Air Centre
OPAL Air Centre
Join our science fun days and learn more about air pollution
Air pollution is an issue of global importance and understanding its impact on the natural environment is one of the biggest challenges facing biologists.
Understanding the impact of air pollution
The new OPAL Air Centre at Imperial College's Silwood Park campus in Berkshire is home to an experimental open top study chamber so we can expose plants to air pollutants, particularly ozone, in a controlled and measured way.
Our research is focussed on understanding the impact of pollution on individual plants, plant communities, and important ecological functions.
Open days and summer schools
We organise open days and summer schools so that groups can learn about the role of air pollution in shaping the natural environment and join in our scientific research. The aim is to help people develop a detailed understanding of this subject.
Get involved
Come along to a science fun day or summer school, or visit the Air Centre. We can also help you run activities in your own school or community, or arrange to visit you. If you are a teacher or leader of a youth or community group please contact us about setting up a talk or activities.
March 2010 update - OPAL Air Centre on the road
The OPAL Air Centre took its road show 'Air Science in Science week' to selected schools in Hounslow during National Science and Engineering Week. We worked with children with behavioural and moderate learning difficulties at two schools in the borough, Lindon-Bennet School and Cedars Primary School.
Students benefitted from a unique opportunity to work with research scientists on a range of fun and interactive learning activities. If your school would be interested in a visit from the Air Centre staff use the contact details below.
Contact us
Emma Green: opalair [at] imperial [dot] ac [dot] uk
Join in the OPAL air survey
Investigate lichens on trees and find out about local air pollution.
Join in the OPAL water survey
How healthy is your local lake or pond? Identify the invertebrates that live there to find out.
OPAL Air Centre is led by Imperial College, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot
OPAL Air
How does air pollution affect our natural environment?
Dr William Purvis of the Natural History Museum talks about lichens in London, past and present.
We want to raise awareness of how air pollution and climate change shape our environment and help everyone understand the global issues it raises.
OPAL Air research
Our scientists are conducting a number of research projects to investigate the impacts of climate change and air pollution. You can learn more about this work on the Air Centre and Climate Change Research Centre pages.
Air survey - take part today
Help us monitor local air quality throughout England.
Dr Nathan Callaghan of the OPAL Air Centre discusses the tar spot of sycamore activity in the OPAL air survey
By recording lichens on trees and tar spot on sycamore leaves, you can help our scientists answer important questions about the impacts of local air pollution.
The OPAL air survey is the second in a series of six OPAL surveys exploring the state of our environment. Everyone can take part in this valuable research project, all you need is one of our survey packs, which can be downloaded from the air survey pages.
Discover more about lichens
Lichen guide - an online guide to the air survey indicator lichens.
British Lichen Society - A society dedicated to stimulating and advancing interest in lichenology.
British Lichens - A large collection of images of British lichens.
Policy and regulation
If you are interested in learning more about government policy on air quality then please visit:
Defra - www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/air-quality.
Air Pollution Information System (APIS) - www.apis.ac.uk.
Contact us
opalair@imperial.ac.uk
OPAL Air is led by Imperial College, Silwood Campus, Ascot