Speaker module

Jim McQuaid’s research career has primarily focused upon observations of the atmospheric composition.  His work crosses a diverse range of scientific questions including mechanisms that control atmospheric mineral dust in the Sahara, how measurements of ice nucleating particles can improve quantitative physical understanding of cloud responses to a warming climate, and the impact of long-range transport of aerosols on surface biology and albedo of the Greenland Icesheet. More recently he has started working with low-cost sensors to determine ambient PM2.5. He has established Sensing Leeds which is a partnership with Leeds City Council and Leeds Beckett University. It is the largest network of low-cost sensors in the UK outside of London. This has included working with primary schools and engagement with local stakeholders/communities. He is a member of the Leeds City Council Air Quality and Health Board which guides the city’s future strategy to tackle air pollution issues in the city.  He is passionate about communicating research to a non-specialist audience. In 2024 he devised the Air Quality Stripes (www.airqualitystripes.info) to illustrate global trends in PM2.5 since 1850.