Introduction to Air Quality

Participants on the course will learn to:

• Describe the sources and causes of outdoor and indoor air pollutants that are harmful to people’s health.
• Identify how air pollution affects people’s health at different stages of life
• Understand different approaches for measuring air pollutants
• Describe how people are normally exposed to air pollution and identify ways to reduce exposure
• Understand the ways that air pollution is regulated in the UK
• Recognise the links between air pollution and climate change

This course has been designed for people interested in air pollution without an academic or scientific background. As the course is funded by Impact on Urban Health and places are limited, participants will need to complete an Expression of Interest form in the first instance.  For further information contact Swati Jain

In-person Course Schedule

Day 1:

• What is air pollution? What are the sources? and how we measure air pollution?
• Evaluating the health impacts of indoor and outdoor pollutants on vulnerable populations within the urban environment 
• How are we exposed to air pollution in our daily lives? And how can we communicate air pollution as a health risk?
• Air pollution and construction sites

Day 2:

• Theory and practice of engaging publics in air quality discussions
• London Air Quality Network and Breathe London Network
• Air pollution Action and Policy
• Air pollution and climate change: two sides of the same coin

Daily Schedule

Registration 9:30 -9:45
Morning session: 09.45 - 12.00
Afternoon session: 13.00 - 15.00
Lunch: 12.00 – 13.00

Each of the sessions will be based around a series of presentations with time for questions. The content will be delivered by senior academic experts from the Environmental Research Group, in a way that everyone can understand.

Points will be illustrated with data and backed up by evidence. Educational resources such as presentations, journal articles and reports spoken about during the sessions will also be available to participants after the course.

By completing this course, participants will be able to talk about pollution and engage in future projects designed to improve air quality in urban places.

All participants will be awarded an Imperial College London Certificate of Attendance on completion of the course. Participants must attend both days in order to receive this.