Project description
Scientific training on atmospheric pollution
Exposure to high levels of atmospheric pollutants can cause a variety of adverse effects on human health. This is why improving air pollution research is important so as to protect public health. The EU-funded ATMOS project will study scientific problems related to atmospheric pollution and focus on training students in atmospheric studies. The project will establish a network of high-level multidisciplinary researchers to improve collaboration between EU and non-EU researchers. It will also develop innovative methods to characterise the atmospheric pollutants and their interactions. ATMOS will share and disseminate scientific information about atmospheric pollutants’ identification and pioneering gas capture techniques.
Objective
ATMOS denotes a consortium of eleven scientific institutions, six beneficiaries and five partners which main objective is to establish a collaborative effort for the study of scientific problems related to the atmosphere pollution elements, with an emphasis on training students in atmospheric sciences. This project points to: 1) create a network of highly qualified multidisciplinary researchers which strengthens the collaboration among researchers from EU and third countries; 2) develop novel approaches aiming at characterizing the atmospherical pollutants and their interactions, and communicating the results to the general public; 3) share and disseminate scientific information which contributes to atmosphere pollutants detection and the development of innovative gas capture techniques; 4) enhance the academic prospects of the participants, in particular, of female researchers from third countries. ATMOS provides a novel multifaceted approach. The key advances are highlighted in three scientific packages. The main novelties of the project are: a) The spectroscopic description of rather complex uncharacterized organic volatil compounds focused to their detection by the large scale and local instruments; b) the study of reactive processes to understand in detail the connection between VOCs and atmospheric radicals and to describe the relevant role of radicals; c) the exploitation of some pollutants as reagents towards the preparation of innovative materials, contributing to the reduction of their presence in the environment. ATMOS employs laboratory techniques for spectroscopy and molecular fluid dynamics, atmosphere simulation chambers, and technical tools (air monitoring station or synthesis of new capture materials), combined with quantum chemical calculations and theoretical developments. Secondments and networking activities, such as two workshops, a winter school, and an international conference, are designed to facilitate the interdisciplinary work.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Coordinator
28006 Madrid
Spain