The aim of this project is to guide and improve knowledge exchange practices between experts and citizens in order to tackle air pollution in Greater Manchester. This project specifically explores women's perspectives of air pollution and imaginings of clean urban environments. Exploring women's perceptions will bring about more relevant policies and will raise awareness more effectively. Women have different travel patterns to those of men: we still take on most of the responsibility of unpaid work (such as shopping for groceries or escorting children to school), and transportation is one of the main contributors to air pollution. Furthermore, women seem to lead more sustainable lifestyles: we walk more and rely more on public transport than men do, so exploring women's perceptions and imaginings could be the key to sustainable behaviour.

 

This PhD will:

 

1) Explore public perception of environmental problems in Greater Manchester.

 

2) Compare how social media, serious games, educational programmes, citizen science, and forums can be employed for different communication purposes in relation to air pollution.  

 

3) Investigate women's perceptions of air pollution in Greater Manchester and their imaginings of clean urban environments.