Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP)

The STEP Program conducts research and offers instruction on a wide range of science, technology and environmental policy topics. The Core STEP faculty consists of Michael Oppenheimer (STEP Director), who joined the faculty on February 1, 2002, as the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School and the Department of Geosciences; David S. Wilcove,(STEP Co-director) Professor of Public Affairs and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Denise L. Mauzerall, who is also affiliated faculty in the Geosciences Department and associate faculty of the Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI); Frank N. von Hippel, who is Co-Director of the Program in Science and Global Security (S&GS); Burton H. Singer, who has a joint appointment between the Office of Population Research and STEP; Lee M. Silver, who has a joint appointment between the Department of Molecular Biology and STEP; and Christopher Chyba who has a joint appointment with the Department of Astrophysics and STEP. In addition, Andrew P. Dobson is a faculty member within the (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and is associated with STEP. Likewise, Robert H. Socolow is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and is a faculty affiliate of the Program.

STEP research is varied and often cross-disciplinary. This is evident in the diverse and cross-cutting
character of its research staff and their projects.

STEP students participate in the work of the Center, its events and its seminars. Students are drawn to the program from a wide and diverse spectrum of interests across the University.These include WWS MPA's, MPP's and PhD students,  students from various science and engineering departments via the STEP-PEI fellowships, and a broad array of other disciplines ranging from microbiology to environmental history wherein science raises policy issues and informed policy necessitates scientific input.

The STEP program continues to produce PhD graduates that go on to positions of increasing responsibility in their careers and who make significant contributions to policy issues which require a careful use of science and an infomed sense of judgement about its implications.

The STEP program maintains a modest fellows and visitors component on two levels: for distinguished faculty, senior scholars and practitioners, and  for postdoctoral researchers who work within specific research initiatives underway within the program.