The Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center is a convergence research community of diverse and leading scientists that addresses the complex challenges in phosphorus sustainability by integrating disciplinary contributions across the physical, life, social, and economic sciences. STEPS draws from atomic and molecular insights (e.g., chemistry, materials research, biochemistry, bioengineering) to develop materials and technologies that are deployed at the human scale (e.g., environmental and agricultural engineering, plant biology, crop and soil sciences) while considering supply-chain logistics, life cycle, and other regional and global issues (e.g., ecology, economics, sociology, policy). You can read more about the center in our blog.

The Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance plays a key role in organizing the “Knowledge Transfer” activities of the NSF-funded STEPS Center. In this capacity, we coordinate interactions between researchers and students in the center and stakeholders from outside the center, including farmers, utilities, mining and fertilizer companies, and many others. We are also involved in the transfer of intellectual property generated by the center.