AQMRC are recruiting...Research Fellow in Air Quality and Carbon Management

AQMRC, UWE, Bristol are currently recruiting for a Research Fellow in Air Quality and Carbon Management. For further details of this exciting opportunity, and to access an application form, please click here.
 
Although the post is advertised as one-year fixed term, there may be opportunities to extend this for the right candidate (subject to funding).  The salary range offered for this full-time position is £30,424 - £36,298.
 
For further information on the team and the work we do, please visit the recently rebranded AQMRC website.

If you would like an informal discussion about the advertised post, please contact Prof. Jim Longhurst on 0117 32 83652 or email: james.longhurst@uwe.ac.uk, Dr Tim Chatterton on 0117 32 82929 or email: tim.chatterton@uwe.ac.uk, or Dr Enda Hayes on 0117 32 83825 or email: enda.hayes@uwe.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 6th June.

AQMRC rolls out carbon support package for green SMEs

AQMRC have been working with South West SMEs on a range of carbon related business support activities through the Environmental Technologies iNet. Rose has been working one-on-one with selected companies to estimate the carbon emissions embedded in their products through lifecycle analysis and embedded carbon footprinting methods. This will help those companies with environmentally friendly products to capitalise on their green credentials, by being able to show commitment to environmental reporting and sustainability in their manufacturing and operations, as well as identify opportunities to further reduce their environmental impact and develop a carbon management strategy. It will also help emerging companies in meeting ever more stringent obligations placed on suppliers by major purchasers, themselves under increasing pressure to report environmental impacts.

For example, the results from one carbon assessment of an innovative new version of a product found that it:

• is responsible for 82% less carbon than the traditional product

• lasts four times as long as the traditional product, escalating the carbon saving to 95%

• has a transportation carbon impact of 97% less than the traditional product

• avoids 9.8 kg/CO₂e through the use of recycled materials

In addition to one-on-one support Rose, Enda and the Environmental iNet team also ran a two-day workshop on the carbon assessment of products, including lifecycle analysis, business incentives for reporting emissions, and ensuring legitimate 'green claims'. Businesses that attended varied from construction, biocrops, high-tech engineering to a zoo, but all went away with a bespoke lifecycle analysis carbon assessment inventory and toolkit and a framework for calculating the emissions from their products. 

The workshop was very popular and fully subscribed so will be running again soon – watch this space.

New Air Quality and Carbon Management Training

The Air Quality Management Resource Centre are now offering CPD training in the following Air Quality and Carbon Management courses (please click on the course name to access the webpage for descriptions and booking forms):

Introduction to Local Air Quality Management	08/11/2012
Review and Assessment: Updating and Screening Assessments & Progress Reports	09/11/2012
Environmental Permitting Regulations	22/11/2012
Review and Assessment: Detailed & Further Assessments	23/11/2012
Introduction to the Science of Climate Change	06/12/2012
Introduction to Climate Change Policy & Carbon Management	07/12/2012
Technical Guidance for LAQM: Monitoring, Modelling & Emissions Estimation	10/01/2013
Air Quality Action Plans and Action Plan Progress Reports	11/01/2013
Technical Introduction to Air Pollution Monitoring	24/01/2013
Integrating Air Quality Management into the Local Transport Planning Process	25/01/2013
Monitoring QAQC: Automatic Monitors and Diffusion Tubes	07/02/2013
Low Emission Zones and Strategies	08/02/2013
Dispersion Modelling & Model Validation, Verification & Adjustment	21/02/2013
Planning and Air Quality: Air Quality Assessments	22/02/2013
Consultation in Air Quality & Carbon Management / GIS for LAQM	07/03/2013
Sustainable Planning & Development: Local Development Framework & Healthy Urban Design	08/03/2013
Air Quality & Carbon Management: International Case Studies	21/03/2013
Action Planning: Behaviour Change & Innovative Technologies	22/03/2013

All of the Air Quality and Carbon Management short courses are run as single day sessions at the main Frenchay campus at UWE, Bristol, from 9.30 to 4.30 with one hour for lunch. The short courses are aimed primarily at professionals working in, or wishing to skill themselves to enter, the field of air quality and carbon management. However, they are equally applicable to those working in related fields such as transport, planning and energy management. The courses are accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM). The content of the short courses cover the breadth of air quality and carbon management including principles, policies, practices and integrated solutions. The fees are £150 per delegate with a 10% discount for three or more delegates from the same organisation.

For further information, contact Jo Barnes or the FET Short Course Unit.

Publication in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

Bailey, R., Longhurst, J.W.S., Hayes, E.T., Hudson, L., Ragnarsdottir, K.V., and Thumim, J. (2012) Exploring a city’s potential low carbon futures using Delphi methods: some preliminary findings. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management (In Press.)

Rose’s paper is now available online, at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09640568.2011.635192

The paper discusses the results from the first round of Delphi questionnaire survey that Rose undertook with a large expert group, to create scenarios for a low carbon 2050 Bristol region.

More information about Rose's research can be found on her webpage here.

Tim gives two talks at 44th University Transport Study Group conference

Tim was invited to give a plenary lecture on "The continuing problem of air pollution from transport and important lessons for the control of greenhouse gas" at the 44th UTSG Conference in Aberdeen last week.

He also made a second presentation on "Leaders and Laggards in Transport CO2 Emissions: The challenges and outcomes of benchmarking sustainable urban transport systems across Europe" which covered the work that he has done with Erel Avineri and Owen Waygood from the Centre for Transport and Society on the EU Framework 7 CATCH project http://www.carbonaware.eu/

MSc Air Quality and Carbon Management given the green light

The AQMRC, UWE's recently developed MSc Air Quality and Carbon Management was this morning accepted by the validation panel for delivery from September 2012. This qualification course is unique in drawing together the component aspects of air quality and carbon management, and the management-based and solutions-focused  approach is aimed at existing professionals or those wishing to enter the field. The course is also designed to cater for the flexible demands of this market with blended class/online learning and options to utilise work-based learning where appropriate. Details are available on the website, or contact Jo Barnes for further information.

Forthcoming publication in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

Bailey, R., Longhurst, J.W.S., Hayes, E.T., Hudson, L., Ragnarsdottir, K.V., and Thumim, J. (Forthcoming) 'Exploring a city’s potential low carbon futures using Delphi methods: some preliminary findings'. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management


The paper discusses the results from the first round of Delphi questionnaire survey that Rose undertook with a large expert group, to create scenarios for a low carbon 2050 Bristol region.
More information about Rose's research can be found on her webpage here.

Workshop held to discuss the low carbon futures for the Bristol region

A workshop discussing the outputs of a year-long Delphi consultation process on the Low Carbon Futures for the Bristol Region was held on Friday 22nd July at UWE. A number of key stakeholders from the Bristol region attended, from Local Authorities, Businesses, and other public, private and third sector organisations. Participants carried out a 'backcasting' exercise for two possible scenarios for a low carbon Bristol region in 2050, discussing the emission and policy trajectories necessary to bring about the scenarios.

This workshop was the final part of Rose's PhD research project, investigating the low carbon futures for the Bristol Region. More about the Rose's research can be found here: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/rose.html

The outputs from the workshop will be available shortly on the research page, at: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/rosesresearch.html

AQMRC CPD training success continues

Following the success of this year’s Air Quality and Carbon Management CPD courses, AQMRC is pleased to announce that the training opportunities will continue into 2011. The next session will be Introduction to Local Air Quality Management on 14th January followed by Introduction to Carbon Management on 8th February. The full schedule of courses is available on the AQMRC website and you can book your place online. Book three or more courses to receive 15% discount!

Low Carbon Cities Consensus Panel. Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

Jim has recently returned from a visit to South Africa (3-9th October) where he attended the second meeting of the Academy of Science of South Africa’s Low Carbon Cities Consensus Panel. As part of his contribution to the work of the Panel, Jim and AQMRC colleagues prepared a review of carbon management plans and strategies that are being implemented in European capital cities. The overall goal of the ASSAf study is to identify key areas of intervention that would position the city of Durban on a pathway towards a low carbon future. The study has been commissioned by the Environmental Management Unit of the eThekwini Municipality (City of Durban) and the panel is led by the Executive Officer of ASSAf, Prof Roseanne Diab. The study is financially supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) See http://www.assaf.co.za/?page_id=998 for further details.

Rose to present at 15th IUAPPA World Clean Air Congress

Rose has been selected to present at the 15th IUAPPA World Clean Air Congress held in Vancouver, Canada, from 12th-16th September. The title of Rose's abstract is 'City-Scale Carbon Management: an innovative methodology for imagining a low carbon future', which will be presented in the Technical Session on 'Urban Sustainability Issues'.

More information about the conference can be found here: http://www.iuappa2010.com

The 2010 IUAPPA Congress theme of "Achieving Environmental Sustainability in a Resource Hungry World" recognizes the need for holistic management approaches to effectively mitigate potential water, food, energy, and environmental challenges. This Congress will bring together specialists from academia, industry, consulting, environmental advocacy groups, and government to present innovative ways to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize environmental impacts. The program will examine international, national and local-scale issues facing both emerging and developed economies.

More information about Rose and her research can be found on her web page.

Rose has just returned from the Second International Conference on Climate Change in Brisbane, Australia, where she presented a paper on her research methodology entitled "Envisioning the Future: a Methodology for City Scale Carbon Management" which discussed the use of Delphi techniques to imagine low carbon futures for Bristol. The conference attracted delegates from all over the world with discussions on all aspects of climate research.

More information about the conference can be found here: http://www.climate-conference.com

The paper will shortly be published in the conference journal, 'The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses', found here: http://on-climate.com/journal/

More information about Rose's research can be found on her web page: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/rose.html

Air Quality and Carbon Management CPD training

AQMRC are running a training session this Friday (30th July) as part of their Air Quality and Carbon Management CPD training. This Friday's session will focus on Monitoring and Modelling for Local Air Quality Management and will be attended by environmental scientists from local authorities and environmental consultancies. The course is accredited by the Institute for Air Quality Management (IAQM) and the Institution for Environmental Science (IES) and is worth up to 17 CPD hours, including additional online access after the event. If you are interested in attending this or any of the courses in the Air Quality and Carbon Management series, please email aqmrc@uwe.ac.uk or register your interest online.

Rose to attend International Conference on Climate Change

Rose will be attending the Second International Conference on Climate Change at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, from 8-10th July. Rose will be presenting a paper entitled 'Envisioning the Future: a Methodology for City Scale Carbon Management'. In this, she discusses her research methodology, which proposes using Delphi techniques to identify potential future low carbon scenarios for the Bristol city region.
More information about the conference can be found here: http://on-climate.com/conference-2010/
More information about Rose's research can be found here: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/rose.html

Rose presents at 'CATCH' project Climate Change and Travel Behaviour meeting

Rose was invited to give a presentation at the CATCH (Carbon Aware Travel CHoice) Interest Group meeting on 'Climate Change and Travel Behaviour', in Brussels on 17th-18th February.

Rose's presentation was titled 'Evaluation methods for CO2', covering methodologies for estimating carbon dioxide emissions from transport at the city scale. The presentation can be downloaded here.

CATCH is a project with the ultimate aim to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the urban transport sector by encouraging carbon-friendly travel choices. The CATCH project will develop an online knowledge platform primarily aimed at decision-makers, but also for citizens, businesses, planners, and other mobility stakeholders in cities. More information can be found on the CATCH project website at http://www.carbonaware.eu/

The meeting was hosted by Polis, a network of European Cities and regions which promotes, supports and advocates innovation in local transport. More information can be found on their website http://www.polis-online.org/

Rose speaks to year 12 geographers at North Bristol Post-16 Centre

Rose was invited to speak to year 12 Geographers at North Bristol Post-16 Centre at Redland Green School on Tuesday. She talked to students about carbon management and climate change, both internationally, and emissions accounting and mitigation options locally in Bristol. The students discussed issues ranging from international climate politics, renewable energy feasibility, and spatial planning policies, to energy efficiency in the home and public transport in Bristol. The morning aimed to provide students with a climate change case study for forthcoming AS and A2 exams.

Air Quality and Carbon Management CPD available from UWE

With the recent multitude of changes to the LAQM process and the increasing predominance of climate change on the political agenda, now is the time for employers and staff to ensure that they are in command of all the facts.

The University of the West of England’s Air Quality Management Resource Centre (AQMRC) have developed a range of training and development opportunities to build skills and understanding in the fields of air quality and carbon management. Whether you are a recent graduate or needing to update your skills in an existing role, this training will give you the opportunity to focus your development in a way that is specific to your needs and requirements.

Supported by the Institute of Air Quality Management and the Institution of Environmental Science, these training opportunities are available from 2010 for CPD. A flexible package of CPD is available for delivery at your location or at UWE. For more information about the training opportunities and to discuss your specific needs, please contact Jo Barnes (aqmrc@uwe.ac.uk) and visit the training pages of the AQMRC website (http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/training.html).

Rose to present at International Conference on Human Ecology

Rose has had two abstracts accepted for the International Conference on Human Ecology, to be held at the University of Manchester from 29th June to 3rd July. The conference theme is 'Human Ecology for an urbanising world', and Rose will be presenting a paper entitled 'Managing carbon emissions at the city scale: opportunities and challenges' in the climate change and the urban environment session. Rose will also be presenting an overview of her research in the research paper workshop for PhD students. More information on the conference can be found on the Society for Human Ecology website

Rose and Mofoluso's abstracts accepted for RGS-IBG Conference

Rose and Mofoluso have both had abstracts accepted for presentation at the forthcoming RGS-IBG Postgraduate Forum mid-term conference, at the University of Plymouth on 7th March. The conference provides an opportunity for postgraduates working on aspects of geography to present their research, and also to participate in workshops addressing aspects of postgraduate development. More information on the conference can be found here.

Rose lectures at University of Iceland

Rose has just returned from giving three lectures at the University of Iceland, from 7th - 10th February. These included lectures on carbon management and carbon footprinting, for Masters students taking a course on 'Sustainable Futures', and a lecture on her research as a case study of carbon management, for Environmental Engineering Undergraduates. The lectures can be downloaded on her research page.

Rose is pleased that she managed to see some of Iceland's beautiful scenery whilst there, but isn't sorry to leave behind the sub-zero tempertures!