After having gained his BSc and PhD degrees from Imperial College (London) and performing post-doctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin, Barron spent eight years as a Professor of Chemistry at Harvard University before moving to Rice University in 1995 where he was the Welch Chair of Chemistry. In 2014 he was appointed the Sêr Cymru Chair of Low Carbon Energy and Environment at Swansea University, and founded the Energy Safety Research Institute. He is a co-founder of C-Zero  that brings innovative companies developing new ways to decarbonize industries and undertake economically viable CCUS. 

He is the author of over 550 publications, 50 Patents, 25 books, and has graduated 32 PhD students. His research involves fundamental problems in energy and mitigation of climate change. He is a serial entrepreneur, having founded companies globally in energy, water and environment, and is a NED for multiple companies. 

Prof. Barron is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the recipient of several awards, including the Star of Asia International Award, the World Technology Award (the same year as Steve Jobs) and in 2009 Barron was appointed as the Prince of Wales Visiting Innovator.