Andy Stirling

Andy Stirling is a professor in the Science Policy Research Unit and a co-director of the STEPS Centre at Sussex University. He is an interdisciplinary researcher, with a background in astronomy, social anthropology, and the green and peace movements. Focusing on challenges around “opening up” more democratic governance of science, technology and innovation, his work tries to tackle issues like diversity, uncertainty, precaution, skepticism, sustainability, resilience, reflexivity, transdisciplinarity, participation, transformation, and power. He is especially interested in why progress unfolds in some directions rather than others and in making these social choices more accountable. He has served on many EU and UK government advisory bodies, on issues around energy, environment, GM foods, neuroscience, emerging technologies, and science and technology governance.