Environment, pollution & human health
Photo: Mitt Nathwani/Alamy
As the climate changes, so the behaviour of pollutants and pathogens and their movement and reactions within the environment change in different and complex ways. NERC science will provide new approaches to predicting the future behaviour of pathogens and pollutants and provide solutions to issues such as the spread of disease, drinking water contamination and air pollution.
Theme leader
Professor Roy Harrison, OBE, from the University of Birmingham currently heads the Division of Environmental Health & Risk Management at the university and heads one of Europe's leading air pollution research groups. Prior to that he headed the university's Institute of Public & Environmental Health for a number of years, and was a founding co-director of the Chemical Hazard Management Research Centre in the West Midlands. He provides policy support advice to DEFRA and the Department of Health.
Developing the fourth phase of theme action plans
Professor Roy Harrison will be leaving before the completion of the next phase of theme action plans (TAPs). The fourth phase of TAPs is due to be agreed by NERC Council in May 2013, and theme leaders have already made considerable progress in developing their plans.
NERC will cover the further development of the environment, pollution & human health TAPs until May 2013 via the establishment of an ad hoc group. The ad hoc group will work closely with Professor Harrison until his departure. The membership of the ad hoc group is below.
Environment, pollution & human health ad hoc group
- Professor David Fowler, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- Professor Stephen Holgate, University of Southampton
- Professor David Kay, Aberystwyth University
Consultations
There are no consultations in progress at the moment.
Action plan
NERC's governing Council has approved action plans for each theme.