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Congratulations to this year’s Ian McCrae Award winner Sophie Brough!

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Sophie Brough was named the winner of the 2024 Ian McCrae Award at the Routes to Clean Air conference on the 11th October.

This annual award takes the form of an essay competition that is open to early careers members of the IAQM. It is presented in honour of the late Dr Ian McCrae who made significant contributions to the understanding of emissions from transport and their links with air quality. 


This year, entrants were asked to submit an essay on the following topic: 

“Given the links between good air and good health, how can we make wider society understand the importance of air quality improvement? What can those working in the air quality discipline do to improve its messaging so people are prepared to change their own behaviours?”

Sophie Brough, Graduate Air Quality Consultant at Hoare Lea, produced a fantastic essay to receive the top score. All entries were of an extremely high standard, emphasising the quality of knowledge present across the Early Careers Network.

Sophie’s winning essay spoke to the need for increased public understanding of the links between air quality and health, emphasising that messaging needs to be positive rather than fear-inducing to inspire necessary behaviour change. She suggested engaging with school pupils, as well as families, to promote understanding of the daily habits that can impact air quality. Sophie also advocated for real-time air quality data to be more readily available to the public, as well as incentives to increase use of sustainable travel options. The judges were extremely impressed by Sophie’s evident understanding of the topic as well as the validity of her proposed solutions.

You can read Sophie’s essay here.

Thank you to everyone who submitted, and please do keep an eye out for next year’s topic for another chance to win this prestigious title.

Sophie Brough presents to attendees after receiving the Ian McCrae Award. Claire Holman presents Sophie Brough with her trophy.

2024 Ian McCrae Award Winner Sophie Brough presenting to attendees and receiving her trophy at Routes to Clean Air air quality conference from Claire Holman.
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