Academic interests
Dr. Steve Williams' academic work includes conducting and publishing research on sustainable energy transition and energy justice in Canada, Germany, and Sweden. Keen to merge themes of sustainability with dance music and sound art in today’s eco-challenging climate, drusnoise builds live sets and research from a plethora of natural sources. Now based in Berlin, he received his PhD from University of British Columbia, was a Research Group Leader at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, and spent two years at Chalmers University researching sustainability transition labs. As the artist drusnoise, he is a live electronic music producer, sound artist, co-founder of Berlin Modular Society and is curator of sustain.fm. drusnoise integrates analog modular synthesizers with digital FX and organic samples to create a style that flows from lush ambient tones to gritty techno. drusnoise also releases and performs experimental sound art works incorporating field recordings, sonified climate change data, and feedback loops. Steve joined the 'Unruly Sustainabilities' team as a Postdoctoral Fellow in October 2024 and will be moving to Oslo in early 2025. He will be focusing on developing novel sociomaterial methods. Building on his experience with acoustics, sound art, artistic research, and sustainability transition, he will explore the role of sound in field research, analytical methods, and challenging dominant ontological and epistemological paradigms of uncertainty in energy transitions research.
Publications
Williams, S., Holmberg, J. and Holmén, J. (2024). Multi-level learning for systemic transformation: experiences from an expedition in North Mid Sweden. Environmental Science and Policy. Vol 156, p. 103740.
Williams, S. (2022). Can you hear the Earth breathing? Translation and disclosure in sound art data sonification in Pauletto, S., Delle Monche, S., and Selfridge, R. 2nd Conference on the Sonification of Health and Environmental Data (SoniHED 2022, pp. 44-48).
Lawrence, G., Williams, S., Nanz, P. and Renn., O. (2022). Characteristics, potentials, and challenges of transdisciplinary research. One Earth. Vol 5, Issue 1. pp. 44-61
Holmén, J., Williams, S. and Holmberg, G. (2022). Comparing sustainability transition labs across process, effects and impacts: Insights from Canada and Sweden. Energy Research and Social Science. Volume 89, July 2022, 102522
Doyon, A., Boron, J. and Williams, S. (2021). Unsettling transitions: Representing Indigenous peoples and knowledge in transitions research. Energy Research & Social Science 81, 102255 2021.
Douglas, A. , Holmberg, J., Holmén, J., Wise, E., Williams, S. (2021). Challenge Lab NMS Log Book: Exploring the role of hydrogen in realising a good life in North Middle Sweden through circular and low carbon industrial transformation. Region Gävleborg, Region Dalarna, Region Värmland
Quitzow, R., Bersalli, G., Eicke, L., Jahn, J., Lilliestam, J., Lira, F., Marian, A. and Williams, S. (2021) The COVID-19 crisis deepens the gulf between leaders and laggards in the global energy transition. Energy Research & Social Science 74, 101981 – 2021
Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Hodgson, I., Kendrick, I., Lyon, C., Page, G. ... Williams, S. (2020). Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there. Energy research & social science 70, 101724 – 2020
Williams, S. and Robinson, J. (2020). Measuring sustainability: An evaluation framework for sustainability transition experiments. Environmental Science and Policy. Volume 103, January 2020, pp. 58-66.
Williams, S. (2020). The Alberta Energy Futures Lab: A Case Study in Socio-Cultural Transition through Public Engagement in Creating Spaces of Engagement. Eds. Wiebe, S. & Ney, T. Ch. 2 University of Toronto Press.
Williams, S. and Doyon, A. (2019). Justice in Energy Transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. Vol 31, June 2019, pp. 144-153.
Williams, S. (2019). The splash and the ripples: assessing sustainability transition experiments, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2019) Retrieved from https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0383246
Potvin, C., Sharma, D., Williams, S., Meadowcroft, J., Rosenbloom, D., Hall, M., Hoffmann, M., Robinson, J., Sheppard, S., McVey, I., Ashley, B., Wielinski, G. and Morency, C. (2018). A framework to evaluate low-carbon energy transition learning projects. Report prepared for Natural Resources Canada. Ottawa, Canada.
Rosenbloom, D., Meadowcroft, J., Sheppard, S., Burch, S. & Williams, S. (2018). Transition experiments: Opening up low-carbon transition pathways for Canada through innovation and learning. Canadian Public Policy. Vol 44, Issue 4, pp. 368-383.
Schirmer, J. & Williams, S. (2018). Criteria and indicators for the societal effects of IASS activities. Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies. Potsdam, Germany.
Shah, S. H., Rodina, L., Burt, J. M., Gregr, E. J., Chapman, M., Williams, S. (2018). Unpacking social-ecological transformations: Conceptual, ethical and methodological insights. The Anthropocene Review, 5(3), 250–265. http://doi.org/10.1177/2053019618817928.
Williams, S., Derbyshire, J. and Wong, A. (2018). Me on the Map: A Case Study of Interactive Theatre and Public Participation. Journal of Public Deliberation. Volume 14, Issue 1.
Bendor, R., Maggs, D., Peake, R., Robinson, J. and Williams, S. (2017) The Imaginary Worlds of Sustainability: Observations from an Interactive Art Installation. Ecology & Society.
Williams, S. (2017). Evaluating Societal Effects of Transdisciplinary Co-production Processes: Final Report. Report prepared for Mistra Urban Futures. Gothenburg, Sweden.
Bendor, R., J. Anacleto, D. Facey, S. Fels, T. Herron, D. Maggs, R. Peake, J. Robinson, M. Robinson, J. Salter, S. Sheppard, O. Vattanawong, A. Wang and S. Williams (2015). ‘Sustainability in an Imaginary World.’ Interactions 22(5).
Kopp, S., Piercey, C. A., Polo-Malouvier, R., Thompson, M. E., Williams, S. G. (2011). U.S. Patent No. 8010426 B2. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Selected Conference & Workshop Presentations
Williams, S. (2023a). Sound, music, and sustainability; We are but dust and shadows. Lecture at Insitut für Elektronische Musik und Akustik, Kunst Uni Graz. November 24, 2023. https://youtu.be/EMHHu3v6zIA?si=GfLegzaXPjQdr1xP
Williams, S., Chambers, J., Vervoort, J. (2023, August). The role of sound and music in reimagining sustainable futures. Paper presented at International Sustainability Transitions conference. Utrecht University, NL.
Williams, S. (2021, November). Reflection and Integration. Facilitated reflection sessions Methods and Ethics in Arctic Transformative Research hosted by Instituted for Advanced Sustainability Studies (online).
Williams, S., Simon, D., Niestroy, I., Steinmar, K., Lebherz, A., Holmberg, J. and Holmen, J. (2021, September a). More than a method? Understandings of transdisciplinary transformative research. Paper presented at International Sustainability Transitions 2021 (online).
Williams, S., Simon, D., Holmberg, J., and Slater, K. (September 2021 b). Evaluation of what? And for whom? Tensions in transdisciplinary evaluation. Panel workshop presented at International Transdisciplinary Conference 2021 (online).
Williams, S. (2021, June). Transformational Techno: Explorations in art, politics, sustainability, and transformation. Live performance and talk at Transformations Conference 2021 (online).
Vannar, S., Ahlborg, H., Williams, S. (2020, September). Climate justice: What if indigenous peoples had a say in capitalist decision-making? Panelist at Chalmers Transition Talks (online).
Williams, S. (2020, September). Reflection and Integration. Facilitated reflection sessions Methods and Ethics in Arctic Transformative Research hosted by Instituted for Advanced Sustainability Studies (online).
Williams, S. (2020, August). Measuring sustainability: Assessing the Energy Futures Lab. Paper presented at International Sustainability Transitions Conference 2020 (online).
Williams, S. & Robinson, J. (2019, September). Assessing Sustainability Transition Impacts. Paper presented at International Transdisciplinary Research 2019. Gothenburg University.
Robinson, J., Williams, S., Poland, B., Teelucksingh, C., Wong, W., El-Diraby, T., Slater, K., Pajouhesh, P., Benzakin, G. (2019, September). FutureTalks: Getting Co-Production Right (and Wrong). Paper presented at International Transdisciplinary Research 2019. Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Doyon, A. & Williams, S. (2019, June). Facilitating Transitions in Post-colonial Resource Economies. Paper presented at International Sustainability Transitions 2019. Carleton University, Ottawa, ON.