Dr Debbie Hopkins

Associate Professor in Human Geography

About

Dr Hopkins is a human geographer and environmental social scientist. Her research is concerned with decarbonising transport and energy systems, social dimensions of climate change, and geographies of waste. Dr Hopkins’ research involves interdisciplinary collaborations including Energy Cultures (2013-2016), the Centre for Innovation and Energy Demand (CIED; 2016-2018) and the Centre for Research on Energy Demand Solutions (2019-ongoing). More recently, Debbie’s research has included justice dimensions of transitions to low-carbon futures. Debbie is currently completing research funded by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Oxford Fell Fund to investigate mobile labour practices and experiences in light of increasing vehicle automation. Debbie is Associate Editor (transport and mobilities) of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, and co-editor of two books: Low-Carbon Mobility Transitions (GoodFellow, 2016) and Transitions in Energy Demand: The emergence, diffusion and impact of low-carbon innovation (Routledge, 2018).

Expertise

  • Climate change
  • Low carbon transitions
  • Sustainable mobility
  • Mobility justice
  • Labour
  • Freight transport
  • Urban waste
  • Innovation

Media experience

Debbie has worked with print and radio media in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the UK. Her research has been reported in major publications including the Guardian (UK) and the Washington Post. Debbie produced a monthly column for the Otago Daily Times (Aotearoa NZ) from 2014 to 2016.

Languages

English