The document summarizes insights from the Clean Air Networks Conference. It discusses two waves of funding from the Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) Clean Air totalling over £40 million to support air quality research. This includes developing solutions to air pollution and addressing indoor and outdoor air quality challenges. It outlines the Clean Air Champions network and priorities for advancing air quality science, including overcoming barriers through multidisciplinary research, stakeholder engagement, funding, data sharing, and better communication to enable behaviour change.

1. Insightsfrom the
CleanAirNetworksConference
DrDouglasBooker
OnbehalfoftheCleanAirChampionsteam
@uk_cleanair
@DouglasBooker
dbooker@naqts.com
www.ukcleanair.org

2. Wave 1 - Clean Air: Analysis & Solutions
Developing solutions to air pollution to help
policymakers and businesses protect health and work
towards a cleaner economy. (£20.5m)
Wave 2 - Clean Air: Addressing the Challenge of the
Indoor/Outdoor Continuum
The programme aims to equip the UK to proactively
tackle new air quality challenges related to changing
emissions and exposure patterns, in order to protect
human health and support clean growth. (£22m)
SPF Clean Air – Two Waves

3. The Champions will continue to bring together the UK’s
world-class air quality research and community.
Clean Air Champions Regional Champions
Professor Sir
Stephen Holgate
Dr Suzanne
Bartington
Dr Gary Fuller
Professor
Paul Lewis
Wales
Dr Neil Rowland
Northern Ireland
Dr Heather Price
Scotland
Dr Sarah Moller
KEF
Noel Nelson
Met Off CAC
Dr Douglas Booker
West Midlands/
North West
England
Professor
Anil Namdeo
East Midland /
North East
England

4. The Clean Air Networks

5. The Clean Air Networks Conference 2023

6. The Clean Air Networks Conference 2023
Behaviour
Solutions
Exposure and Health Monitoring and Facilities
Environment and Net Zero Informing Regulations

7. What are the future directions
for advancing the science?

8. What are the future directions for advancing the science?
Behaviour
• Link knowledge to action
• Communication/ trusted messengers
• Small achievable behavioural
changes
• Create clear goals

9. What are the future directions for advancing the science?
Exposure and Health
• Public and stakeholders’ involvement
• Wearables
• Artificial Intelligence
• Health metrics

10. What are the future directions for advancing the science?
Monitoring and Facilities
• Long term monitoring
• Low-cost sensors
• Stakeholder involvement / Citizen
science (including children!)

11. What are the future directions for advancing the science?
Environment and Net Zero
• Systems thinking approaches
• Co-designing research and solutions
with policymakers
• Investment in local authorities

12. What are the future directions for advancing the science?
Informing Regulations
• Aligning research outputs with policy
• Investment into demonstration
projects
• Accessibility of data

13. What are the future directions for advancing the science?
Solutions
• Holistic multidisciplinary science
• Stakeholder engagement (including
industry/business)
• Open access to data and tools
• Clarity on limitations of data /
evidence

14. What are the key barriers and enablers
to achieving the change we want to see?

15. Behaviour
What are the key barriers and enables to achieving the
change we want to see?
Barriers
• Behaviour constrained by socio-
economic issues
• Cost & time
• Lack of trust / engagement
Enablers
• Trusted voices
• Clear messaging

16. Exposure and Health
What are the key barriers and enables to achieving the
change we want to see?
Barriers
• Funding
• Need common language
• Short vs long-term exposure risks
Enablers
• Dissemination of science into
health advice
• Sharing and linking data, results
and techniques
• MPs

17. Monitoring and Facilities
What are the key barriers and enables to achieving the
change we want to see?
Barriers
• Funding (long-term)
• Money distribution
• Standardised data
• Incorrect/harmful messaging from
industry/social media
Enablers
• Data repository, using current data
• New training doctoral centre in air
pollution
• Impact pathways from science
papers to public and policy makers

18. Environment and Net Zero
What are the key barriers and enables to achieving the
change we want to see?
Barriers
• ‘Overloaded’ stakeholders
• Short-term project-based funding
• Lack of public awareness &
engagement
Enablers
• Partnership with industry
• Funding interdisciplinary
networks/research

19. Informing Regulations
What are the key barriers and enables to achieving the
change we want to see?
Barriers
• No clear ownership for indoor air
in government
• Communication of uncertainties in
data
• Slow translation of research into
policy
• Reliance on market to respond to
needs
Enablers
• Professional bodies to act as
bridge between scientists and
policymakers
• Creation and access to a
repository for tools and resources
• Improved link between industry,
academia and policy makers.

20. Solutions
What are the key barriers and enables to achieving the
change we want to see?
Barriers
• Lack of funding to engage with
policy makers
• Lack of expertise at review panels
to assess interdisciplinary
proposals
• Public awareness
Enablers
• Educating schools on air quality
• Effective engagement with
stakeholders
• Combined monitoring and
modelling approaches

21. Priorities for the future of air quality science in the UK
Stakeholders Funding Multidisciplinary
research
Data
Knowledge mobilisers Behaviour change Communication / engagement

22. Thanks for listening!
Any questions?
www.ukcleanair.org
DouglasBooker
@DouglasBooker
dbooker@naqts.com