Maksymilian KOCHANSKI (Poland)

Engineer Maksymilian is combining the use of technological advances and behavioural science to optimise energy systems for public buildings. His current research aims at minimising environmental impacts of energy systems thanks to the development and application of novel machine-learning tools.

Current position: PhD Student in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Warsaw University of Technology, Poland

Research focus: energy efficiency, usage of IT for optimising environmental impact of energy systems

During his studies, Maksymilian has been able to spend a substantial amount of time at international institutions, studying a semester apiece in the United States of America, Denmark, and Australia. Thanks to participation in the Green Talents programme, he also participated in a research stay at E.ON Energy Research Centre in RWTH Aachen University in Germany. During this time he has had the opportunity to carry out experiments exploring the use of sustainable energy: electronics, IT, and industrial design in virtual environments mirroring public buildings.


CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2014):

Warsaw University of Technology, Poland

Research focus: energy efficiency, including usage of IT for optimising environmental impact of energy systems

Engineer Maksymilian Kochanski is combining the use of technological advances and behavioural science to optimise energy systems for public buildings.

Despite being this year’s youngest Green Talents awardee, Maksymilian’s academic record is already impressive. He is currently a final-year MEng student in Sustainable Energy Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology in Poland. During his studies to date, he has been able to spend a substantial amount of time at international institutions, spending a semester apiece in the USA, Denmark and Australia. During this time he has had the opportunity to carry out experiments exploring the use of sustainable energy: electronics, IT and industrial design in virtual environments (such as a “living lab” at the Technical University of Denmark) mirroring public buildings. This first phase of research brought Maksymilian to the conclusion that, though valuable, even highly advanced energy-saving technology would not be able to bring about real change unless accompanied by a fundamental shift in energy-consumption behavioural patterns by the users.

His current research is, therefore, focused on “the development of three interdependent motivation strategies: financial strategy, gamification strategy and communication strategy”. All three aim to encourage more sustainable energy-usage. Maksymilian further explains: “I am seeking the synergy effect between the above-mentioned strategies thanks to integration of economics and engineering under the umbrella of gamification”. This is the concept of applying game thinking and mechanics in a non-game context, for greater user-engagement and as a motivation for problem-solving. Upon finishing his MSc, Maksymilian hopes to enrol in a PhD programme that will enable him to further develop “a new approach of integrating social sciences, including analysis of behavioural interventions, with engineering, including IT and energy systems optimisation”.

The jury valued Maksymilian’s record of testing his theories in practical experiments and his innovative approach to improving energy sustainability. They believe the Green Talents Forum will prove to be the perfect opportunity for Maksymilian to connect with other young scientists in the same field and gain fresh input as he starts the next phase of his research.