Megan Pickles

Profile

Academic Background: 

Current Position: Provisional PhD Candidate, funded by the Energy Demand Research Centre in the Institute for Transport Studies, focussing on governance of energy demand reduction in the transport sector.

Previous degree: MSc Sustainability in Transport, University of Leeds. 

• Key modules: Environmental Policy and Governance, Sustainable Spatial Planning and Analysis,
• Dissertation: Research on how participatory methods such as Photovoice can involve diverse communities in local plan making for transport decarbonisation. 

My research focuses on developing governance frameworks for reducing energy demand in the transport sector, examining the intersections of environmental justice, participatory action research, and cross-sectoral and inter-district collaboration. Building on my MSc, I explore how grassroots approaches and collaborative governance can inform regional, place-based transport decarbonisation policies, while also delivering co-benefits across other sectors. I am particularly interested in how these approaches can promote policy alignment and reinforce the importance of fairness and equity in decarbonisation efforts.

In addition to my academic work, I have gained valuable experience working in grassroots social enterprises, which deepened my understanding and appreciation of the power of community action and participatory decision-making. This experience has shaped my commitment to interdisciplinary approaches and inclusive actions in transport policy.

Research interests

1. Governance of decarbonisation
2. Environmental justice in transport systems
3. Place-based approaches to decarbonisation
4. The role of scale and policy in transport decarbonisation
5. Participatory methods in decision-making