Environment Platform Wales hosts an Air Quality Community of Research, bringing together researchers and policymakers from across Wales who share an interest in understanding and improving air quality.
The community will provide a space to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and strengthen links between research and policy on key air quality challenges. Initial discussion themes will include:
- Indoor air pollution
- Air quality monitoring
- Agricultural emissions
- Co-production methods
- Sustainable transport
Participants envision the community as a collaborative, interdisciplinary network that supports networking, shared learning, and meaningful engagement between research and policy—particularly in relation to air quality issues affecting Wales. Members bring a wide range of expertise, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, built environment interventions, social science and mixed-methods research, and will contribute by sharing methodological skills, emerging research, and collaboration opportunities.
It has been proposed that the group will meet quarterly, with one in-person meeting each year.
Upcoming events:
The Community of Air Pollution Effects Researchers (CAPER) focusses on air pollution impacts to the natural environment (more than to people). It is largely (but not exclusively) UK based.
The next meeting of the CAPER will take place in Bangor, Gwynedd, on 23rd and 24th April 2026. The meeting will be hosted by Ed Rowe and Felicity Hayes, from UKCEH Bangor, and Nathalie Fenner, from Bangor University. New members and participants are welcome.
This will be an in-person meeting with a full day of talks on Thursday 23rd April (starting at about 9.15), in Neuadd Reichel / Reichel Hall, Ffriddoedd Site, Bangor LL57 2TW . There will be a field visit to the UKREATE nitrogen addition experiment on the dunes at Newborough, with discussion sessions, on Friday 24th April (ending by about 2.30).
Past Events:
Inaugural Meeting on MS Teams 20/01/2026
| Welsh Government: Recent policy direction, research and evidence needs | Paul Lewis | Swansea University, Chair of Welsh Gov Clean Air Advisory Panel |
| Active travel and climate action – Generating change and issues of involvement-detachment | Dr Christopher White | Wrexham University |
| Personal air pollution exposure assessment with schoolchildren in rural Wales | Zhiwen Luo | Cardiff University |
| Indoor air pollution: lab work within air pollution and human health research | Martin Clift | Swansea University |
| Terms of Reference for Air Quality Community of Research | Menti poll: Results |
| 16/04/2025 | Dr Rachel Hales | Cardiff University & Dr Jo Garrett | Exeter University | Co-creating Air Quality Citizen Science |
| 22/05/2024 | Dr Catherine Purcell | Cardiff University & Dr Christopher White | Wrexham University | Active Transport Research |
| 13/12/2023 | Polina Cowley | Welsh Government | Research and data gaps in agricultural ammonia (NH3) emissions |
| 11/10/2023 | Stefan Doerr | Swansea University | Wildfire Disasters – perceptions, realities and risk reduction in a changing world |
| 14/06/2023 | Tom Overton | University of South Wales | The Bike Lock Cafe |
| 04/05/2023 | Dr Leshan Uggalla | University of South Wales | Air Quality Monitoring |
| 14/03/2023 | Dr Gabriela Zapata-Lancaster | Cardiff University | Air Quality and thermal comfort in primary schools |
Proposed Sub-groups
Indoor Air Pollution Sub-group