Hiroki Shin

Hiroki Shin is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Birmingham, specializing in the History of Energy and Environmental Humanities. He holds a 125th Anniversary Fellowship and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024). His research focuses on modern energy regimes, financial systems, transport, and their environmental and cultural impacts. He collaborates with museums and cultural institutions globally, emphasizing public history and decarbonization strategies.

Education:

• PhD in History, St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge
• MA in Area Studies (British Studies), University of Tokyo
• BA in Area Studies and International Politics, University of Tokyo

Research Interests:

Shin examines energy history, environmental history, and modern economic systems, particularly in Britain and Japan. Current projects include the roles of cultural institutions in climate adaptation and decarbonization. He leads interdisciplinary initiatives like the AHRC-funded Future Island-Island Project and serves as a general editor for MIT Press’s Critical Energy Studies series.

Publications & Projects:

Recent works include The Age of Paper (Cambridge UP, 2025) on Britain’s transition to paper currency and articles on Fukushima’s pre-nuclear energy landscape. He explores decarbonization through exhibitions and motion films, collaborating with museums across the UK, Europe, and Asia.

Awards & Grants:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024)
• Senior Fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution (2021–2022)
• Co-investigator on AHRC-funded Material Cultures of Energy (2012–2015)

Labs/Teams:

Collaborates with the Science Museum London, National Railway Museum, and global cultural institutions. Leads the Communicating Material Cultures of Energy project, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on energy communication.