Jonathan Aylen

Jonathan Aylen is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research within Alliance Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester. His career spans roles as an economist, engineer, innovation researcher, and environmental manager. He has held leadership positions, including President of the Newcomen Society for the History of Engineering and Technology (2019–2022) and Vice-President (2016). He contributed to the Research Excellence Framework 2021 sub-panel for History and served as an Associate Editor of R&D Management (2014–2016).

His research focuses on four interdisciplinary areas: R&D management, history of technology, wildfires, and climate change. Key achievements include co-authoring Ribbon of Fire on US-Europe steel technology transfer and contributing to wildfire risk analysis funded by NERC. He has advised industries like Corus (now Tata Steel) and presented at international conferences on topics like mill performance and rolls.

Aylen has won awards, including the Williams Prize for materials science (2007) and a Best Paper Prize (2011). His work influences policy, notably in wildfire management and UK historical technology studies. He has collaborated with institutions like the National Railway Museum and the Forestry Commission, addressing societal challenges through interdisciplinary research.