IAP-25-020

Quantifying indoor and outdoor air pollution in central Scotland to support actions to improve health (Forth-ERA)

​​Air pollution is a public health emergency (Holgate, 2022), responsible for an estimated 8.1 million global premature deaths every year (Health Effects Institute, 2024). Even in the UK, where we might consider air quality to be relatively good, air pollution is still responsible for 29,000–43,000 early deaths every year (Royal College of Physicians, 2025).

​Actions taken to improve air quality need to be underpinned by data, to both support the generation of action, as well as to test the efficacy of these actions (e.g., measuring the impacts of policy changes). Traditionally, outdoor air has been the focus of air pollution monitoring efforts. However, more recently we have realised that indoor spaces, where people spend most of their time, are likely more important in terms of total exposure to pollutants. The Forth-ERA project (https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/scotlands-international-environment-centre/environmental-data-services/forth-era/) is funded through the Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal. As part of Forth-ERA, we have deployed 20 sensors outdoors and 50 sensors indoors (for example, in homes, restaurants, offices, schools and other places where people spend their time). This sensor network offers a huge amount of potential to better understand the pollutants people are breathing.

​This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to capitalise on the existing Forth-ERA sensor network, as well as develop it further.

​The project has four main objectives, to:
1. Measure and analyse indoor and outdoor air quality in Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire using Forth-ERA sensor data
2. ​Co-design (with residents) an expansion of the Forth-ERA sensor network to respond to local air quality concerns
3. Determine air pollution exposures for service industry workers and assess behavioural and policy options for reducing exposures
4. Develop the evidence-base on how best to communicate about air pollution to the public and wider stakeholders using a data-grounded approach.

The student will engage with stakeholders, including the public(s), Scottish Government, local authorities, national agencies such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Health Protection Scotland, and Transport Scotland, as well as community organisations and charities (like Asthma & Lung UK, British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland), throughout the project.

​​​​​​For informal enquiries, or if you are interested in applying, in the first instance contact Dr Heather Price (heather.price@stir.ac.uk). ​ ​

​​​​This interdisciplinary project will utilise a combination of environmental (50%) and social science (50%) methods. The potential methods used in the project are described below in relation to the specific project objectives:

​Objective 1: The student will quantitatively analyse the existing Forth-ERA air pollution dataset, which includes data from 20 outdoor and 50 indoor sensors. They will investigate spatial and temporal variation in air pollution to better understand potential exposures for the local populations.

​​Objective 2: To better understand the air pollution concerns of local populations, the student will add to the Forth-ERA database of air quality stories (https://forth-era.3deo-portal.com/air-quality) through attendance at community events. These mapped stories will allow the identification of 9 further locations for monitoring to add to the existing Forth-ERA sensor network. This will enable engagement of local residents with the collected ‘air pollution hotspot’ data.

​Objective 3: Initial Forth-ERA data suggests those working in service industries (e.g., restaurants and hairdressers) could experience high occupational exposures. The student will undertake an indoor air pollution measurement campaign targeted at the occupational exposures of service industry workers, to help inform future indoor air pollution policies and regulations.

​Objective 4: The Forth-ERA dataset, and the results of objectives 1 – 3 specifically, offer huge potential for learning about how best to communicate about indoor and outdoor air pollution with the public and other stakeholders. This is an area of current research interest, as evidenced by Defra’s recently published Air Quality Information System Review (AQIS, 2025). The student will identify and then test potential communication strategies with a range of air quality stakeholders, e.g., the public, local authorities, Scottish Government, SEPA, charities (e.g., Asthma & Lung Scotland) and Transport Scotland.

​The student will be supported by an interdisciplinary supervisory team including Dr Heather Price (environmental geographer, Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling), Dr Christine Braban (atmospheric scientist, UKCEH Edinburgh), Prof Sean Semple (exposure scientist, Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling), Prof Vivien Swanson (health psychologist, University of Stirling) and Prof Peter Hunter (Science Director for Forth-ERA, University of Stirling).

​The supervisory team are well connected to Scottish (and beyond) air quality stakeholders through Dr Price’s role as UKRI’s Regional Clean Air Champion for Scotland, her co-leadership of the Scottish researcH partnership for Air Pollution health Effects (SHAPE) and membership of the Air Quality Communications Network. The successful PhD student will benefit from participation in these (and other) initiatives.

Year 1

– ​​​Literature review
​- Getting to know the Forth-ERA datasets (sensors, locations, data QA/QC)
– ​Quantitative analysis of the Forth-ERA sensor data to explore spatial and temporal variations (Objective 1)
– ​Stakeholder workshop (e.g., local residents, local authorities, SEPA) to feedback on findings from objective 1 and co-design the remaining PhD work
– ​Undergo training on operation of air quality instrumentation, data analytics and modelling, participatory methods and other training depending on the needs of the student
– ​Attendance at a national conference​ ​

Year 2

– ​​Collection of air quality stories from the public, spatial mapping to identify responsive sensor placement locations and qualitative analysis to identify key themes in the stories (Objective 2)
– ​Design and execution of the service industry exposure measurement campaign (objective 3).
– ​Stakeholder workshop to feedback findings and support co-design of remaining PhD work
– ​Further training as required
– ​​Attend a national conference​

Year 3

– ​​Finalising data analysis and write up of the service industry exposure measurement campaign.
​- Testing communication mechanisms with the public and other stakeholders (objective 4)
​- Stakeholder workshop to feedback findings and support co-design of remaining PhD work
​- Further training as required
​- Attend an international conference​

Year 3.5

– ​​​​Stakeholder workshop to feedback project findings
​- Finalising data analysis, writing publications, thesis submission​ ​

​​​​The University of Stirling has high quality training programmes for postgraduate students, with the student being required to attend NERC Iapetus training and events throughout the PhD. The student will be trained specifically on:
– ​Multi- and inter-disciplinarity: This research is at the interface between environmental science, social science and psychology. The student will receive training on working within interdisciplinary teams, and effectively communicating between disciplines.
– ​Fieldwork: The student will receive training in instrumentation and field deployment operations, as well as in undertaking participatory research.
– ​Data analysis and management: The student will receive training in analysing large environmental datasets.
– ​Translating research into practice: The student will receive training to communicate their research to multiple audiences (e.g. policy makers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), media and the wider public) and in publishing their work in scientific literature.