Ian is an independent researcher who lives in the English Lake District. He was a senior lecturer at the University of Cumbria from 2002-2021.
Amongst other qualifications (such as a Mountain Leader's Award and MA in Creative Writing), he has a BA in Economics, an MA in International Studies and an interdisciplinary Creative Writing PhD from Lancaster University.
Before working in Cumbria, he was at the University of Wolverhampton and Staffordshire University. His most influential paper was The end of Peak Oil? Why this topic is still relevant despite recent denials, part of his research into resource depletion, in parallel with work on sustainability and US popular culture.
Over the past thirty years, he has been a fencing coach, creative writing teacher and programme leader for BA Business and MBA. Most recently he has led the Aspiring Leaders' Programme in partnership with Brathay Trust, and he is currently researching a paper due in 2023.
When not working on research, he enjoys photography (often of the Lake District fells), works on creative writing projects or drums in a South Lakeland samba reggae band.