Douglas Booker

Poster outlining information for the HESTIA Sandpit, including the words: "The HESTIA Network is holding a two-day in-person Sandpit to bring together researchers from different academic disciplines and people working in a range of organisations to develop ideas for small research projects. We can fund 4 small-scale research projects (£30-65k), broadly based on enabling healthier indoor home environments for everyone, focusing on health, technologies, and equity and justice. Expression of interest submission deadline: 23:59 (UK) on 30th March 2026. The Sandpit is in York on 21st & 22nd May 2026." The poster includes links more info: https://hestia-network.org/sandpit/ And a link to apply: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/4J7stSPXnZ

I am obviously biased, but this is a great opportunity to be involved in transdisciplinary research focused on developing healthier homes!

For the avoidance of doubt, you do not need to be an engineer / natural scientist to apply!

More info on the HESTIA website: hestia-network.org/sandpit/

Hi Jefra, sorry but it is UK only

Image shows Sian Berry stood to the left of campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, and surrounded by a group of clean air campaigners. All of them are smiling and holding a copy of Ella's Law - the Clean Air (Human Rights Bill).

Image shows Rosamund Adoo-Kiss-Debrah sat next to Sian with a copy of Ella's Law on the table in front of them. They are both reading the Bill that is named in memory of Rosamund's daughter Ella who died aged nine due to exposure to air pollution.

Ella’s Law has been published 👏

No child should have the growth of their lungs stunted because of dirty air where they live and play, yet this is the reality of air pollution in England. Ella’s Law would change this.

My thanks to Rosamund and all the hard-working campaigners demanding change.

Poster outlining information for the HESTIA Sandpit, including the words: "The HESTIA Network is holding a two-day in-person Sandpit to bring together researchers from different academic disciplines and people working in a range of organisations to develop ideas for small research projects. We can fund 4 small-scale research projects (£30-65k), broadly based on enabling healthier indoor home environments for everyone, focusing on health, technologies, and equity and justice. Expression of interest submission deadline: 23:59 (UK) on 30th March 2026. The Sandpit is in York on 21st & 22nd May 2026." The poster includes links more info: https://hestia-network.org/sandpit/ And a link to apply: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/4J7stSPXnZ

I am obviously biased, but this is a great opportunity to be involved in transdisciplinary research focused on developing healthier homes!

For the avoidance of doubt, you do not need to be an engineer / natural scientist to apply!

More info on the HESTIA website: hestia-network.org/sandpit/

⚠️ Important London air pollution update for Friday 6 March.

⚠️ I’ve triggered a high pollution alert due to a forecast of particulate levels mainly caused by Saharan dust.

⚠️ Protect the most vulnerable by avoiding unnecessary car trips, engine idling and burning garden waste.

New #BMJInvestigation into the growing threat of domestic wood burning stoves—and industry’s legal attempts to shut down clean air campaigns
www.bmj.com/content/392/...

🟠 Moderate particulate #airpollution forecast for 4th March 🟠 mainly affecting those with health conditions. Thanks to @impurbanhealth.bsky.social for finding these displays keeping the public informed 🚦🚦

The acts of defiance can be big or small. Painting over a bigoted piece of graffiti. Running a youth club for refugees in an area that mostly loathes them. Wearing a rainbow flag in an anti-queer neighbourhood.
These acts all accumulate towards something better, I have seen that in action.

As journalists working today many of us are taught to recognise disinformation when we see it and fight back against it.

Unfortunately there are some who willingly seek it out and put it on their front pages. A disgrace to the profession.

The "using a forklift at the gym to lift weights" analogy works pretty well here

Found a fascinating lecture on the nature of air pollution in Leeds from 1896. A really interesting description of measurement techniques. What caught my attention though, was that the discussion of costs of atmospheric soot was based around loss of fuel and damage
en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Cha...

I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point.

I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion

People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it

We are recruiting two Research Associates for a new project ‘Air Spaces: Getting the Measure of Air’. This project explores how we can better understand air quality in multiple dimensions

Details of the RA in Sociology: lnkd.in/eNTgMuAZ

Details of the RA in Environmental Sciences: lnkd.in/e48X28NB

SAM ALTMAN: "People talk about how much energy it takes to train an Al model ... But it also takes a lot of energy to train a human. It takes like 20 years of life and all of the food you eat during that time before you get smart."

“Evil starts when you treat other people as things. There are perhaps worse crimes, but they begin when you treat other people as things.” - Terry Pratchett

Events Bulletin Spring 2026 Spring Workshops

It's the grand finale of the @ukcleanair.bsky.social programme.

Three one day #airpollution conferences in March - Birmingham, Manchester and London covering urban air pollution, toxicology and later life and the opportunity from transdisciplinary work.

sway.cloud.microsoft/LB5Ks60dC2pH...

A border collie lying on the floor asleep next to a red football

One of the WFH joys is being immersed in your work and then looking on the floor next to you to see this

She never lived to see this moment, but it’s worth remembering that none of this would have happened without Virginia Giuffre.

She had the courage to speak out against power and privilege when it was just her word against Andrew’s.

Thanks to her, justice & accountability may finally have its day.

Don't forget to sign up to our Sandpit Workshop!

Environmental Audit Committee chooses air pollution for its next inquiry — Mums for Lungs 8th January 2026 We’re delighted to have contributed to ensuring that the Environmental Audit Committee chose air pollution for its next inquiry.

A reminder that the @commonseac.parliament.uk is running an inquiry into #AirPollution, after a successful pitch by our founder Jemima and Dr Nat Easton of @unisouthampton.bsky.social on behalf of the clean air movement. You have until 3rd March to submit evidence to the inquiry.

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Check out this starter pack to follow some fantastic #WomeninAQ and let me know who’s missing.

go.bsky.app/NQ6j7BU

#WomeninScience

BAILE INoLVIDABLE

Dancing into the week with this 🎶

open.spotify.com/track/2lTm55...

The risk of the airborne transmission of disease correlates with the amount of infectious exhaled aerosol. Since people exhale CO2 with aerosol, its conc has been used as proxy for exhaled aerosol

In this article, researchers propose a new way to estimate risk of transmission

How to spot signs of AI writing.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...

There's no time for anything but joy Reflections on reaching a final

Love every moment

The International AI Safety Report is clear-eyed: threats from AI are growing--to rights, autonomy, health, cybersecurity, and planetary well-being. The evidence is stronger than ever. Commitments from industry and government to the safe, trustworthy, and responsible use of AI are urgently needed.

Happy Monday!

A woman and a man sitting on chairs angled towards each other in a room. They are doing an interview and a camera is angled towards them. There are plants around them on the floor and on the small table between them.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Councillor Waseem Zaffar. A stalwart advocate for clean air, social justice and children’s health, Waseem was a true supporter of us and our Birmingham work with Kirsten and Maya. Our thoughts are with his wife, children and family.

Devastating

Amigos Brasileiros... Eu vi uma oportunidade muito boa para melhorar a qualidade do ar no Brasil.

Heck yeah! The EPIC AQ Fund has a new 50-75k USD funding opportunity opening soon to support orgs in 83 priority countries to tackle one of the world's largest health - and economic - issues that is chronically underfunded by global philanthropy. More info: aqfund.epic.uchicago.edu/call-for-pro...