On 8-11 June 2026, UWE Bristol hosted two parallel environmental conferences: the 31st International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution and the 6th International Conference on Environmental and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development. Both conferences were organised by the Wessex Institute and co-chaired by Dr Stavros Syngellakis of the Wessex Institute and Prof. Jo Barnes and Dr Ben Williams of the Centre for Environment, Society and Resilience, UWE Bristol (as featured in image above).
Air Pollution 2026 boasted some great talks across a range of related topics and an excellent Special Session on “Possible implications of net zero technologies on air quality”, organised by Dr Philippa Douglas of the Environment Agency, United Kingdom. Similarly, Environmental Pollution 2026 also enjoyed a range of talks covering the triple threat of climate change, pollution and biodiversity collapse, as well as progress in ensuring sustainability through more constructive and progressive approaches.
As well as seasoned academics, it was brilliant to see so many top-class student speakers presenting, including colleagues from Bristol University and our own Postgraduate Researcher, Sayda Shejuti.
Sayda Shejuti presenting her PhD research on microplastics pollution at the Environmental Impact 2026 conference
It was a welcome return to be back ‘in the flesh’ for these two conferences following a transition to online conference delivery post-Covid19. Moreover, it was the first time these events had been hosted at UWE Bristol. Attendees, who had travelled from around the world, loved the venue and facilities, especially the guided walk around Bristol Harbourside and conference dinner at River Station.
Attendees from both conferences attending the harbourside walk and conference dinner
You can find details of the papers selected for presentation that have been included in the Conference Proceedings and permanently stored in the WIT eLibrary (see https://www.witpress.com/elibrary) from where they can now be freely downloaded, and from where you can purchase copies of the conference proceedings: Air Pollution XXXI and Environmental Impact VI.
Many thanks to all of the speakers, the Wessex Institute, especially Dr Stavros Syngellakis, Marta Graczyk and David Franco van Buuren, the International Advisory Committee, my colleagues, co-chairs and and keynotes, including Emeritus Professor Jim Longhurst, and to UWE Events and Hospitality for facilitating.
Written by Professor Jo Barnes
