David is Professor of Sustainable Transitions & Political Economy at the Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) of Lancaster University. His research focuses on societal transformations towards sustainability, with a specific thematic focus on urban mobility and associated infrastructures, and special geographical interest in China, its policy of 'ecological civilisation', and its growing global influence, which he has been studying since 2007. 

David leads the research theme at LEC on 'Science FOR the Anthropocene' (S4A) - exploring interdisciplinary research that goes beyond science identifying the problems of the present ('science OF the Anthropocene') towards a paradigm shift in how science is done to be adequate for this moment of transformation. In this role, he also hosts the S4A podcast 'Learning to Fly'. 

He is currently completing a new book exploring and advocating for a 'civilisational turn' in the social sciences, focusing on the question of how best to understand - and engage with - the impact of a rising China on sustainability transformation.