Summer School

The ninth and final STEPS Summer School on Pathways to Sustainability will take place on 11-22 May 2020.

Applications for the Summer School are open now. The deadline for applications is 26 January 2020.

Download the brochure (PDF)

Apply now (online form)

Who should apply?

Applications are invited from highly-motivated doctoral and postdoctoral researchers working in fields around development studies, science and technology studies, innovation and policy studies, and interested in transdisciplinary methods and the politics of the environment.

There is a fee to attend, but a small number of bursaries are available to applicants whose country of origin is not in the OECD – including those who are currently working/studying in OECD countries. Fee reductions are also available for those studying on the Sussex University campus, and those who are enrolled in a studentship or post-doctoral fellowship in the ESRC’s SeNSS (South East Network for Social Sciences). See the brochure for more details.

About the Summer School

The Summer School is a two-week immersive course on theories and practical approaches to sustainability, through creative, interactive and participatory learning.

It includes the STEPS Annual Lecture, an event open to the public. The 2020 lecture will be given by Andrea J Nightingale, Professor of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo.

Participants will explore the theme of pathways to sustainability through a mixture of workshops, lectures, outdoor events and focused interaction with STEPS Centre members. The Summer School takes place on the University of Sussex campus, near Brighton, UK, where STEPS is co-hosted by the Institute of Development Studies and the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU).

This year’s summer school will be the ninth and last in the series, which has run since 2012 with the generous support of the ESRC, International Science Council (ISC) and others. In its final year (2021), the STEPS Centre is planning a different set of activities around the theme of Methods, as well as updating a set of Open Access online materials that draws on lectures and readings from past Summer Schools and will remain online for the coming years.

Free online course: Pathways to Sustainability

Our STEPS Learning website includes a free online course on Pathways to Sustainability, inspired by the Summer School. It includes selected reading lists, plus video lectures and questions to guide study.

Visit the STEPS Learning site

Testimonials

“A great experience to open up your ways of thinking, grow as a researcher and have fantastic conversations about research, life and everything in between.” 2018 participant

“A great way to expand your network as a PhD student and find like-minded people who I hope to keep in touch with and work with the future.” 2017 participant

“I can honestly say it has been the best 2 weeks of the PhD so far. To be in such an amazing, supportive and inspiring group has been fantastic” 2016 participant

For a participant’s view of the Summer School, read Winifredo Dagli’s blog post about the course in 2018.

How it works

For common questions on the Summer School, view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is the main venue. IDS is on the edge of the Sussex University campus, set in the middle of rolling countryside but with good transport links to Brighton.

The programme includes lectures and discussions, ‘walkshops’ – longer discussions held on walks through the surrounding area – and social events. The Summer School also includes some time in smaller groups, where participants get to reflect and discuss their own work, led and mentored by members of the STEPS Centre.

The discussion in these groups goes towards a mini-conference, planned and run by participants themselves, with support from the STEPS team.

Safeguarding

All participants are expected to agree with the statement on harassment and discrimination. The Institute of Development Studies Code of Conduct also applies.

IDS Code of Conduct (pdf)

Materials from past summer schools

Public lectures

Each year, the Summer School includes a public lecture open to a wider audience.

Other materials

Summer school 2018

SUMMER SCHOOL 2017

Summer School 2016

Summer School 2015

Summer School 2014

Summer School 2013

Summer School 2012