NPL Air Quality Networks Team

James Allerton: I joined the Group as Technical Lead in elemental and organic carbon measurements and subsequently moved into lab-based technical support, e.g. aerosol instrument calibrations.

Chris Bradshaw: As Quality Auditor, my role was to visit the individual sites and carry out quality audits on each analyser. This involves various performance checks and, in some cases, calculation of calibration functions and offsets. The role also involves an assessment of the site suitability, site operator capability, integrity and maintenance, highlighting any issues within the health and safety requirements as well as potential issues that may affect the quality of the results.

Emma Braysher: I oversee the technical aspect of the Heavy Metals Network. Proposing and undertaking added-value research for the network samples has been especially rewarding.

David Butterfield: I have designed, installed and run air quality networks for Defra and the Environment Agency from inception to delivery of high quality data.

Chris Robins: I have worked mostly in the laboratory, processing and analysing a significant quantity of filters for the air quality networks.

Katie Williams: Currently Network manager, but I have worked in various technical roles for the networks over the years.

Emma Braysher: Processing and handling the significant quantities of data generated through the networks is a huge challenge. Ensuring quality is maintained throughout required thorough and extensive work.
 
Richard Brown: The biggest challenges are to do with the continuous need to ensure measurement and data quality requirements are met for every one of the over three million individual air pollutant measurements made every year.

James Allerton: Operating an air quality network requires everything from contract management and service engineers to lab scientists and data analysts – without a diverse skillset, it couldn’t work.

Emma Braysher: Having a range of diverse backgrounds is vital for the success of the team. When working together, the team make more than the sum of its parts, which I believe we have to thank for our receipt of this award.

David Butterfield: NPL’s team brings a broad spectrum of talents to the project from blue sky innovational thinking to improve measurements and methods to nuts-and-bolts engineering skills to make them work in real life.

Katie Williams: Everyone has different strengths and a different knowledge base, which makes them well-suited to their roles within the team. The biggest strength is everyone taking responsibility for their areas, passionately driving for excellence, and collaborating to find innovative solutions across different sections of the network.

Andrew Brown: The work we do is real-world and topical – exposure to poor air quality is a real concern to the public. It’s exciting that the data we produce is made freely available to the public, researchers and other users and put to good use in a large number of ways.

David Butterfield: Improving public health is the driver to making air quality measurements. Recent reductions in air pollutant emissions have led to reduced concentrations and, therefore, more difficult measurement challenges.

Krzysztof Ciupek: This work is important and exciting because it continues a long-standing effort to maintain high-quality data. this work is vital for accurately tracking environmental changes, guiding policy decisions, and fostering a sustainable future for generations to come.

Chris Robins: Witnessing the reduction in air pollutant emissions has been amazing, so I am excited to see what more reductions we (the human race) can make over the next two decades. 

Katie Williams: You can see the real-world improvement. You can see the downward trends in the historical pollution data and the effect different legislation and abatement strategies have had, and you get to be part of effecting that change.

James Allerton: The quality assurance of the measurements helps to inform government policy and assess the effects of policy and changes in technology which affect air quality.

David Butterfield: This work is real-life. It is getting air quality measurements out to the public in near real-time to allow them to make lifestyle decisions based on the impact to their health.

Andrew Brown: Air quality monitoring in the UK will continue to evolve to address new targets and new pollutants with new technology (more real-time monitoring and increase automation of data processing). Air quality networks therefore need to be agile in their nature, but also ensure continuity and consistency with long-term datasets.

Richard Brown: It is inspirational for us to see the data we produce having real-world impact and effecting positive change: for instance, when our data indicates the need for improved pollution abatement measures and then we are subsequently able to prove the effectiveness of these in reducing the exposure of the population to harmful air pollutants. 

Andrew Brown: As science as a whole becomes more interdisciplinary, collaboration between disciplines is essential, and can open up new, unexpected and exciting areas. For example, we’ve recently collaborated with biologists to explore the use of air quality networks to monitor biodiversity – a really exciting world first.

David Butterfield: Collaboration is essential to bring together different ideas and disciplines to solve complex problems.

Chris Bradshaw: Collaboration is particularly important within the chemical sciences. Every member of the team will look at the job in slightly different ways through their own different experiences, knowledge and problem solving methods. Through shared knowledge and ideas, collaboration helps to eliminate bias by creating a balance within the team. Done correctly this will help to build to better relationships and create a more cohesive, more productive and a far more positive working environment.

Jody Cheong: A positive research culture allows individuals to explore innovative ideas, make errors and learn from them, and share outcomes and learnings with others.

Katie Williams: Striving to understand your subject area on the deepest level; welcoming review and critiques to check your methods are correct; and engaging with other subject areas to find innovative links and methods to improve your own work.

Emma Braysher: Although not necessarily a job that comes to mind initially for young people, there is so much variety in a career in chemical sciences and the real-world impact is very rewarding. NPL run several outreach activities, including open days, school talks and the Water Rocket Challenge which may inspire you. 

Andrew Brown: Follow your passion, be bold, and engage with others in the field.  The chemical sciences are a very exciting and broad field that has enabled me to make discoveries and visit places unimaginable to me when I was growing up in a family of non-scientists.

David Butterfield: Work hard and learn from those around you.

Jody Chong: Give it a go, it may lead to something that you have never thought of.

Krzysztof Ciupek: A career in science is a journey of learning – enjoy every minute and stay passionate. Embrace curiosity and never be afraid to ask questions! Progress often comes in small steps so focus on these and celebrate each advancement along the way.

Katie Williams: Do it!