STEPS is a new initiative that will strengthen Lehigh's commitment to collaboration, innovation and scholarship in the areas of science, technology, environment, policy and society. STEPS will build a community of top scholars dedicated to solving some of the most complex challenges facing our natural world. By integrating disciplines from across the university, Lehigh will engage undergraduate and graduate students in learning and research opportunities that truly represent the depth and breadth of the knowledge needed to confront our rapidly changing world.
STEPS will draw faculty from disciplines across the institution who conduct research in areas including climate change, aquatic ecosystems, nanotechnology, groundwater contamination, environmental literacy and energy-related topics, to name a few.
Components of the initiative
New Facility
The cornerstone of the STEPS initiative is a new 135,000-square-foot building at the corner of Packer Avenue and Vine Street on Lehigh's Asa Packer campus. The new building will be designed to facilitate collaborative learning and eliminate boundaries between the classroom and the lab and will feature state-of-the-art teaching and research areas mingled with seminar rooms, study lounges and faculty offices. The $62.1 million facility will be a "green" building with the goal of LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the gold standard for sustainable architecture in the U.S.
Endowed Chairs
Lehigh will create endowed chairs for faculty engaged in the STEPS initiative who work in diverse areas such as earth and environmental science, biology, chemistry, environmental engineering, sociology, political science, international relations, economics, journalism and communication and education. Endowed chairs will enable Lehigh to attract, retain and reward faculty who work collaboratively to address the full spectrum of environmental problems facing society.
Graduate Fellowships
Pre-doctoral students in fields across disciplines related to STEPS, with particular emphasis on opportunities for students in the social sciences, can obtain graduate fellowships, as there are opportunities for externally funded fellowships.
Undergraduate Research Funds
Through research funds, undergraduate students will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and graduate students across disciplines on meaningful research projects-inspiring and nurturing a next generation of leaders with invaluable skills in solving complex problems using interdisciplinary approaches. Flexible programs will provide semester or summer support for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. They will also provide funding so faculty and graduate students may devote time to design and maintain optimal research opportunities for undergraduates.
Education and Technology Enhancements
Thousands of students will use the new facility—witnessing science in action while learning basic science and engineering in a facility in which exciting research is also underway. The objective is to eliminate boundaries between the classroom and the laboratory, featuring state-of-the-art research and teaching areas mingled with seminar rooms, study lounges and faculty offices. Suites will provide customized, student-centered learning environments, supporting theme-based courses (such as energy hazards, or environmental change) and studio-based courses now common in chemistry and engineering. The entire building will accommodate current and future trends in instrumentation and educational technology, including live Internet feeds for research and conferencing.
