How do policymakers use technical information when crafting energy and climate policy?
Laurent Lioté, Postdoctoral Associate
Laurent Liote is determined to find out. As a Climate Policy Center Postdoctoral Associate, he’s hoping his research findings will be translated into action that will improve collaborations between academic researchers and those making policy.
Over the last 18 months, Liote has been examining how U.S. congressional staffers working on energy policy use technical information, especially engineering evidence. By interviewing staffers working for Democrat, Republican and Independent representatives and senators, he hopes to understand how they use technical information when drafting legislation.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with the Climate Policy Center on organizing and delivering the 2025 and 2026 MIT Senior Congressional Staff Seminars,” he says. "At these three-day, on-campus seminars, we brought together MIT faculty and congressional staffers to discuss technologies and strategies for responding to energy and climate challenges. Working on these seminars has been a highlight of my time at MIT so far.”
Liote began his career studying anthropology, which taught him the importance of looking at issues from different points of view. He then earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the London School of Economics and worked in consulting, helping industry clients adopt new technologies to improve their operations and respond to government regulations. At the University College London, he earned a PhD in public policy focused on how the U.K. government uses engineering evidence in drafting renewable energy policy.
“There are a lot of conversations internationally around the role and impact of science and engineering advice for policy at the moment; and I’m just happy to be a part of it,” he says.
Aside from his work, Laurent is also really enjoying his time in Cambridge and Boston. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people at MIT and beyond and trying to make the most of what the city has to offer (shout out to the MFA!). Honorable mention for those runs along the Charles too. Great route to unwind after work.”
Laurent Lioté
Postdoctoral Associate
Laurent’s research aims to advance sustainability transitions by addressing barriers to collaboration among engineers in industry, academic researchers, and policymakers. He works jointly with the MIT Climate Policy Center, the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium, and the MIT Energy Initiative.
