Simon, Director of Gamos Ltd, is recognised for his contribution to international development and innovation. Over more than 40 years, Dr Batchelor has led the development of new and transformative ways to tackle challenges faced by people in developing countries through his research, influence on policy, and community action.
He has been the driving force behind many leading innovations, including projects to provide low-cost electric cooking, the scale-up of low-cost renewable energy, and the development and use of mobile money to drive economic growth.
Learning about his award, Dr Batchelor said: “I am grateful that this award honours the small contributions that I have made, alongside various colleagues, to addressing the enduring problem of climate change and poverty injustice. I especially appreciate that it acknowledges the need for forward-thinking and creativity if we are to achieve a just energy transition to net zero.”
Simon is currently working as a Research and Innovation Coordinator for MECS, an eight-year research programme funded by UKAid (FCDO) that is laying the foundations for an accelerated transition to clean, electric cooking on a global scale.
The MECS programme is led by the Sustainable Transitions: Energy, Environment and Resilience Centre (STEER), within the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. One of the core objectives of STEER is to work with partners across the world, from decision-makers to energy-poor communities, to make the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 a reality.