[citation needed] Baldwin’s main contributions as a research scientist pertain to two related fields of physics: the use of laser techniques (in particular the generation of vacuum ultraviolet radiation <200 nm) for the precision measurement of atoms and molecules; and the use of laser cooling to trap and manipulate metastable helium atoms to study fundamental quantum physics and for precision measurement.
[citation needed] Baldwin has published over 100 refereed publications in experimental atomic, molecular and optical physics, as well as over 200 conference papers.
[citation needed] He was the first Australian to chair the International Council on Quantum Electronics from 2002 to 2005, overseeing the premier world laser conference series IQEC.
[4] This annual event comprises meetings between hundreds of scientists and politicians and is supported by Federal government funding.
[9] In 2015, he was appointed as a member of the Socio-Economic Modelling Advisory Committee to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission.
Following the announcement of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission in South Australia in February 2015, Baldwin told the ABC:"Australia is an energy rich country... we have 40 per cent of the worlds uranium stock, so it makes enormous sense for us to look at to replacing our fossil fuels with renewables and also with the prospect of using our vast quantities of nuclear power.
"[11]In June 2015 Baldwin told the Science Show on ABC Radio National that "the use of nuclear power to generate electricity is going to be carbon free".
"Baldwin also commented on the changing nature of the electricity market in Australia, and pointed to some uncertainty around the economics of nuclear power.