Leading global experts in air quality and climate change are due to gather at NUI Galway for the International Conference on Nucleation and Atmospheric Aerosols (ICNAA) from 13th – 17th August 2007.

The University's Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, based at the Environmental Change Institute, and the Department of Physics will host this prestigious event which was last held in Kyoto, Japan, in 2004.

The conference will examine the latest developments in nucleation, which is a phase-transition process that produces aerosols or haze particles. While atmospheric aerosols help to reduce the rate of global warming induced by greenhouse gases, they also contribute to poor air quality. The ICNAA event will also hear of the current state of the art technologies being developed globally to combat the effects of climate change.

The conference is co-chaired by Dr Colin O'Dowd, Director of the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies and lecturer at the Department of Physics, and by Professor Paul Wagner from the University of Vienna.

"NUI Galway has been chosen to host this prestigious event on the basis of our research reputation in the field and complimented by the location of Galway," explains Dr O'Dowd.

"This will bring additional international profile to atmospheric, air quality and climate change research, not only in Galway but also in Ireland."

Keynote speakers at this year's event include Professor Ramanathan, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California San Diego and Finnish Academy Professor Kulmala, University of Helsinki.

These eminent scientists have published numerous papers on aerosols and climate change in the world leading scientific journal Nature and lead large international consortia focused on addressing the key impacts of aerosol pollution on climate. Both have also received numerous international awards for they research achievements.

ENDS