EIA Air Quality Working Group (Q3)
The EIA Air Quality Working Group is delighted to welcome Krzysztof Ciupek, Senior Scientist at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), who will present at our meeting on 25 August.
Krzysztof leads the technical delivery of the UK Black Carbon Network on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations and is a recognised specialist in aerosol measurement science, black carbon monitoring and air quality metrology. His work focuses on improving the accuracy, consistency and standardisation of black carbon measurements for air quality, health and climate applications. He also supports the development of advanced calibration facilities and measurement approaches within NPL’s Air Quality and Aerosol Metrology Group.
About the Speaker
Krzysztof Ciupek is a Senior Scientist in NPL’s Air Quality and Aerosol Metrology Group. He has more than 15 years’ experience in scientific research and has been involved in a range of projects relating to particle measurement, black carbon monitoring, calibration science and environmental measurement standards. He currently leads the technical delivery of the UK’s Black Carbon Network and contributes to international efforts to improve the standardisation of black carbon measurement methods. He holds a PhD from Imperial College London, where his research focused on improving the accuracy of black carbon measurements for air quality and climate change applications.
Presentation Overview
Black Carbon Monitoring in the UK: Why It Matters
The first part of Krzysztof’s presentation will provide an overview of the UK Black Carbon Network, one of the longest-running black carbon monitoring programmes in Europe. Attendees will learn:
- What black carbon is and why it is an important air quality and climate pollutant.
- How black carbon is measured and interpreted.
- The history and development of the UK’s monitoring network.
- How black carbon data supports policy, research and public health understanding.
- Emerging trends and future opportunities in black carbon monitoring.
The session will be particularly valuable for members who may be less familiar with black carbon as an air quality parameter, highlighting its role as an indicator of combustion emissions and its importance in both health and climate discussions. The UK Black Carbon Network has been operating since 2006 as a continuation of a much longer historical record dating back to the UK’s black smoke measurements of the 1920s.
Unlocking NPL Expertise Through Measurement for Business
Krzysztof will also introduce Measurement for Business (MfB), an NPL programme that provides UK SMEs with access to specialist measurement science expertise, engineering support and world-class facilities at no cost to the participating business.
This little-known but highly valuable programme can help organisations:
- Accelerate product development and innovation.
- Improve product performance and reliability.
- Validate measurements and testing methodologies.
- Address technical barriers to market entry.
- Access specialist facilities and scientific expertise that may otherwise be unavailable.
The session will be especially relevant to manufacturers, technology developers, sensor companies, system integrators and other organisations looking to bring new environmental and air quality products to market.
Indoor Air Quality and Emerging Measurement Challenges
The presentation will also touch on NPL’s wider activities in air quality measurement science, including relevant work associated with indoor air quality, aerosol measurement and environmental monitoring, providing insight into how measurement science underpins innovation and confidence in air quality technologies.
Why attend?
This presentation combines practical insights into a nationally important air quality monitoring network with a valuable opportunity to learn about support that could help members accelerate innovation, product development and market growth through access to NPL’s unique expertise and facilities.