Air Quality in the media

Air quality has featured heaviliy in the media this month, thanks in part to some excellent coverage from the BBC, sparked by their School Report. BBC News School Report gives UK secondary school students the opportunity to make and broadcast their own news. In February 2015, students from Oasis Brightstowe Academy, near Shirehampton, investigated their exposure to air pollution on their commute to and from school. AQMRC's Dr Jo Barnes advised on the monitoring and data analysis and was invited to participate in a number of interviews for TV and radio:

• Recorded radio interview with BBC Radio 4 Costing the Earth (3 Feb 2015)
• Recorded interview with BBC Radio Bristol (9 Feb 2015)
• Recorded TV interview with BBC Point West (12 Feb 2015)
• Recorded TV interview with CBBC Newsround (12 Feb 2015)
• Recorded interview with BBC World Service (12 Feb 2015)
• Live telephone interview with BBC Radio Bristol (23 Feb 2015)
• Live studio interview with BBC Points West (23 Feb 2015)
• Recorded TV interview with Made in Bristol (26 Feb 2015)

Many of these are available on the BBC iPlayer but here are a few additional links:

• BBC School Report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/31608825
• BBC World Service: http://t.co/XyXSMD1CAW
• BBC Radio 4 Costing the Earth: http://t.co/KfaO9Rj6GH
• CBBC Newsround: http://t.co/pBhwvEjOvY
• BBBC Radio Bristol Breakfast show podcast http://tinyurl.com/n6sz5fn (40:00-44:00 and 1:42-1:46)

Jo Interviewed for BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth

This morning Jo was interviewed by the producer of BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth on air quality in Bristol and the potential legacy of the Green Capital year for air pollution. The programme will be featured on February 24th.

Jo attended Public Health England Air Quality Event

Yesterday Jo attended the Public Health England 'Air Pollution and Pulic Health' stakeholder workshop. The purpose of the meeting was to help develop a Public Health England programme in support of national and local government to reduce mortality attributable to air pollution. The meeting was well attended by around 100 delegates from national and local governement and academia, primarily from air quality, public health and transport backgrounds.The workshop provided an opportunity to get wider feedback on the draft PHE work programme on air pollution for 2015/16 developed in conjunction with the PHE's Air Pollution and Public Health Advisory Group on which Jo also sits. Details of the meeting can be found online: https://www.phe-events.org.uk/hpa/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=179225&ef_sel_menu=1416&eventID=458&eventID=458 and the presentations can be viewed here: https://www.phe-events.org.uk/HPA/media/uploaded/EVHPA/event_458/Onsitenew.pdf

Tim Running York Council Workshop

On Friday 30^th January, Tim, along with Prof. Greg Marsden and Dr Caroline Mullen of the Institute for Transport Studies in Leeds, ran a workshop for York City Council transport planning department.  The workshop explored the concept of ‘Flexi-Mobility’ that has been developed from the 3.5 year EPSRC project “Disruption: Unlocking Low Carbon Travel.

 

For more information on ‘Flexi-mobility’ and what it might mean for sustainable transport policy see our engagement website here http://www.fleximobility.solutions

 

New Publication on Cycling and Social Practice Theory

Tim and David, along with colleagues Fiona Spotswood and Alan Tapp from the Bristol Social Marketing Centre, have just had a new paper on Cycling and Social Practice Theory published in Transport Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour

 

The paper is Open Access and can be downloaded here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847814001776

Abstract

Despite significant national and local efforts over the last decade to stimulate uptake of cycling in the UK, levels of cycling (particularly utility cycling) remain at around 2% of journeys. Understanding of cycling behaviour and subsequent development of interventions has typically been undertaken using an individualist approach, often relying on psychologically based models of behaviour. This paper argues that Social Practice Theory (SPT) may be a valuable addition to practitioner’s toolboxes by providing an alternative means of understanding the complex dynamics between the elements that constitute the practice of utility cycling, allowing it to be considered as a social issue, rather than focusing solely on individual behaviour. This is demonstrated within the paper by the use of SPT to reanalyse quantitative and qualitative datasets that explore views and experiences of both cyclists and non-cyclists. Therein, the practice of utility cycling is described according to its three elements; materials, meaning and competences and the potential benefits of this approach are discussed; particularly its ideological shift away from ‘victim blaming’ and its natural support of interdisciplinary intervention design.

 

Tim and David at UTSG

Tim and David have been at the 47th Annual Conference of the University Transport Studies Group this week presenting work from the Disruption project.

Tim was presenting the project's Green Paper on 'Flexi-mobility' (for mor details see http://www.fleximobility.solutions

David was presenting work from his PhD on 'Social Practice Theory and Sustainable Mobility' looking at the implementation of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Tim at Act Travelwise Conference

On 9th December, tim will be presenting the work of the Disruption project on 'Flexi-mobility' at the Act Travelwise annual conference in Birmingham.

DECC Workshop on Behaviour

On Tuesday 2^nd December, Tim has been invited to participate in a workshop organised by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on ‘behaviour’.

The Climate Change Committee

Tim was invited to participate in a workshop organised by the Committee on Climate Change on Thursday 25^th, to help develop a framing for incorporating ‘behaviour’ into the 5^th Carbon Budget.  The workshop was attended by a range of social scientists and looks set to be the start of a long and interesting process!

Tim presents 'Flexi-mobility' to Bristol City Council

On Tuesday 25^th November, Tim presented the work of the Disruption project around the concept of ‘Flexi-mobility’ to Bristol City Council transport team.

Bristol Air Quality Masterclass success

AQMRC are proud to announce the success of the Bristol Air Quality Masterclass held on 28th and 29th October. The event, which was hosted by Bristol City Council as the 2015 Green Capital City on behalf of the current Green Capital, Copenhagen, was organised and run by AQMRC and Bristol City Council with speakers and delegates from across Europe. Both of the Copenhagen Mayor, Morten Kabell, and Bristol's Mayor, George Ferguson, attended and and gave keynote talks on air quality in their respective cities. The purpose of the event was to share good practice in air quality management among policy makers, practitioners, students and members of the public. The first day comprised of a number of presentations and case studies with stand-out presentations from Dr Ian Mudway at KCL and Alan Andrews from ClientEarth who set out the key health and legal challenges. On the second day a workshop was held using Crystal Interactive technology to examine the challenges and possible solutions to reducing air pollution in our towns and cities, from which a report will be produced by AQMRC summarising the key themes and issues.
For a full list of registered delegates, programme, presentations and a feedback form for attendees, please visit: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/24456. Tweets from the day can be found using the hashtag #AQMasterclass.




Speakers from the AQ Masterclass (from L-R: Carlo Trozzi (Techne Consulting), Steve Crawshaw (BCC), Simon Hayes (Global-Local), Alan Andrews (ClientEarth), Ian Mudway (KCL), Steen Solvang Jensen (DCE/Aarhus University), Martin Lutz (Berlin) and Anke Lükewille (EEA); absent Brian Hansen (Copenhagen))

Ben Williams joins the team

We are delighted to announce that Ben Williams has joined the Air Quality Management Resource Centre as a Research Associate. Ben joins us from DustScan Ltd where he gained over 5 years of experience in dust monitoring, assessment and particle characterisation. Prior to DustScan Ltd Ben completed a Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme in which he developed a source apportionment and mapping method for nuisance dust. This KTP topic provides the basis for Ben's PhD, entitled 'Source Apportionment and Dispersion Mapping of Fugitive Dust using Directional Passive Monitors', which will be submitted before the end of the year.

Jo on BBC Sunday Politics West

Jo was interviewed on BBC Sunday Politcs West broadcast yesterday speaking about air pollution in Bath. Catch it on iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04l2tfl/sunday-politics-west-19102014

Jo interviewed by BBC Radio Bristol

UWE's Dr Jo Barnes was interviewed this afternoon on Bristol's air quality by BBC Radio Bristol (94.9 FM). The station's breakfast programme will be doing a piece on air quality in Bristol tomorrow morning at 07:40 and 08:40. Do tune in!

Jo talks about Bristol Bright Night and air pollution research on Bristol Community Radio...

Jo was invited to speak, together with Maddy Bartlett from Bristol Natural History Consortium, on Bristol Community Radio (BCfm) last Saturday about the air pollution research she will be presenting at Bristol Bright Night this Friday. The interview can be found on http://bcfmradio.com/saturday – click on ‘10:00 - 20/09/2014’ and scroll to 10:30ish. For more info on the Bristol Bright Night go to http://www.bnhc.org.uk/festival-of-nature/bristol-bright-night-overview/.

Jo presents at RGS-IBG Annual International Conference

Both Tim and Jo attended the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) with IBG)) Annual International Conference on the Geographies of Co-production last week. The conference was very well-attended by academics from a wide range of fields within Geography and gave an excellent opportunity to deepen the understandings and perspectives of our research in a broader context. In the session entitled 'Social Justice, Mobility and Energy Demand', Jo presented initial analyse undertaken in the EPSRC-funded MOT project. The presentation on 'Air pollution and energy use in England and Wales - a social and environmental justice analysis' was very well-received and will form the basis of a forthcoming paper submitted to Environment and Planning A.

Its official.......Congrats to Dr Jo Barnes

Following 5 years of exceptionally hard work and dedication, Jo graduated yesterday having completed her PhD. Additionally, Jo was awarded FET DGEM Researcher of the Year 13/14 and the Nurul Leksmono Memorial Prize for the best PhD. Well done Jo, everyone at AQMRC and UWE are very proud of you!!

AQMRC wins Framework Agreements on Air, Climate Change and Noise for European Environment Agency

AQMRC has been selected by the European Environment Agency (EEA) as single operator for three major Framework Agreements in the areas of air (lot-1), climate change (lot-2) and environmental noise (lot-3). AQMRC will be undertaking these framework agreements with Triple E Consulting, as lead partner, TNO, Aether Ltd, ARCADIS Belgium, the Danish Centre of Environment and Energy (DCE), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Oeko Institute, REC, Ricardo-AEA Ltd, RIVM, Transport and Mobility Leuven (TML) and the University of Barcelona (UAB).
The purpose of these Framework Agreements is to provide expert assistance in the areas of air, climate change and environmental noise to the EEA, in order to underpin its delivery of the multi-annual work programme 2014-2018 in the years 2014-2017. Across all lots of the Framework Agreement, EEA's operational objectives currently include supporting the identification of issues and policy measures; supporting the development of policy measures and the implementation of policies and legislation; tracking of progress towards the achievement of short- and long-term targets as defined in relevant EU and international policies; and the tracking of related transition processes for issues such as emission reductions, loads on ecosystems, air quality standards, human health impacts, climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation and related economic sectors.

Jo awarded 2013/14 FET DGEM Researcher of the Year

Congratulations to Jo who was this week awarded the accolade of 2013/14 Faculty Researcher of the Year for the Department of Geography and Environmental Management. Jo is a Research Fellow in the Air Quality Management Resource Centre who has recently defended, effectively, her part-time PhD. She has shown remarkable determination and collegiality working in a small team environment to progress significant externally funded projects in research and knowledge exchange as well as developing her leadership potential as an eaarly career researcher. Jo will be awarded £1000 of staff development funding to used during 2014/15.

Jo and Huw present at Public Health England Air Quality meeting

Jo and Huw both attended and presented at the 'Public Health England Annual Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research in the UK' in Solihull last week. Jo gave an oral and poster presentation on 'A Study Of Ozone Concentrations And Trends Across Europe: 1996-2010' and 'A Study of Ozone Exposure Across Europe: 2004-2010' based on work undertaken on behalf of the European Commission, and Huw presented a poster on the initial stages of his PhD, entitled '"Back to Basics" – a call for Local Air Quality Management to return to its public health roots'. The event was very well-attended by academics and practitioners in the fields of public health and air quality, presenting an opportunity for both sides to gain valuable insight into the fundamentals of air pollution epidemiology as well as the wider application and implications of this research.