Bram Verhees (1977) is a postdoctoral researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology's School of Innovation Sciences. He holds a PhD in Innovation Sciences and a Master's degree in Technology & Society. He graduated cum laude from Eindhoven University of Technology's faculty of Technology Management (now: Technological Innovation Sciences) where he completed the Technology and Innovation Policy for Advanced Economies program, focusing on sustainable energy technology. Research for his Master's thesis was done at the Dutch energy research institute ECN, where Bram developed an input-based model that illustrates the consequences of Dutch households' future energy consumption patterns on carbon dioxide emissions.

Subsequently, Bram worked as a freelance science journalist, writing articles on popular scientific subjects for TU/e newspaper 'Cursor' and alumni magazine 'Matrix' as well as national magazines like 'De Ingenieur' and 'Techno!'.

Bram attained his PhD working on a research project embedded in the Dutch Knowledge Network on System Innovation (KSI) - a government-funded initiative aimed at building a knowledge infrastructure regarding system innovations and socio-technical transitions. Bram's research focused on the complex relationship between cultural legitimacy and innovation journeys and took the development of civilian nuclear power in The Netherlands and Britain as a case study.

Currently, he is researching the mechanisms and dynamics of the Strategic Niche Management (SNM) concept of 'protective space' in a bilateral (NWO/ESRC funded) project called 'the politics of low carbon innovation'. It is a joint effort with the University of Sussex' Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) which investigates solar PV, offshore wind power, and carbon capture and storage in Dutch and British contexts. It is headed by dr. Rob Raven and dr. Adrian Smith.

Bram is a member of the Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies (ECIS), the Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S) and an alumnus of the Dutch Graduate Research School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC). His areas of interest are social movement studies, cultural sociology, cultural studies, history of technology, science & technology studies, innovation studies.

Publications

Articles (refereed)

Geels, F.W, Verhees, B. (2011). 'Cultural legitimacy and framing struggles in innovation journeys: A cultural-performative perspective and a case study of Dutch nuclear energy (1945-1986)'. Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change, doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2010.12.004.

Articles (non-refereed; conference contributions etc.)

Verhees, B., Raven, R., Veraart, F., Smith, A., Kern, F. (2012). 'Interrogating Protective Space: Shielding, Nurturing and Empowering Dutch Solar PV'. Working document.

Verhees, B., Monaghan, A. (2009). 'A Cultural Legitimacy Perspective on Transitions: From Burial to Cremation in the United Kingdom'. Commissioned paper for 1st European Conference on Sustainability Transitions (Amsterdam)

Verhees, B. 2008. 'Exploring the Cultural Dynamics of Transitions: the Struggle over Nuclear Legitimacy in The Netherlands'. Contribution for EASST/4S conference (Rotterdam)

Doctoral thesis

Verhees, B. (2012) Cultural legitimacy and Innovation Journeys: A New Perspective Applied to Dutch and British Nuclear Power. Eindhoven University of Technology.

Masters thesis

Verhees, B. 2005. Efficient en School Fossiel: Complementair of Contraproductief? Eindhoven University of Technology.