The Sustainability and Resilience Institute (SRI) has co-hosted a region wide workshop on Wessex air quality, with Wessex Health Partners (WHP).
Colleagues from across the region in academia, health and local authorities with expertise and interest in air quality came together to share knowledge and explore where research could help address challenges and improve the health of individuals and communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Dorset and wider society.
The group met at the Future Towns Innovation Hub to discuss and establish a common understanding of the health and social challenges that air quality/pollution is presenting across Wessex. Their aim was to explore potential research questions to help address these challenges, understand potential funding opportunities to do this research, and identify some of the key actions for air quality across the Wessex region.
The workshop welcomed several speakers to introduce the topic and present some of the key challenges including; Stephen Holgate, Professor of Immunopharmacology, David Ingram, Head of Environmental Health at Winchester City Council, Sian Davies, Consultant in Public Health at Hampshire County Council, Dominique de Touze, Assistant Director of Public Health – Portsmouth City Council, Dr Robin Poole, PhD researcher and Specialist Registrar in Public Health at Dr John Boswell, Professor of Politics and Public Policy also Co-Director of the Centre for the South.
Professor Craig Hutton, SRI Director, added: “We were very pleased with the outcome of our first joint meeting on air quality in the region. It was well attended and provided a solid foundation from which to develop, deliver and sustain a coherent expert input to policy makers concerned with both indoor and outdoor air pollution in Wessex. A key feature was the diversity and quality of presentations grounded in policy, health, social context and data that were then supported by a clear guide to the funding landscape in this area.”
Christine McGrath, Managing Director of WHP, said: “It is clear that this issue is a priority for a wide variety of stakeholders, and that we have significant expertise with many already working on these challenges. There is clearly an appetite to accelerate the work and collaboration across our strategic alliance and with wider stakeholders this will be enabled.”
Moving forward, the air quality network will continue to meet, expanding its diversity of collaborators, working together on funding applications, research programmes and real-world impact.