A leading UK air quality scientist has been appointed to a government advisory body that helps shape national policy on air pollution.
Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), has joined the Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG), an independent scientific committee advising the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The appointment follows a competitive selection process and adds to the group’s expertise in assessing air pollution sources, impacts and mitigation strategies across the UK.
Advising national air quality policy
The AQEG provides scientific advice to Defra and the devolved administrations on the levels, sources and characteristics of air pollutants. Its work contributes to the UK’s evidence base for air quality and informs policy decisions aimed at improving public health and environmental outcomes.
Professor Kumar said air quality remains a critical issue for both public health and environmental policy.
“Indoor and outdoor air quality is central to tackling the country’s most pressing health challenges – such as understanding and dealing with the long-term effects of pollution exposure on vulnerable communities,” he said.
“I am looking forward to contributing to the evidence base that shapes national policy in this area, and to helping ensure that science drives the decisions that affect the air people breathe every day.”
Research focus on urban pollution and health
Professor Kumar is Chair in Air Quality and Health at the University of Surrey’s School of Engineering and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainability.
His research focuses on the sources, behaviour and health impacts of air pollutants in urban environments, including traffic emissions, nanoparticles and indoor air quality.
His work also explores nature-based solutions aimed at improving air quality in cities.
International recognition
Professor Kumar is among the most highly cited researchers in the field of air pollution science and has received international recognition for his work.
He was awarded the Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award by the California Air Resources Board, widely regarded as one of the highest honours in air quality research.
He also leads the UKRI-funded RECLAIM Network Plus, serves as a trustee of Zero Carbon Guildford, and holds academic roles internationally, including positions at Trinity College Dublin and universities in China.
Strengthening scientific input into policy
The appointment highlights the role of scientific expertise in informing government approaches to air pollution, particularly as policymakers address the health impacts of poor air quality and seek to meet environmental targets.
Air quality remains a key area of focus in UK environmental and public health policy, with ongoing efforts to better understand pollution exposure and implement effective mitigation strategies.
