Biography
After Studying Mechanical Engineering and Production Methods at University, Dr Pippa Boyd worked in industry as an engineer. Part of her time involved managing and designing changing organisations and work practices. She then became a consultant in change management and organisational design roles.
This combined interest in engineering, technology and change led her to study Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology and to complete her PhD in sustainable innovation and uptake. She went on to lecture Construction Technology, with her academic focus being the socio-technical study of sustainable technology uptake with interests in sustainable development and technology, the diffusion of Innovation, energy in buildings and mainstreaming sustainability.
Last year has given Pippa exposure to funding landscapes around energy in buildings, communities and infrastructure. She has joined the UCEM Globe academic team to develop and deliver the new Masters in Sustainable Built Environments, with responsibility for the Materials, Technology and Processes module.
Appointments
Integrated Environmental Systems IES): Grant Proposal Writing Team, 2022 – 2023 – Developing bids for EU and UK funded projects in the fields of energy modelling, digital twins and decarbonisation road maps for communities, building owners and County Councils. Particular interests in the IES Intelligent Communities Lifecycle tool and decarbonisation roadmaps for communities and regions. Part of the Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd (IES) grant proposal writing team. Developing bids for EU and UK funded projects in the fields of energy modelling, digital twins and decarbonisation road maps for communities, building owners and County Councils. Particular interests in the IES Intelligent Communities Lifecycle tool and decarbonisation roadmaps for communities and regions.
University of Reading: Lecturer in Building Technology, 2019 – 2022 – Lecturer in Building Technology Researching the diffusion of innovative technology and the impact of its specification on building projects
University of Reading: Teaching Fellow 2016 – 2019 – Building Technology
University of Reading: Doctoral Researcher, 2012 – 2016 – The diffusion of BIPV in the construction sector: accommodations to building design and practices in the uptake of low carbon technologies
University of Reading: Research Fellow, 2010 – 2012 – Mainstreaming Sustainability Interest areas: Sustainable Development and Technology Diffusion of Innovation Mainstreaming Sustainability
Independent Consultant (Brussels and UK), 1992 – 2010 – Project management, training and development, facilitator and mentor – Design, development and implementations of change management and empowerment programme
Industry, 1981 – 1990 – Production Manager and Engineer, Project Engineer, Liaison Engineer, Production Manager and Engineer, Project Engineer, Liaison Engineer. Various roles and responsibilities over different plants and locations
External Examiner for BSc (Hons) Construction Engineering Management at Northumbria University
Qualifications
Memberships
External Academic Responsibility
Reviewer of the following academic publications/conferences:
- Construction Management and Economics
- ARCOM (Association of Researchers in Construction Management)
- Building Research and Information (BR&I) Journal
- IPCC Special report (1.5 Degree Climate Change)
- West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference
- Elsevier Books (Energy) 2017
- ARCOM (Association of Researchers in Construction Management) committee member
Part of the Globe academic team designing and delivering UCEM’s new MSC in Innovation in Sustainable Built Environments. Using my experience in construction technology, renewable energy and sustainable innovation to develop an integrated, cross disciplinary and cohesive program, specialising in innovative materials, technology and processes.
- Sustainable development and technology
- The diffusion and uptake of Innovation
- Energy in buildings
- Mainstreaming sustainability
- The use of AI in academia
Centred around the practical implications and issues caused by the introduction of new technologies.
Publications
- Boyd, P., Coonick, C. (2018) ‘BIPV in Construction: the translation of products and systems into design and construction’ Information paper BRE National Solar Centre https://bregroup.com/expertise/energy/solar-research/
- Ismail, F.H., Shahrestani, M., Vahdati, M., Boyd, P. and Donyavi, S. (2021). Climate change and the energy performance of buildings in the future–A case study for prefabricated buildings in the UK. Journal of Building Engineering. 39, p.102285.
- Boyd, P and Schweber, L (2018) Unintended consequences: institutional artefacts, closure mechanisms and the performance gap. Building Research and Information. 46:1, pp. 10-22.
- Boyd, P, Larsen, G and Schweber, L (2015). The co-development of technology and new buildings: incorporating Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics, Construction Management and Economics 33 (5-6), pp. 349-360.
- Boyd, P Diffusion of Sustainable Technology: From Bicycles to Buildings – the uptake of low carbon technology in construction, a SCOT study’ (2016).
- Boyd, P. and Larsen, G.D. (2017). The uptake of BIPV within a project environment: the practicalities of integrating solar technologies into building projects. Advanced Building Skins 2017. 2-3 October, Bern, Switzerland
- Boyd P, Larsen, G.D. and Schweber, L. (2016) ‘How Did We Get Opaque Windows? – Mutual Constitution of Technology and the Built Environment’. CIB World Building Congress. 30 May- 03 June 2016, Tampere, Finland
- Boyd, P and Schweber, L (2016). Low carbon technologies and the performance gap: a view from the social construction of technology.” UserTech workshop. Performance gap, user practices and technology – What is the future research agenda. 05-06 April 2016, Horsens, Denmark.
- Boyd, P. and Schweber, L. (2015). Louvres, Fins and Windows: the co-development of BIPV and buildings, Sustainable Innovation 2015. 9-10 November 2015, Epsom, UK.
- Boyd, P., Larsen, G.D. and Schweber, L., (2014). Perspectives on the specification of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technology in construction projects. In: Raiden, A (Ed.) and Aboagye-Nimo, E (Ed.), Proceedings 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 153–62.
- Boyd P., Larsen, G.D., Schweber L, 2014 ‘SCOT in the Analysis of Building Integrated Photovoltaics in Construction’, SCOT Conference, Trondheim, Norway.
- Boyd, P., Larsen, G.D. and Schweber, L., 2014 ‘The Challenges of Accommodating New Technology in Construction’. CIB World Building Conference, 04-07 May 2014, Kandalama, Sri Lanka.
- Boyd, P. and Schweber, L. (2012) ‘Variations in the mainstreaming sustainability: a case study approach’, Proceedings of the 28th ARCOM Conference, 3 5 September 2012, Edinburgh, UK, pp. 1343-1354.
