Advancing Atmospheric Heterogeneous (Photo)chemistry and Microphysics in the age of Emerging Nanoparticles and Climate Change

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The lives of all human beings are dependent on clean air. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 9 out of 10 humans inhale polluted air, which is responsible for 1 out of 9 deaths globally. Air pollution is linked to ~ 9 million premature deaths. Cities are hot spots for air pollution. Urban atmospheric emissions contribute ~50% to 80% of total global greenhouse gas emissions as well as airborne particles or aerosols, including small nanoparticles, and those consisting of manufactured emerging contaminants. Since air is the fastest moving fluid in the Earth's ecosystem, air pollutants (such as nanoparticles) can be transported to remote regions, such as Arctic. This exciting program goals is to address major uncertainties identified by both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the WHO: aerosols, with a focus on smaller nanoparticles, physicochemical processes. The proposed Rs recent world-class discoveries, proposing innovative research, which will establish a new niche for Canada in the domain of airborne nanoparticles and emerging contaminants. It is well-aligned with the government of Canada's strategic development plan, including environment, Arctic, urban development, and sustainable technology. The overarching goal of this research program is to better understand the sources and processes controlling the budget of airborne aerosols and emerging nano-contaminants by developing an innovative approach that will integrate physical and analytical chemistry, with modelling and development of technology, in collaboration with network of partners, to create a decision tool that we foresee can be incorporated into Canadian air quality models, which are currently used for policy making purposes. It will lead to more effective planning of environmental management measures specifically targeted against air pollution. The specific R&D themes include: (a) advancing the boundaries of understanding of the physicochemical processes involving airborne nanoparticles, focusing on emerging nano-contaminants, and (b) opening a new era of sustainable technology for atmospheric observation and air pollution remediation. Our objectives will be addressed using a complementary observational, experimental and modelling as well as technology development approach. This team has the savoir-faire, world-class expertise, cutting edge facilities, to address these important objectives effectively. We believe that this program is of medium risk and of very high impact potential. This program will conduce a formidable and stimulating multidisciplinary environment to ensure access to state-of-the-art facilities and world-class training of 18 bright HQP per year. These young scientists will obtain their career of their choice to make significant contributions to the Canadian society. They will become future leaders in academia, governmental, industrial, and NGOs, all former ream alumni achieved.