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 School of Geography and the Environment

University of Oxford

 The Transport Studies Unit

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James Macmillen

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James Macmillen

Academic Profile

James Macmillen is a geographer and joined the Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford, in December 2008. His work sits at the intersection of mobility, public policy and futures studies, with particular interests in scenario planning, public participation and policy learning. Prior to this appointment, James was a senior research assistant in the School of Geography, University of Southampton. He has also held applied research positions at The Health Foundation and the UK Legal Services Commission.

James has worked on several high-profile research projects, funded by the European Commission, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and The Health Foundation. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the NECTAR and UTSG research networks. He also chairs the YoungTSU research forum at the University of Oxford and jointly leads the UK-based Forge research network. In 2011, James was awarded the Royal Geographical Society (PERG) Dissertation Prize for his critique of the 'best practice' notion in policy learning.

Current Research

1. Sustainable urban mobility in 2030

In conjunction with the Universities of Leeds, Manchester, UEA and Salford, this research seeks to develop and explore a range of potential urban futures for UK cities, with a particular focus on improving the quality of the urban environment for walking and cycling. The project involves the creation of internally consistent mobility scenarios, sensitive to heterogeneous societal, economic and environmental priorities, the development of multimedia narratives for use with stakeholders and the public, and the development of innovative multi-criteria analysis methods to assess the likely implications of alternative futures. The research is funded by a £1.4m grant from the EPRSC (Ref: EP/G000468/1). Please see Visions of the role of walking and cycling in 2030 and Visions 2030 for more information.

2. Optimal policy design and implementation

This research is designed to significantly improve the effectiveness and political acceptability of political interventions in the European transport system. It examines causes of policy failure in complex mobility systems across the European Union and seeks to develop concrete processes that mitigate the likelihood and severity of policies' unintended effects. The research thus includes a detailed exploration of synergetic and contradictory interrelationships between existing and potential policy measures and offers in-depth guidance on policy packaging methodology. The research is being carried out in conjunction with academic partners based in Norway, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic, and is funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme. Please see OPTIC - Optimal Policies for Transport in Combination for more information.

3. Policy learning and 'best practice'

This research critically examines the prevalence of the 'best practice' notion in contemporary urban policy. Following a critical realist ontology, it argues that the notion is characterised by significant conceptual ambiguity and diverse functionality, variously attributable to the notion's latent causal powers and the antagonistic, intractable nature of contemporary policy conflict. It further seeks to identify the implications of contemporary thinking in relation to the selection of spatial and organisational foci for policy learning activities in public policy, and is generously funded by the School of Geography, University of Southampton, and the TSU, University of Oxford.

4. Pathways to low-carbon mobility

In conjunction with the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, this research seeks to comprehensively integrate the most up-to-date thinking on mobility and governance regimes and to develop viable potential pathways for a sociotechnical transition to low-carbon mobility. It critically considers the major systemic elements of global mobility, their interrelationships, and progressive policy options across institutional contexts.

Teaching

James teaches on the School of Geography and the Environment FHS course 'Transport', lecturing on mobility theory and governance, and supervising undergraduate tutorials. He is also a guest lecturer and examiner on the Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation run by the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. Outside Oxford, James also runs an annual 'masterclass' on sustainable mobility for the Prince of Wales's Graduate Fellowship in Architecture and Urbanism, London.

Publications

Journal Articles
Review Articles and Reports
Conference Papers / Invited Presentations
  • Macmillen, J. (2011) 'Best practice' and sustainable mobility: a realist critique. Royal Geographical Society-IBG Annual International Conference, London, 31st August - 2nd September.
  • Macmillen, J., Givoni, M., Newton, R. and Tight, M. (2011) Participatory planning and futures development: active travel scenarios for the UK, Royal Geographical Society-IBG Annual International Conference, London, 31st August - 2nd September.
  • Macmillen, J. (2011) 'Futurity, democracy and participatory planning', EPRSC-ESRC Energy Systems, Equity and Vulnerability Workshop, Durham University, 28th March.
  • Macmillen, J. (2011) 'Policy learning', presentation to TSU Researchers' Buzz [Governance], University of Oxford, UK, 25th February.
  • Macmillen, J. (2010) 'Strategic planning for cycling: Oxford and beyond', WSP Group (Sweden) UK Study Tour, University of Oxford, 26th October.
  • Givoni, M., Macmillen, J. and Banister, D. (2010) 'From individual policies to policy packaging', European Transport Conference, Glasgow, 11-13th October.
  • Ramjerdi, F., Fearnley, N., Givoni, M. and Macmillen, J. (2010) 'Handling risk and irreversibility in transport interventions', European Transport Conference, Glasgow, 11-13th October.
  • Gudmundsson, H., Sørensen, C., ... Macmillen, J. et al. (2010) 'Limits to, and unintended effects of, transport policies', European Transport Conference, Glasgow, 11-13th October.
  • Macmillen, J. (2010) 'Reflecting on 'best practice': implications for active travel', 7th Annual Cycling and Society Symposium, Oxford, 6th September.
  • Tight, M., Banister, D., ... Macmillen, J. et al. (2009) 'Visions of the role of walking and cycling in 2030', Walk21 Conference, New York University, New York, NY, 7th October.
  • Tight, M., Banister, D., ... Macmillen, J. et al. (2009) 'Visions of the role of walking and cycling in 2030', Royal Geographical Society-IBG Annual International Conference, Manchester, 26th August.
  • Macmillen, J. (2009) 'Sustainable transport for the UK?' Invited lecture to: EMBARQ Centre for Sustainable Transport, World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C., 22nd June.
  • Macmillen, J. (2009) 'The practise of best practice', Euro-NECTAR Conference, School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, 18th June.
  • Macmillen, J. (2009) Questioning 'best practice', YoungTSU Research Forum, OUCE, Oxford, UK, 8th June.
  • Macmillen, J., Givoni, M. and Banister, D. (2009) 'Visions2030: developing alternative futures, Joint TSU-Finland Futures Research Centre Workshop, OUCE, Oxford, UK, 12th June.
  • Macmillen, J. and Givoni, M. (2009) 'Evaluating active travel: a challenge to prevailing frameworks', Velo-City Conference on 'Recycling Cities', Brussels, 13th May.
  • Pinch, S., Macmillen, J., Reimer, S. and Sunley, P. (2008) 'Cognitive mapping of creative practice in UK design agencies', Regional Studies Association Research Network, Measuring and Understanding the Creative Economy, University of Southampton, 24th September.
  • Sunley, P., Macmillen, J., Pinch, S. and Reimer, S. (2008) 'Growing design: design consultancies in three English city-regions', Regional Studies Association International Conference, Vysoká Skola Ekonomická (University of Economics), Prague, Czech Republic, 28th May.