Gareth Haslam received a BSc in Physics from the University of Durham (UK) in 2006 and then received an EPSRC scholarship to study for an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge (UK). During the Master’s degree, Haslam studied sustainable energy, innovation and technology policy before working with Save the Children UK on his dissertation project of implementing energy efficiency in office buildings. In an attempt to contribute to technical progress in implementing a transition to low carbon vehicles, he started his PhD research in the Department of Materials Science, also at the University of Cambridge. This research focused on developing new materials for use in hydrogen fuel cells as a way of improving their prospects for commercialization. During this time he also held a summer JSPS fellowship at the Department of Complexity Science, University of Tokyo (Japan). Outside of the lab he was also involved with Engineers Without Borders UK for 2 years, working with the overseas placements team.

Whilst concluding his PhD research he became interested in understanding the broader technical and policy challenges facing low-carbon vehicles. He will be investigating this area as part of the Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies programme at UNU-IAS.