Centre for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies (STEPS) is registered as a Society under the Society Registration Act.
• To carry out policy-oriented studies on the emerging as well as conventional areas of science, technology and environment with a view to providing inputs to policy-making bodies and implementing agencies. The components of these studies are as follows:
(a) Technology forecasting and assessment, social and environment impact studies, and risk analysis of technologies in development areas.
(b) To undertake feasibility studies and assess various technological alternatives for sustainable development.
(c) To take up studies and surveys for manpower planning and R&D management for several components of S&T.
(d) To study the transfer of technology at both the national and international level and its socio-economic and environmental implications.
(B) People-oriented S&T
• To focus on issues related to public-interest science and technology covering the entire gamut of questions concerning the environment pollution control, public health, waste land development, rural and urban land development and related areas. In particular:
a. To actively participate in the dissemination of scientific and technological innovations in the rural areas and monitor their socio-economic impact.
b. To investigate the implication of new technologies (particularly information, automation and communication) on employment and work environment in different organizational set up.
(c) To emphasise the need for the involvement of women in deciding the role to be played by new technological innovations in society, (both at the society and organisational levels), and to fathom the impact of new technologics on their life style.
(C) Science Popularisation
• To integrate the activities of the Centre with the efforts of those involved in the
popularisation of science and thereby provide a fillip for such activities by :
(a) Dissemination of its own research findings.
(b) Development multi-media packages to aid in demonstrating scientific concepts, principles and broader issues concerning the environment and science-society nexus. Creating scientific awareness among children would be given special emphasis.
(D) Science and Culture
• To arrive at an understanding of the nature of the interaction of science, technology
and culture in the Indian context.
In the pursuit of above mentioned areas, the Centre's related activities are :
(a) To organise seminars, symposia, workshops and other related activities; and
(b) To publish both academic and popular books, journals and magazines.
STEPS has more than 30 years of experience in research and evaluation in the field of science & technology and sustainable development, economic empowerment of marginalised people including women through technologies and skill building in informal sector and crafts sector, science communication, evaluations of grassroots interventions, science and culture interface. Research projects sponsored by various agencies like Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Culture, UNESCO, UN Woman, UNDP and corporates.
