Steven Barrett

Steven Barrett (@StevenRHBarrett) is part of MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is director of the Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment and leads the MIT Electric Aircraft Initiative. Steven is also a Visiting Professor at University College London's Energy Institute. Before joining MIT in 2010 he was a University Lecturer at Cambridge University, where he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in aerospace engineering. Steven has written approximately 80 journal publications and is current or former supervisor of more than 50 graduate theses. Steven's current teaching at MIT includes the undergraduate jet and rocket propulsion course, and a graduate-level course on aerospace, energy, and the environment. He has contributed to STEM outreach activities since 2003.
The aim of Steven's research is to make aviation cleaner and quieter. This includes developing low emissions and noise propulsion technologies for aircraft, improving scientific understanding of the atmospheric impacts of aircraft pollution, and evaluating the sustainability of biofuels and electric aircraft. Steven also has interests in ground vehicle electrification and reducing pollution from ground vehicles. His work in these areas spans fundamental technology development through to environmental policy assessment.