Assessing environmental impacts of COVID-19 emergency public health measures in Oxford City.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Institute of Applied Health Research
Abstract
Emergency public health measures were implemented across the UK in early 2020 to suppress COVID-19 transmission; with major implications for ambient air quality (AQ). Well publicised satellite data have indicated associated reductions in air pollutant (AP) concentrations with potential benefits for human health; however ground-based measurements suggest more complex trends in UK cities. These events present a unique natural experimental opportunity to better understand environmental consequences arising from these measures and to apply this learning to future AQ intervention scenarios.
Our research focus is Oxford (population ~155,000). Oxford has significant AQ and health inequity challenges, with the equivalent of 1 in 20 early deaths attributed to AP exposure. The City and County Councils plan to introduce a Zero Emissions Zone and enhanced Low Emission Zone from 2021 and to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030. Oxford is also a focal point for existing research activity, including NIHR, Defra, Highways England and Research England funded studies supporting a broad range of environmental and transport monitoring capabilities and existing research infrastructure, which we plan to utilise and repurpose for this study.
We plan a 18 month study to integrate longitudinal data arising from multiple observational inputs (e.g. AQ, noise, smart roadside sensors) to enable robust evaluation of the positive and negative impacts of introduction, maintenance and removal of COVID-19 measures in Oxford City. The data we assimilate will be used to generate a series of AQ control scenarios and predicted health benefits, thereby informing and redefining council-led AQ policy and climate strategy.
Our research focus is Oxford (population ~155,000). Oxford has significant AQ and health inequity challenges, with the equivalent of 1 in 20 early deaths attributed to AP exposure. The City and County Councils plan to introduce a Zero Emissions Zone and enhanced Low Emission Zone from 2021 and to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030. Oxford is also a focal point for existing research activity, including NIHR, Defra, Highways England and Research England funded studies supporting a broad range of environmental and transport monitoring capabilities and existing research infrastructure, which we plan to utilise and repurpose for this study.
We plan a 18 month study to integrate longitudinal data arising from multiple observational inputs (e.g. AQ, noise, smart roadside sensors) to enable robust evaluation of the positive and negative impacts of introduction, maintenance and removal of COVID-19 measures in Oxford City. The data we assimilate will be used to generate a series of AQ control scenarios and predicted health benefits, thereby informing and redefining council-led AQ policy and climate strategy.
Organisations
- University of Birmingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- NHS Oxfordshire CCG (Collaboration)
- Oxford Bus Company (Collaboration)
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Health Research (Collaboration)
- OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Oxfordshire County Council (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Oxford City Council (Collaboration)
- Siemens AG (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Ricardo UK Ltd (Collaboration)
- Cambustion (Collaboration)
Publications
Bush T
(2022)
Machine learning techniques to improve the field performance of low-cost air quality sensors
in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Singh A
(2022)
Impacts of emergency health protection measures upon air quality, traffic and public health: evidence from Oxford, UK.
in Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Suzanne Bartington
(2022)
COVID-19 Impacts on Air Quality in Oxford City
| Description | OxAria is a Natural Environmental Research Council funded collaboration between the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford, supported by public and commercial partners, applying advanced technological and environmental health expertise to understanding the air and noise quality impacts of COVID-19 across Oxford City. National public health measures introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19 have exerted major impacts on the way we travel and live our lives. In Oxford, substantial reductions in traffic levels were observed during the early pandemic phase; however impacts upon local and regional air quality remain uncertain. We also do not yet know how communities and wider society will adjust to these changes in the longer-term and how these will shape future environmental and public policy. OxAria is addressing these research questions to support local policy decisions, using a range of environmental datasets: - Reference measurements from national Defra air quality monitoring stations in Oxford City centre, enabling validation and calibration of air pollutant measurements. - A cross-city network of air pollution sensors mounted on buildings, continuously transmitting air quality measurements across a cloud-based data network. - A cross-city network of acoustic sensors at roadside, residential and green space locations to capture audible noise volume and frequency. Information from Vivacity Labs roadside transport detection sensors managed by Oxfordshire County Council, providing real time information on how people are travelling around the City (e.g. by foot, bike, car, bus). The application of high-resolution sensing technology in this context provides potential to measure air pollution at an unprecedented scale and scope - providing a more comprehensive picture of air pollution across Oxford that has previously been possible. Data obtained before, during and after relevant COVID-19 restrictions is now being used to understand impacts upon traffic, air and noise pollution levels and to assess implications for healthy life expectancy and therefore human health. This information provides an evidence-base for undertaking air quality and climate policy decisions within local authorities (Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council), public agencies and national Government. |
| Exploitation Route | Outcomes of the OxAria study will be used by Oxford City/Oxfordshire County Councils to inform policy implementation decisions for the following COVID-19 interventions: - Zero Emissions Zone - Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes - Bus control gates/modal filters - School Streets schemes In addition the findings will inform long-term policy actions to achieve air quality and net-zero policy ambitions at a national level. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Healthcare,Transport |
| URL | https://oxaria.org.uk/ |
| Description | OxAria study findings will be used to support local transport and clean air policy decisions undertaken by Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Council, including informing implementation of local transport interventions. These changes have potential to reduce air and noise pollution related disease burden and improve quality of life of local citizens. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Healthcare,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Citation in Defra Air Quality Expert Group - Rapid evidence review |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/2007010844_Estimation_of_Changes_in_Air_P... |
| Description | Consultation advice - Oxford Zero Emissions zone |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | Contribution of evidence to Oxfordshire County Council Low Traffic Neighbourhood Evaluation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | This evaluation was used to inform the policy decision to extend the Low Traffic Neighbourhood interventions to additional areas of Oxford City. |
| URL | https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/documents/s59614/22.02.24%20CHMD%20Item%204%20-%205.%20Annex%20... |
| Description | Expert review for the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Expert review for the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Expert review of Chief Medical Officer's 2022 Annual Report - Air Pollution |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-2022-air-pollution |
| Description | NHS Green Alert - Stakeholder Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This presentation made at the NHS Green Alert workshop has led to installation of an air quality sensor at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Facilities |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account |
| Amount | £17,613 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | NERC Discipline Hopping - Optimising public health and economic benefits of urban air quality interventions |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | NERC Discovery Science: Applying data-driven solutions to contemporary urban transport challenges; a policy case study in Oxford, UK |
| Amount | £13,100 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST): University of Hertfordshire |
| Amount | £1,472,231 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR131573 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Title | Acoustic sensor dataset |
| Description | Acoustic data obtained from Audiomoth sensors at city centre locations during second national COVID-19 lockdown period. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Data will be analysed to understand impacts of COVID-19 lockdown (and associated public health measures) upon changes in noise in Oxford City. |
| URL | http://www.oxaria.org.uk/ |
| Title | Low-cost sensor data dashboard for Oxfordshire County Council |
| Description | Provision of processed and corrected low-cost sensor data for Oxfordshire County Council/Oxford City Council. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data available to identify air quality hotspots and support policy decisions. |
| Title | Measured levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particles (PM10 & PM2.5) in ambient air using a low-cost sensor network in Oxford City |
| Description | Measured levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particles (PM10 & PM2.5) in ambient air at 10-second, 15-minute & 1-hour resolutions in Oxford, 2020 to 2022. These were collected within OxAria, a Natural Environmental Research Council funded collaboration between the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford, supported by public and commercial partners. The project has applied advanced technological and environmental health expertise to understand the air and noise impacts of COVID-19 across Oxford City. See also https://oxaria.org.uk/ T |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data have been available to Oxfordshire County Council to support local air quality policymaking. |
| URL | https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:66fbe8c1-4b53-4124-bf0d-a78cbc9e1408 |
| Title | Random Forest technique for low-cost sensor data correction |
| Description | A technique used to correct for sensor data in comparison to reference methods. Training was performed using a dataset obtained during the air quality lockdown period. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This technique will enable analyses of low-cost sensor data |
| Title | airPLS data processing technique for low cost sensor baseline correction |
| Description | Development of the adaptive iteratively reweighted penalised least squares (airPLS) regression technique to reset the baseline of all sensors programmatically. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This technique has been applied to low-cost sensor data for analyses and future publication. |
| Description | Collaboration - Aimsun |
| Organisation | Siemens AG |
| Department | Aimsun |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise, intellectual input, staff time to attend collaborative meetings |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Provision of staff time to attend 6 network meetings and adhoc workshops andconference calls. - Facilitate access to opportunities for wider knowledge transfer such as our involvement and participation with ITS UK, DfT's Transport Technology Forum and our Programme Committee role in the Association of European Transports annual Conference (ETC /European Transport Conference) - Provision of Student licences of our software to students who are interested writing thesis's in this area and in collaboration with the project. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary collaboration and development of a TRANSITION Clean Air Network Discovery & Innovation fund proposal. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration - Cambustion |
| Organisation | Cambustion |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Provision of academic expertise and intellectual input to developing collaborative proposal |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at meetings, provision of equipment for test measurements |
| Impact | TRANSITION Clean Air Network Launch Report - Characterising Emerging Air Quality Challenges Associated and Risks Associated with Transport Decarbonisation |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration - NIHR School of Public Health Research |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Department | NIHR School for Public Health Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Attendance at SPHR meetings, contributions to PHRESH proposal, attendance at Durham workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at meetings, development of proposal |
| Impact | Meetings held with Healthy Planet, Healthy Places theme. Development of grant funding and transdisciplinary placement proposals. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration - Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Nuffield Department of Population Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribution of intellectual expertise to developing a joint proposal for linkage of primary care electronic medical records (within the RCGP database) to regional air quality data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Attendance at collaborative meetings, joint supervision (Academic Clinical Fellow in Primary Care), development of a joint project proposal. |
| Impact | A joint proposal for Knowledge Exchange funding at the University of Oxford (submitted 8 March 2021) |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxford City Council |
| Organisation | Oxford City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise, intellectual input, staff time for attendance at collaborative meetings |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Attendance at TRANSITION Clean Air Network summit meetings |
| Impact | TRANSITION Clean Air Network Launch Report - Characterising Emerging Air Quality Challenges and Risks Associated with Transport Decarbonisation |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust |
| Organisation | Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provision and installation of an air quality sensor at the Warneford hospital site. Provision of air quality data summary information. Advice provided on sensor deployment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hosting of air quality sensor. Staff time for meetings. |
| Impact | This collaboration has led to development of an air quality data summary report. In addition request has been made for input to an e-cargo bike strategy |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Organisation | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of an air quality sensor at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Provision of summary data report, providing air quality data summary. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hosting an air quality sensor. Site access. Request for data information. |
| Impact | This collaboration has led to a data summary report for the John Radcliffe Hospital site. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Organisation | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of an air quality sensor at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Provision of summary data report, providing air quality data summary. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hosting an air quality sensor. Site access. Request for data information. |
| Impact | This collaboration has led to a data summary report for the John Radcliffe Hospital site. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group |
| Organisation | NHS Oxfordshire CCG |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Meetings held with Oxfordshire CCG. Co-supervision of student dissertation project. Preparation of manuscript. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of health (asthma) datasets. Review and commenting on manuscript draft. Joint supervision of dissertation student |
| Impact | Collaboration with Oxfordshire CCG including provision of asthma data to explore lockdown impacts and collaborative co-authored article (currently under review) |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxfordshire County Council |
| Organisation | Oxfordshire County Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise, knowledge transfer, staff time for attendance at Council briefing sessions |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Attendance at OxAria project meetings - Continuation of existing datasharing arrangements for air quality and transport data - Access to public health knowledge and expertise - Facilitation for presentation and dissemination of findings at relevant Council meetings - Access to Vivacity Labs motion sensor data |
| Impact | Evidence submission regarding COVID-19 impacts upon air quality in Oxford City - Defra Air Quality Expert Group. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration - Oxfordshire County Council Public Health team |
| Organisation | Oxfordshire County Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise and intellectual input to evaluating impacts of (i) Emergency Active Travel Measures; (2) Low Traffic Neighbourhoods; (3) School Streets schemes in Oxford City |
| Collaborator Contribution | Oxfordshire County Council - access to data sources; Oxford Brookes University - research perspectives; Sustrans - information about School streets schemes |
| Impact | A rapid funding proposal was submitted to UKRI for consideration within the COVID-19 urgency scheme (Economic and Social Research Council) |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collaboration - Ricardo Energy & Environment |
| Organisation | Ricardo UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Joint c-authored publications. Joint supervision of undergraduate student. Development of a collaborative research proposal investigating aviation emissions and health. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint co-authored publications. Joint supervision of undergraduate student. Development of a collaborative research proposal investigating aviation emissions and health. |
| Impact | This proposal was not funded but plans will be made for future activity. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration to investigate noise quality |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative exploration of acoustic data arising from Oxford City. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Active contribution of study PI/Co-PIs |
| Impact | Interdisciplinary publication planned |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Oxford Bus Company |
| Organisation | Oxford Bus Company |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Academic expertise, intellectual input, staff time for attendance at collaborative meetings |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Provision of staff time to attend TRANSITION Clean Air Network meetings - Access to opportunities for wider knowledge transfer - Display of relevant clean air communications on our on bus digital displays to update residents on this work or seek feedback from the wider community |
| Impact | TRANSITION Clean Air Network Launch Report - Characterising Emerging Air Quality Challenges and Risks Associated with Transport Decarbonisation |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | TRANSITION Clean Air Network funding award NERC [ |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | ANTICIPATE investigators (Gilbert, Moller, Hamilton) are Co-Investigators for the Clean Air Programme Strategic Priorities Fund Wave 2 Clean Air Network 'Optimising air quality and health benefits associated with a low-emission transport and mobility revolution in the UK' led by Dr Bartington. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Activities undertaken within the ANTICIPATE research programme generated research ideas for the network proposal. |
| Impact | NERC Grant Award (1 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2023) Value: £508,012. The main output to date is the launch workshop report 'Characterising Emerging Air Quality Challenges and Risks Associated with Transport Decarbonisation' |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Air Quality and Climate Change Roundtable - Transport Professional Magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Virtual roundtable discussion on the subject of the climate challenge and improving air quality. Specific discussion points: * Whether the transport sector will be able to meet the 2050 net zero emissions target, and strategies for getting us there * The need to improve air quality, whether we should set targets and the role of clean air zones * The consequences of failing to make transport and mobility greener and cleaner * Priorities and possible solutions (eg electric cars, more walking and cycling, road pricing) * The role of governments, the transport sector and the public * The impact of Covid on environmental ambitions and travel behaviours, both short and long term |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Air Quality and Health - Abingdon School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Webinar presentation to sixth form students within the Abingdon Science partnership to explore air pollution sources, health impacts and interventions at a local level. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation by Dr Suzanne Bartington at the APPGCW to provide an overview of the DfT Emergency Active Travel scheme and consideration of how local transport decisions can help during a national crisis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://allpartycycling.org/2020/07/08/webinar-how-local-transport-decisions-can-help-during-a-natio... |
| Description | BBC Radio Oxford Interview - Highway Code changes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview regarding changes to the highway code and implications for walking and cycling |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Conversation Article - new WHO Air Quality limits |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog outlining implications of new WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-most-national-limits-are-unsafe-for-human-health-new-who-g... |
| Description | Institute of Physics (IOP) - Looking Glass Podcast (Air) - 11 July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Ambient air pollution is responsible for 4.2 million deaths a year and almost all of the world's population are exposed to dangerous levels. How can physics help us to make our air cleaner? With Dr Suzanne Bartington and Dr Mark Richards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://shows.acast.com/looking-glass/episodes/episode-5-air-how-will-i-breathe |
| Description | Invited talk at Conservative Environment Network Clean Air Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Councillors at CEN Clean Air Conference. Discussion with MPs regarding need for legislative changes to regulate for non-exhaust emissions and holistic transport policies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | NHS Green Alert Stakeholder Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at the NHS Green Alert regional event for the South East region, convened by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/news/oxford-health-sounds-green-alert/ |
| Description | Oxford Air Quality Meeting 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the Oxford Air Quality Meeting 'Preparatory data analysis methods for low cost sensor networks: the OxAria project quantifying the impacts COVID-19 restrictions on air quality in Oxford'. This resulted in questions, discussion and requests for further collaboration notably with a schools air quality project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.oaqm.org/2021-conference |
| Description | Oxford Friends of the Earth - Air Quality in Oxfordshire |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | An online meeting (8 July 2020) hosted by Oxford Friends of the Earth to discuss actions to improve local air quality and a focus on transport, including consideration of the research evidence concerning lockdown impacts upon air quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.oxfoe.co.uk/2020/07/01/airquality/ |
| Description | Presentation at Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum - Next steps for improving air quality at a local level in England - 13 Dec 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and case study discussion for policymakers in national and local government. local strategies: priorities for locally-based action to improve air quality in communities across England policy and funding: assessing the current policy landscape, along with grants and other forms of support being offered to local areas - opportunities for funding, investment and sponsorship best practice: latest strategies and approaches, both locally and nationally - Clean Air Zones, and supporting the uptake and use of zero emission vehicles targeted action: developing and implementing measures to improve air quality near schools, care homes, businesses and communities - driving behavioural change - improving awareness active travel: the cycling and walking investment strategy 2 (CWIS2) - encouraging zero emission travel - improving cycling and walking infrastructure - support for retrofit projects collaborative structures: best practice in joint working between local authorities, as well as businesses, infrastructure providers, environment and health specialists, and other stakeholders monitoring and guidance: building the evidence base - setting and providing guidance for industry and local stakeholders - measuring outcomes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/publication/Air-Quality-22 |
| Description | Presentation at the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Workshop - 7 Feb 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to public health/air quality officers at the Oxfordshire County Council Air Quality Strategy Workshop. This initiated discussion and questions and request for follow-up information and tools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to Local Politicians |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to local councillors. Agreed to provide a briefing note as key output. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation to Oxford Pedestrians' Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of project findings (air/noise quality) to members of the general public which sparked interest and discussion. Outcomes included a researcher-practitioner meeting and shaping new research questions/analytical approaches. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Press feature - Air quality and health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Feature article in the Daily Mail (published 1 March 2021) detailing the Birmingham Air Quality Supersite and related health data research at the University of Birmingham. Follow-up enquiry from the UK Clean Air Champion and requests for further information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9314331/How-shed-beat-silent-killer-Study-finds-dirty-air... |
| Description | Press release - COVID-19 Air and noise quality study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Joint press release (University of Birmingham/University of Oxford) regarding securing funding from the Natural Environment Research Council to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 related public health measures upon air and noise quality in Oxford. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2020/07/air-and-noise-quality-study-oxford.aspx |
| Description | Press release - Installation of air quality sensor at Oxford hospital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A joint press release (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/University of Birmingham/University of Oxford) was released to report installation of air quality monitoring capabilities at the John Radcliffe hospital site. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18786041.hospital-installs-air-quality-monitor-oxford-covid-study/ |
| Description | Public Meeting - Clean Air Day 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A webinar presentation hosted by Oxford Friends of the Earth (as part of UK Clean Air Day) to describe the OxAria study and how data will be used to identify lockdown impacts upon air quality in the Oxford area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDyxjfHDxZg |
| Description | Roundtable (Short Journeys) - University of Hertfordshire |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An invited presentation given at a transport policy roundtable (convened by the University of Hertfordshire) to discuss the following points: Many car journeys in counties and market towns are short distance. What can be done to move these away from cars? What is needed to move these to walking and cycling? Will micromobility substitute for car trips - e-bikes, scooters etc? In the wake of Covid-19, can the extra walking and cycling be retained and how can these be given priority in counties?" The key arising output was a policy briefing note for the Department for Transport (Short Journeys). It also resulted in a new collaboration and invited member for the TRANSITION Clean Air Network advisory group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | TRANSITION Clean Air Network Launch Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | he TRANSITION Clean Air Network Launch Summit was held online on 24th November 2020. The objective of the workshop was to identify new emerging indoor and outdoor air quality challenges and risks associated with transport decarbonisation over the next decade. The arising report provided recommendations for priority research areas linked to these challenges and risks. Over 60 invitees attended the launch on behalf of more than 45 organisations, comprising: 5 local authorities; 3 national Government agencies or public bodies; 2 public companies; 18 private companies; 4 not-for-profit and charitable organisations; and 13 UK universities (including nine represented by TRANSITION Investigators). The event was structured in three sections: (1) Policy Context; (2) Stakeholder Perspectives and (3) Cross-Cutting Synthesis. Summaries of the presentations given can be found in respective Annexes of this report and presentation slides are available on our website. We highlight below the key recommendations informed by our invited speakers and subsequent breakout group discussions (focussing upon three questions; see box below). We are most grateful to all who participated in the launch, to the speakers for their personal contributions, and to the group facilitators and rapporteurs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://transition-network.org.uk/publications/launch-report-dec2020/ |
| Description | The Air We Breathe Public Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Royal Society of Medicine panel webinar |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | The Conversation blog - 70 years on from London's Great Smog, we still need cleaner air to protect health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog article co- authored by Prof William Bloss and Dr Suzanne Bartington, in response to the UK Chief Medical Officer's Anniversary Report and 70th Anniversary of the London smogs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The Royal Society - You and the planet: air |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Panel webinar hosted by the Royal Society and undertaken in collaboration with Manchester Science Festival https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/02/you-and-the-planet-air/ exploring the science of air quality and climate change, the impact air pollution on the planet and people's health. The event was live-streamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel and made available as a recording on the Royal Society website. Attended live by 520 viewers, with 90 questions submitted and over 2500 viewed the recording within a 24 hour period. The event led to several submitted questions which have since shaped new research ideas - for example with regard to impacts of domestic woodburning in the West Midlands region and introduction of 20 mph speed limits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/02/you-and-the-planet-air/ |