- Which research project are you currently working on the most?
I am currently researching on the acceleration of energy and mobility transitions, part of the NTRANS (Norwegian Energy transitions research center). My research is triggered by the puzzles of how we can accelerate the much needed low-carbon transitions, and how we can better understand the complexity, barriers and opportunities and potential trade-offs involved in rapid transitions and inclusive and just transitions. I explore why acceleration occurs in some sectors and countries but not in others, and what role technology, policy, industry, and finance play in this process.
- What do you hope to find out?
I aim to understand how we can influence the pace of low-carbon transitions and identify the multiple pathways forward. Specifically, I want to explore the governance structures needed to facilitate this process. I also hope to develop methods to detect certain interventions or tipping points/thresholds that can trigger system transformation and to gain a deeper understanding of these dynamics.
- Why is this important?
Because our society is currently facing multiple social, political and environmental challenges. The particular urgency of these challenges, for example, climate crisis, is striking, and the window is closing as the world is not on track to reach the Paris Agreement goals. As a result, global temperatures can reach 2.8°C by the end of the century with disastrous results such as more frequent and intense heatwaves, storms, and other extreme weather events, droughts, famines, and loss of biodiversity which would affect ecosystems and the services they provide, such as food and water.
Addressing these intertwined challenges require fundamental and system transformation. And my research contributes to understanding how we reached our current state and create lock in, particularly how our mobility and energy systems have become so material and resource-intensive, driven by the underpinning technological change, infrastructural change, market, regulations and social changes, such as mass production and consumption.
- Who are you collaborating with?
I collaborate with researchers from various disciplines, including history of technology studies, economic geography, STS studies, policy studies, political economy studies, business studies etc. I also collaborate intensively with international scholars, particularly in the Netherlands and the UK, to investigate the ongoing patterns of the historical industry transitions driven by different techno-economic paradigm shift, and how these historical insights can inform us on the ongoing and future transitions. Additionally, I collaborate with colleagues from ecological studies to investigate potential positive tipping points to accelerate the needed system transitions.
- What do you look for when choosing collaborators?
I look for collaborators who share similar interests but have complementary expertise and skills. The complexity of the topics I study requires an interdisciplinary approach, so I value open-minded researchers and practitioners who are eager to collaborate and explore intellectual boundaries. I particularly enjoy working with people from diverse academic, professional and cultural backgrounds, as this diversity often leads to inspiring and thought-provoking collaborations.
What other research projects are you involved in?
I am also involved in projects focused on tipping points and pathways for deep transitions, where I collaborate with colleagues to test whether there are thresholds to accelerate socio-technical transitions, and how to detect them. And this is important for policy and finance interventions.
I also work on the research projects focus on emerging economies, such as China, to understand how they can go beyond the previous economic catch up narrative but seeking for alternatives for more sustainability oriented development. This includes exploring the necessary institutional changes, as well as the capacities and governance structures are needed for such a transition.
- What do you think is the most interesting aspect about being a researcher?
The freedom to explore things, and the possibilities to reach out to people from different background. The diversity in perspectives and the great potentials to create something new are incredibly exciting. I also value the opportunities to bring knowledge from research into the society and policy, or even to directly collaborate with the practitioners to contribute to real changes. Beyond this, what is particularly attracting me is to try to bring more research to inform evidence based decision making, as well as to bridge different communities.
- What is the most common question you get about your work?
The most common question I get perhaps is about the nature of my research and why I am interested in it, what kind of social impact that it is likely to generate.