CHILI inaugural seminar

CHILI is a new project which aims to ensure that we support and improve children’s health and education as school and nursery buildings are adapted for energy efficiency. This was the first in a series of seminars hosted by CHILI, bringing together experts to explore children’s learning environments and their health.

Professors Pia Hardelid and Dejan Mumovic (CHILI co-directors) will began with an overview of the CHILI vision, followed by presentations from:

• Professor Russell Viner (outgoing Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department for Education), on the importance of supporting healthy learning environments for children and young people (recorded).
• Dr Alice Handy (Imperial College London), presenting findings comparing PM_2.5 concentrations collected from school air quality data, to outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations (as recorded by background Defra AURN stations).
• Dr Michaela James (University of Swansea) explaining how HAPPEN data can deepen our understanding of wellbeing in schools and how these insights can guide more supportive, equitable learning environments.
• Matthew Clark (Hertfordshire County Council) sharing insights from the Hertfordshire experience of installing HEPA filters in primary schools, how partnering up with research colleagues helped make the case for investment and enable wider rollout and the challenges along the way.