Pathways to Sustainability: An Overview of the STEPS Centre Approach

Abstract

"Who benefits from genetically-modified crops? Will there be enough water for people to survive this century? What are the implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic? These are just some of the questions that the STEPS Centre--a new global research and policy hub based at the University of Sussex in the UK--is asking. This short document provides an overview of the approach that STEPS is taking as it seeks to grapple with two of the most pressing challenges of contemporary times: linking environmental sustainability with poverty reduction and social justice, and making science and technology work for the poor. Intended for anyone wanting a quick insight into the Centres work, it highlights key elements of the Centres pathways approach, how this approach interweaves the themes of systems dynamics, governance and designs, and the practical implications for the distinctive styles of interactive, engaged research that the Centre is undertaking."