Alan is passionate about creating impact through research, and engaging the public with his research, to develop vibrant and liveable cities that are centred on people and innovation, rather than planned just around cars and the harmful effects these can bring.
Previously, Alan was a senior technologist working for major FTSE100 companies, as well as Transport for London on innovative uses of data from their iBus (Automatic Vehicle Location and ‘Countdown’) System to improve London-wide bus fleet detection, giving vehicles priority at signal junctions and reducing bus stop dwell times. He has also worked with local bus companies on reducing vehicle emissions, and with MIT and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) on assessing the impact of in-vehicle systems tasks on drivers’ workload and the coping strategies they adopt as a consequence.
He holds a first degree from Imperial College London, and an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Southampton, as well as business and technology qualifications. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE) and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and has won awards for Science Communications and in Research Presentation. His public engagement work includes organising as well as presenting at festivals and exhibitions, including the Cheltenham Science Festival, Winchester Science Centre, Bestival and Glastonbury music festivals, and the Royal Society’s Summer Exhibition. He champions an art-and-science cultural connections network in Southampton, and coordinates the Future Cities Community Hub as part of the University’s Public Engagement with Research network.
