PhD researcher Dotun Olowoporoku visits Cornwall Air Quality Forum

Following the successful presentation at the 10th AQMRC and Environment Protection UK Annual Conference held in Bristol on 21 February, 2008. Dotun was invited as a guest speaker at Partnership Board of the Cornwall Air Quality Forum (CAQF) held on 27 March. The meeting is comprised of the five Cornish district councils, Cornwall County Council and Cornwall College. At the meeting, he gave a talk on ‘Delivering Air Quality Objectives through the Local Transport Plan’. It provided the opportunity to present the key findings from the first round of questionnaires to a broad range of stakeholders who are responsible for steering the air quality management agenda at the local level. Dotun's research presentations are available here.

Tim on expert panel at Great Environment Briefing

Well over 450 people attended the The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Great Environment Briefing at Reading Town Hall on Wednesday 9 April – with another 100+ watching via live webcast.
The expert panel included Tim Chatterton from AQMRC along with Dist. Professor Roland Clift of Surrey University, Professor Peter Matthews (talking on Water Quality), Professor John Twiddell (on Energy) and Jeff Cooper (on Waste). The event was chaired by Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, CBE., FRS
Following 15 minute presentations from the panel members, the briefing then held a wide ranging question and answer session (with question from the floor and via the internet from the webcast). Issues covered included diversion of agricultural resources to meat and biofuel production, encouragement of renewable energy, how to change people’s behaviour, purchasing art versus other carbon offsetting schemes, localisation of economic and cultural activities, problems with Fractional Reserve Banking systems, how deaths from air pollution are calculated and population control strategies. So a wide range of issues was covered – of interest both to engineers and non-engineers.

South African visitors take home air quality messages from UK study tour

The South African delegation were in the UK during the week beginning the 31st March - 4th April during which time they visited the University of the West of England, Bristol, AEA Energy & Environment at Harwell, the Environment Agency in Reading, Defra offices in London, the Greater London Authority and the two day Environmental Protection UK Spring Workshop in Northampton. Our visiting delegation thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the UK and returned to South Africa with an abundance of ideas and messages for their national and local governments, academics, NGO's and air quality practitioners. AQMRC and our South African visitors would like to thank the various individuals and organisations who opened their doors to our visitors and gave their time so generously to make it a most engaging and informative tour.

Air Quality Roadshow at UWE

Enviro Technology visited the UWE, Bristol Frenchay Campus on Monday 7 April with air quality monitoring equipment to explain and demonstrate to interested local authorities, researchers, and environmental consultants. AQMRC were pleased to host the event at which a number of delegates braved the weather and observed the equipment monitoring air quality and vehicle emissions in various locations around the campus. For more details about the event, please click here.

AQMRC awarded Higher Skills Development Fund

AQMRC has been awarded a Higher Skills Development Fund for the Development of Training Materials on Air Quality and Carbon Management for Air Quality Professionals in the South West Region. The project is for a one year duration. We will be asking your views, as air quality professionals, throughout the development of the training materials.

South African delegation visit UWE on the first leg of their European Study Tour (31st March - 4th April 2008)

In 2007, AQMRC in partnership with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) successfully completed the National Air Quality Framework on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in South Africa. As part of this prestigious project, AQMRC were tasked with organising a knowledge exchange study tour to the UK for a South African delegation to learn more about the UK air quality management systems, science and issues. The South African delegation is lead Prof Roseanne Diab (University of KwaZulu-Natal) accompanied by her husband Richard, Jean-Pierre Mfuamba (National Framework Intern), Yegeshni Naiker (National Framework Intern), Caradee Wright (CSIR Postdoc) and Tirusha Thambiran (University of KwaZulu-Natal PhD student). This knowledge exchange study tour will include visits to UWE, AEAT, the Environment Agency, Defra, the GLA and finally two days at the Environmental Protection UK Annual Spring Workshop. Dr Enda Hayes, AQMRC organised the study tour and will accompany the delegation while they are in the UK. AQMRC are delighted to be involved in such a high profile project and look forward to welcoming our South African colleagues for an engaging and informative visit.