Deliverables published!
6.3.2023
A huge amount of work has been done to finish up all the material that the members of the network have been working on.
Now that our Action is wrapping up, you can find all the reports, resources and deliverables from one place:
We certainly hope these will be put to work for better indoor air!
Final Meeting of Management Committee done
8.2.2023
There is a lot of finalizing touches going on in the Action, polishing reports and completing deliverables to be delivered in the beginning of the March. Final meeting of Management Committee agreed on the last steps and also announced the availability of funding for STSM-visits (also online possible) during the final weeks of the Action.
Call for Short Term Scientific Missions open
9.2.2022
First call of Grant Period 4 for applications for Short Term Scientific Mission -grants is open, deadline 28.2.22! This grant suits well e.g. a short visit to the laboratory of a new collaborator –read more about STMS here.
New guide to improve ventilation in indoor environments
17.12.2021
INDAIRPOLLNET members already produced a guide on how to tackle COVID19 in schools last year. Now this work has been extended to include also other types of buildings, such as shops, hotels & hospitality facilities, cinemas, theaters, museums and other densely occupied places. The new ventilation guide for indoor environments aims to enable building managers to understand how the virus can accumulate and be transmitted, and also suggests practical measures on how to improve indoor air quality and reduce the transmission of viral disease by monitoring and enhancing the ventilation of the building.
Felisi JM, Querol X, Minguillón, MC, Gabriel Bekö G, Mihucz VG, Carslaw N. 2021. Ventilation guide for indoor environments. COST Action CA17136 report.
INDAIRPOLLNET highlighted by COST
18.10.2021
Some news and views of INDAIRPOLLNET published on COST website:
Guide to tackle COVID19 in schools published
6.1.2021
A group of INDAIRPOLLNET members have produced a timely guide to schools around Europe (and beyond) on best practice around ventilating their school buildings to minimise exposure to COVID-19 indoors. The guide aims to enable school managers to understand how the virus can accumulate and be transmitted in school buildings, and also suggests practical measures for reducing the viral load and hence transmission between occupants of school building.
Part I focuses on how to maintain healthy indoor air in classrooms to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via aerosols, including ventilation and air cleaning, and how to check if the ventilation is sufficient to reduce risk using CO2 as a tracer. Part II focuses on simulations of risk of infection under different scenarios (tackled in Part I) in a classroom. The guide can be applied to other types of indoor spaces, such as offices or other public buildings, though some adjustments may be needed for physical characteristics (e.g. area and volume).
Minguillón MC, Querol X, Riediker M, Felisi JM, Garrido T, Alastuey A, Bekö G, Nehr S, Wiesen P, Carslaw N. 2020. Guide for ventilation towards healthy classrooms. COST Action CA17136 report. CSIC publications
Editorial by WG 1 published in Indoor Air
28.4.2020
The aim of INDAIRPOLLNET Workgroup 1 was to review and summarize what existing measurement and model studies reveal about IAC. On the basis of this work, research priorities for each of the subgroups were formulated and written down to form the basis of the future work. These research priorities are now published in an editorial by Indoor Air.
“Recently, there has been increasing interest from experts from a wide range of backgrounds, including outdoor air quality scientists. They have enhanced our community, sparking a rapid evolution in the measurement technology used indoors, and the number, diversity, and novelty of findings.”
Great work WG1!
Job opportunity: assistant professor in the field of VOC monitoring
31.3.2020
IMT Lille Douai is in the process of recruiting a new assistant professor in the field of VOC monitoring for both indoor and outdoor air. The call is open until the end of April. If you know any good candidates, please look into more detailed information!
How does a networking event survive a virus threat?
5.3.2020
Over the last two days a group of indoor air specialists gathered in Lille, France, for a progress meeting of the COST Action “Indoor Air Pollution Network (INDAIRPOLLNET)”. The meeting took place in the midst of news about the spreading of the novel coronavirus. The threat of infection and travel restrictions meant that several researchers had to cancel their attendance or participate online. With lower attendance, how did we turn this challenge into a success?
We kicked off with sensible precautions. Scientists attending the meeting were advised to wash their hands often and avoid physical contact during the meeting. We greeted each other with elbow bumps instead of double-cheek kisses in French style. Several presentations were delivered online, and it was possible to also join also in the group discussions via remote access.
Not everything went seamlessly. With several remote presentations delivered at short notice, organising equipment and checking the sound quality of connections was challenging. Typical for any online meeting sometimes the audio would be on when not appropriate and mysteriously absent when called for. However, with some flexibility and accommodation such issues became amusing, rather than a cause of annoyance. The success of the INDAIRPOLLNET meeting was clearly aided by the constructive atmosphere, established friendships between the network members and the efforts of our host institute CNRS to accommodate the last minute changes.
In all, both the updates from the members of the network and discussions within the groups were successful. Of course, some aspects of face-to-face networking events cannot be replaced with online attendance. Nevertheless, much could be done to reduce the need for scientists to travel. Sharing your results, collaborating and learning from leading scientists in the field could all be done at least partly online. The technology is there — we would just need to invest in it and learn how to use it. For example, all research institutions should have meeting rooms with enough bandwidth to handle online meetings, technical staff responsible for setting up the video and audio connections and good quality microphones for all participants. Bad experiences with poor sound quality or unstable internet connections are often cited reasons for not using online meetings, but neither problem should be insurmountable in this day and age.
The overall effects of the new coronavirus on society are still largely unknown. Nonetheless, the push towards less travel, better online connections and new ways of interacting within the scientific community could be a silver lining. Already some conferences are trialling these ideas. Policies to lower researcher travel emissions are important steps that researchers should adopt anyway to decrease CO2 emissions and fight air pollution. Importantly, online meetings also provide equal opportunities to attend meetings regardless of location, funding, and family responsibilities.
Upcoming Indoor and workplace aerosols meeting in Braunschweig, Germany
16.10.2019
The abstract submission to Aerosols 2020 meeting is ongoing at https://www.aerosols2020.org. Great plenary speakers, all important producers of particle measuring devices and plenty of indoor chemistry related research will be presented 6.-8 May 2020 in Braunschweig, Germany. A good chance for INDAIRPOLLNET people to meet!
Annual meeting fully online
7.8.2020
Due to coronavirus, the annual meeting in September 2020 will be held fully online. It is unfortunate that we will not be able to meet each other face to face, but on the bright side, the participation will be possible for more of the members of the network. The annual meeting (and the meeting of the management committee) will be a full day event online on 16.9., ending with more informal part in the evening. We will be updating the instructions on how to participate closer the to event, stay tuned! Meanwhile, you can read up the reports of Working Groups 1 and 2, now published also here in addition to the member area.
Editorial by WG 1 published in Indoor Air
28.4.2020
The aim of INDAIRPOLLNET Workgroup 1 was to review and summarize what existing measurement and model studies reveal about IAC. On the basis of this work, research priorities for each of the subgroups were formulated and written down to form the basis of the future work. These research priorities are now published in an editorial by Indoor Air.
“Recently, there has been increasing interest from experts from a wide range of backgrounds, including outdoor air quality scientists. They have enhanced our community, sparking a rapid evolution in the measurement technology used indoors, and the number, diversity, and novelty of findings.”
Great work WG1!
Job opportunity: assistant professor in the field of VOC monitoring
31.3.2020
IMT Lille Douai is in the process of recruiting a new assistant professor in the field of VOC monitoring for both indoor and outdoor air. The call is open until the end of April. If you know any good candidates, please look into more detailed information!
How does a networking event survive a virus threat?
5.3.2020
Over the last two days a group of indoor air specialists gathered in Lille, France, for a progress meeting of the COST Action “Indoor Air Pollution Network (INDAIRPOLLNET)”. The meeting took place in the midst of news about the spreading of the novel coronavirus. The threat of infection and travel restrictions meant that several researchers had to cancel their attendance or participate online. With lower attendance, how did we turn this challenge into a success?
We kicked off with sensible precautions. Scientists attending the meeting were advised to wash their hands often and avoid physical contact during the meeting. We greeted each other with elbow bumps instead of double-cheek kisses in French style. Several presentations were delivered online, and it was possible to also join also in the group discussions via remote access.
Not everything went seamlessly. With several remote presentations delivered at short notice, organising equipment and checking the sound quality of connections was challenging. Typical for any online meeting sometimes the audio would be on when not appropriate and mysteriously absent when called for. However, with some flexibility and accommodation such issues became amusing, rather than a cause of annoyance. The success of the INDAIRPOLLNET meeting was clearly aided by the constructive atmosphere, established friendships between the network members and the efforts of our host institute CNRS to accommodate the last minute changes.
In all, both the updates from the members of the network and discussions within the groups were successful. Of course, some aspects of face-to-face networking events cannot be replaced with online attendance. Nevertheless, much could be done to reduce the need for scientists to travel. Sharing your results, collaborating and learning from leading scientists in the field could all be done at least partly online. The technology is there — we would just need to invest in it and learn how to use it. For example, all research institutions should have meeting rooms with enough bandwidth to handle online meetings, technical staff responsible for setting up the video and audio connections and good quality microphones for all participants. Bad experiences with poor sound quality or unstable internet connections are often cited reasons for not using online meetings, but neither problem should be insurmountable in this day and age.
The overall effects of the new coronavirus on society are still largely unknown. Nonetheless, the push towards less travel, better online connections and new ways of interacting within the scientific community could be a silver lining. Already some conferences are trialling these ideas. Policies to lower researcher travel emissions are important steps that researchers should adopt anyway to decrease CO2 emissions and fight air pollution. Importantly, online meetings also provide equal opportunities to attend meetings regardless of location, funding, and family responsibilities.
Upcoming Indoor and workplace aerosols meeting in Braunschweig, Germany
16.10.2019
The abstract submission to Aerosols 2020 meeting is ongoing at https://www.aerosols2020.org. Great plenary speakers, all important producers of particle measuring devices and plenty of indoor chemistry related research will be presented 6.-8 May 2020 in Braunschweig, Germany. A good chance for INDAIRPOLLNET people to meet!
3 rd Call for Short Term Scientific Missions now open!
14.10.2019
Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are institutional visits aimed at supporting individual mobility, fostering collaboration between individuals. These missions contribute to the scientific objectives of COST Action CA17136 – INDAIRPOLLNET. They are particularly intended for young scientists. The selection of applicants is based on the scientific scope of the STSM application which must clearly contribute to the overall objectives of the Action CA17136 and be related to a specific Working Group.
The third call for applications for Short Term Scientific Missions for grant period 2 is now officially open, interested researchers can apply by following the instructions and submitting their application and supporting documents until 31 January 2020.
Indoor air scientists join the demand for climate action
27.9.2019
The Indoor Air Pollution Network (COST Action INDAIRPOLLNET), a European network of more than 170 experts on indoor air quality is currently holding its second annual meeting in Porto, Portugal. This assembly of scientists, engineers and other professionals added its support to the youth-led climate movement. The group urged decision makers to take decisive action to cut climate-warming emissions and invest in carbon sequestration projects.
The group noted that transferring to clean energy for heating, transport and power would not only secure a more habitable planet, but would also save lives by reducing air pollution. “Poor air quality is the biggest environmental killer; Recent reports estimate million premature deaths annually from indoor and outdoor pollution.” air pollution expert Michael Riediker states.
Nicola Carslaw, the network’s coordinator emphasises the close connections between climate and indoor air quality: “Climate mitigation efforts will require the construction and retrofitting of buildings for energy efficiency. However, airtight buildings can adversely affect indoor air quality. It is vital that the two issues are considered together.”
“A warming climate will have a profound effect on the built environment. This must be taken into account in the design, materials and ventilation of future homes.” Michael Riediker adds.
The network members suggested several solutions to be taken to improve air quality, reduce health risks and adapt to a changing climate. However, like the youth in their strikes around the globe, the indoor air scientists stress that the most important thing is to take action, not just talk about it.
Watch the video:
Postdoctoral position in indoor environment and energy use at Chalmers University, Sweden
12.9.2019
The Division of Building Services Engineering at Chalmers are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work in their projects which focus on the relationships between indoor environment, user perception, behaviour, building systems and energy use.
For further information about the research post visit:
Closing date is 30 September 2019.
First invites to annual meeting in Porto have been sent out!
25.6.2019
The ECI workshop and annual meeting of INDAIRPOLLNET is getting closer: The first invites to MC members have been sent out!
The meeting in Porto has three components:
1) ECI workshop: Wednesday 25th September 09:00-15:00
2) MC meeting: Wednesday 25th September 15:00-17:00
3) Workshop: Thursday 26th September 9:00- 13:00 Friday 27th September.
Further details about the programme will be published soon on the website.
INDAIRPOLLNET collaborates with International Organization for Standardization
23.5.2019
INDAIRPOLLNET has established a liaison to ISO/TC 146/SC 6, the technical committee responsible for international standardization in the field of indoor air quality. This liaison on working group level will facilitate extended networking and mutual knowledge transfer to translate scientific knowledge to practical information for professional building designers, operators and facility managers.
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