Marco Dean

Dr. Marco Dean is a Lecturer in Engineering and Education at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (IOE), specifically within the Education, Practice & Society department. He holds a PhD in Infrastructure Planning from UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning and has over a decade of teaching experience across undergraduate and graduate programs in transport planning, project management, and sustainability. His research focuses on infrastructure planning, participatory decision-making, and sustainable urban governance, with notable contributions to multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methodologies for evaluating transport megaprojects. He has authored or co-authored over 30 academic papers and contributed to EU-funded research projects. Dean is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has served as an editor for journals like Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. His work bridges engineering education and societal impact, emphasizing holistic approaches to infrastructure development.

Education:

• BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering (University of Udine, Italy)
• MSc in Infrastructure Planning (UCL Bartlett School of Planning)
• PhD in Planning (UCL Bartlett School of Planning)

Research Interests:

Dr. Dean’s work explores participatory methods in infrastructure appraisal, particularly through MCA frameworks. He investigates how decision-making processes can integrate diverse stakeholder perspectives while addressing sustainability and equity. His studies often analyze large-scale transport projects in Europe and the UK, focusing on their economic, environmental, and social impacts. Key themes include:

• Ethical considerations in infrastructure timelines
• Policy-led MCA applications
• Infrastructure interdependencies
• Scenario-based planning for urban resilience

Awards & Affiliations:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019–present)
• Editor for Urban, Planning and Transport Research Journal
• Reviewer for multiple transportation and urban studies journals
• Contributions to EU Horizon 2020 projects and UK National Infrastructure Planning initiatives

Teaching & Leadership:

Dean leads modules in UCL’s MSc in Engineering and Education, including Practice Innovation and Leadership, and supervises student dissertations. His teaching integrates research-based education principles, emphasizing practical skills in engineering project analysis and ethical decision-making. From 2020–2022, he contributed to the MSc Infrastructure Planning program at the Bartlett School of Planning.

Professional Activities:

He serves as a mentor and assessor at the UCL Arena Centre for Research-Based Education and has advised organizations like the European Investment Bank and HM Treasury on infrastructure projects. His work often addresses SDGs 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities), and 4 (Quality Education).