Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/V002341/1
Tackling Air Pollution at School
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor PF Linden, University of Cambridge, Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Davies Wykes, University of Cambridge, Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M E J Stettler, Imperial College London, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor R Yao, University of Reading, Built Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr E Aristodemou, University of Surrey, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor K Chung, Imperial College London, National Heart and Lung Institute
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor M van Reeuwijk, Imperial College London, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Emeritus Prof. A Robins, University of Surrey, Mechanical Engineering Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Winterbottom, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr L Malki-Epshtein, University College London, Civil Environmental and Geomatic Eng
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Short, University of Cambridge, Architecture
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Carpentieri, University of Surrey, Mechanical Engineering Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr F Fang, Imperial College London, Earth Science and Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Boies, University of Cambridge, Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr H C Burridge, Imperial College London, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr S West, University of York, Stockholm Environment Institute
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor CC Pain, Imperial College London, Department of Earth Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor N Carslaw, University of York, Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Cambridge, Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Boundary Layer Meteorology
- Building Ops & Management
- Climate & Climate Change
- Curriculum areas
- Pollution
- Abstract:
- The aim of this network is to bring together interdisciplinary expertise to address the problem of air quality in schools. The future health of our nation and indeed all human society depends on educating children in healthy environments. The Tackling Air Pollution at School (TAPAS) network focuses on that vulnerable section of every society - school children and their environment. Our vision is to create and develop a menu of options that can be introduced into schools to provide an environment free of pollutants and in harmony with nature, so that children have a fulfilling and healthy educational experience. These products need to be effective, inexpensive and, where possible, educational: i.e. they should involve the children in an understanding of their environment and provide them with an opportunity to engage with it in social, scientific and behavioural terms. We have chosen to focus on schools and school children for the following reasons. Children are a particularly vulnerable section of society. They are physiologically less able to regulate their temperature and are more susceptible to exposure to air pollution than adults. Among the vulnerable groups in society school pupils will experience the impact of poor air quality for the longest period into the future. Recently, over 2000 schools in the UK were identified as being in 'pollution hotspots' where air pollution exceeds WHO limits. From a practical viewpoint, working in schools has many advantages. School keep records on student attendance and pupils which provide information on absences related to health. They also have data on room occupancy, pupil activities (e.g. PE, meals) and movement through the school. This information is essential to determine personal exposure. Additionally, schools offer a wide variety of spaces including labs, meeting halls, dining areas as well as classrooms, each with different ventilation and indoor sources of pollution. The ability of schools to mitigate exposure to pollution is hampered by lack of knowledge. For example, the impact of idling vehicle engines near school while dropping off and collecting children on exposure in the playground or on indoor levels of NOx and particulate matter (PM) is unclear, making it impossible for schools to decide whether to ban idling or not. Our interdisciplinary team consists of experts in indoor and outdoor pollution, air pollution modelling, data science, building design and ventilation, education, social behaviour and health impacts. This will allow this network to address the critical issues associated with pollution in schools by offering a menu of solutions. We also propose to include a significant educational component so that pupils will learn about the impacts of poor air quality and take this knowledge with them as they grow up, thereby producing a lasting change in society. Schools also accommodate children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who are even more vulnerable and who often require special environmental conditions. Furthermore, there are currently a wide range related activities concerning indoor environmental quality in schools that this network will bring together for the first time in a coordinated fashion.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/V002341/1
- Grant Stage:
- Awaiting Completion
- Scheme:
- Directed (Research Programmes)
- Grant Status:
- Active
- Programme:
- Clean Air
This grant award has a total value of £470,301
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Staff | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £101,629 | £85,816 | £61,364 | £19,212 | £171,721 | £2,105 | £28,456 |
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