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University of Oxford
School of Geography and the Environment

 School of Geography and the Environment

IGS: Current and Recent Graduate Research

Malek Al-Chalabi

Socio/technical research of personal transport use

Supervisor(s):
Contact Info:

Academic Profile

Malek is currently a doctoral researcher at the Environmental Change Institute and Transport Studies Unit within the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. Malek brings experience from the Stockholm Environment Institute, Martone Construction, Groundwork Somerville, and the IMPES (Integrated Multiphase Environmental Systems) Laboratory. Malek has an MSc from Imperial College in environmental technology with an energy policy specialization and a BSc from Tufts University in civil engineering. He was also a Tisch Scholar at the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.

Selected Awards
  • Best presentation award at the Sustainable futures Tyndall-SCI International PhD Conference (March 2011)
  • Presidential Award for Citizenship and Public Service
  • The Earle F. Littleton Scholarship
  • Lt. Commander Robert James Manning Memorial Prize
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Current Research

Malek's interdisciplinary research revolves around the following themes:

  • environmental behaviours/lifestyles: examining how individuals, households, or actors conceptualize their energy use
  • technological transitions: evaluating how technological transitions come about and how social/cultural norms influence technological transitions
  • sustainable cities, mobilities, transportation, and environmental policy: exploring how we move from where we are today to where we want to be (developed and developing contexts)
Doctoral Research

Malek's research examines how households and individual actors conceptualize their energy use. Building on the socio technical, environmental psychology, and behavioural literature, this doctoral research seeks to understand the social aspects of energy use and household energy behaviours.

Teaching

Malek has taught at the post graduate and graduate levels on energy, environment, climate change, and transport. At Oxford, he has taught transport on the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy option, MSc in Sustainable Urban Development, and is scheduled to teach on other modules in the 2011-2012 academic year. He also co supervisors MSc students on subjects revolving around his research interests.

Publications

Conference Presentations (Select):
  • Travel and Truth: International Research Conference, Wolfson College, Oxford (Sept 2011)
  • Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference Annual International Conference (August 2011)
  • Oxford Energy Futures Conference (June 2011)
  • Sustainable futures Tyndall - SCI International PhD Conference (March 2011)
  • Cities of the Future - University of Oxford Industry Forum, St Hilda's College, Oxford (March 2011)
  • Travel Cultures Seminar, Department of English, University of Oxford (February 2011)
  • Sustainable Energy Seminar, Imperial College (January 2011)
Media Outlets (select):

If you would like a detailed CV, please e-mail Malek in the first instance.