Dr. Jenny Mack:

I wish to add to that. I am leading the PEACE-Air programme for the institute. It was mentioned in the opening statement. We are the health partner across ten partners working to look at air quality on the island of Ireland.

On community engagement, the research we are building is to inform policy and help policymakers make decisions to try to improve air quality and health, leading to more equitable societies. However, part of that has to be in community engagement because we are trying to improve the air quality for people who live in communities and who will have their own unique challenges when it comes to air pollution, the density of roads, the quality of housing and the quality of the air they breathe. Some of that work is going to involve working with local communities as well as citizen science with the use of air quality measurement tools.

While from the institute's perspective, top-down approaches in policy and regulation are usually the most evidence-based ways to improve health on a population level, you have to bring people with you. Air pollution and health involves quite a complex message and it is sometimes quite overwhelming to explain, for people to understand and to bring the community alongside you, including children and young people in particular who are concerned about the environment they live in. It is hugely important to us. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to be involved in that community engagement-type research as part of the project.