Stanford Center for Innovation
and Design Research (SCIDR)

The Stanford Center for Innovation and Design Research conducts an interdisciplinary research into sustainable, lifestyle-driven innovation at the Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as Doerr School of Sustainability. Grounded in the principles of design thinking and open innovation, the center aims to advance the theoretical and practical understanding of how innovation can be leveraged to foster sustainability across various dimensions of human activity throughout their lifespans. Our research agenda is premised on the recognition that sustainability challenges necessitate systemic shifts, integrating engineering advancements with behavioral, economic, and social transformations.

SCIDR’s mission is to explore the intersection of sustainability and human behavior, critically examining how innovation can be deployed to align lifestyle practices with environmental and social imperatives. We adopt an interdisciplinary research approach, engaging with scholars and practitioners from diverse fields including civil engineering, urban studies, design research, psychology, and innovation process research. This multidimensional perspective enables us to develop robust, theoretically grounded frameworks that inform both the creation of new technologies and the evolution of sustainable behaviors.

Areas of Research

Our research is organized around four primary themes, each addressing key aspects of sustainability through the lens of innovation and design.

Collaborations

In order to best meet the needs of our research collaborators, we begin by thoroughly
understanding their specific requirements. Through collaborative efforts,
we then design a customized program that will mutually benefit both parties.

Contact us

Contact us to learn more about and get involved with SCIDR.

Email: helloscidr@stanford.edu