[citation needed]

The STEPS Centre described its aim as to "highlight, reveal and contribute to just and democratic pathways to sustainability that include the needs, knowledge and perspectives of poor and marginalised people". Based at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex, the centre worked with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America.[citation needed]

Professor Ian Scoones[2] and Professor Andy Stirling[3] were its co-directors. Professor Melissa Leach[4][5] stepped down as STEPS Director in 2014 to become the Director of the Institute of Development Studies.[6]

  1. ^ STEPS towards better development by Mark Tran, The Guardian
  2. ^ IDS Profile for Ian Scoones
  3. ^ Path-finder by Andrew Lee, The Engineer, 2007 Archived 29 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Melissa Leach: Village voice. To know what's happening around the world, you must ask the locals by Jessica Shepherd, The Guardian
  5. ^ Perspectives by Priya Shetty, The Lancet, Jun 2008
  6. ^ "Prof Melissa Leach appointed director of IDS - STEPS Centre blog". 5 December 2013.