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Dr Ben Williams

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Ben Williams

Senior Research Fellow in Air Quality Management


Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research (2023)
Journal Article
Williams, B., De Vito, L., Margarida Sardo, A., Pringle, K., Hansen, M., Taylor, M., …Hayes, E. (2023). Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research. Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, 1(e11), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1017/plc.2023.11

Microplastics are ubiquitous in our environment but their presence in air is less well understood. Homes are likely a key source of airborne microplastics and microfibres to the environment owing to the frequent use and storage of plastics and textil... Read More about Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research.

The application of ‘elite interviewing’ methodology in transdisciplinary research: A record of process and lessons learned during a 3-year pilot in urban planetary health research (2021)
Journal Article
Scally, G., Black, D., Pilkington, P., Williams, B., Ige-Elegbede, J., & Prestwood, E. (2021). The application of ‘elite interviewing’ methodology in transdisciplinary research: A record of process and lessons learned during a 3-year pilot in urban planetary health research. Journal of Urban Health, 98(3), 404-414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-021-00542-1

This paper sets out the rationale and process for the interviewing methodology utilized during a 3-year research pilot, ‘Moving Health Upstream in Urban Development’ (UPSTREAM). The project had two primary aims: firstly, to attempt to value economica... Read More about The application of ‘elite interviewing’ methodology in transdisciplinary research: A record of process and lessons learned during a 3-year pilot in urban planetary health research.

Overcoming systemic barriers preventing healthy urban development in the UK: Main findings from interviewing senior decision-makers during a 3-year planetary health pilot (2021)
Journal Article
Black, D., Pilkington, P., Williams, B., Ige, J., Prestwood, E., Hunt, A., …Scally, G. (2021). Overcoming systemic barriers preventing healthy urban development in the UK: Main findings from interviewing senior decision-makers during a 3-year planetary health pilot. Journal of Urban Health, 98, 415-427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-021-00537-y

This paper sets out the main findings from two rounds of interviews with senior representatives from the UK’s urban development industry: the third and final phase of a 3-year pilot, Moving Health Upstream in Urban Development’ (UPSTREAM). The projec... Read More about Overcoming systemic barriers preventing healthy urban development in the UK: Main findings from interviewing senior decision-makers during a 3-year planetary health pilot.

A framework for assessing the contribution of UK local authorities toward compliance with the EU ambient air quality directive (2021)
Journal Article
Fremantle, K., De Vito, L., Williams, B., & Longhurst, J. (2022). A framework for assessing the contribution of UK local authorities toward compliance with the EU ambient air quality directive. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 65(2), 356-373. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2021.1888698

Implementation outcomes of the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) (2008/50/EC)) are weak across European Union (EU) member states. In the UK, Local Authorities (LAs) must work toward reducing air pollution, however, means of assessing the extent an... Read More about A framework for assessing the contribution of UK local authorities toward compliance with the EU ambient air quality directive.

Designing healthier neighbourhoods: A systematic review of the impact of the neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing (2020)
Journal Article
Ige-Elegbede, J., Pilkington, P., Orme, J., Williams, B., Prestwood, E., Black, D., & Carmichael, L. (2022). Designing healthier neighbourhoods: A systematic review of the impact of the neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing. Cities and Health, 6(5), 1004-1019. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2020.1799173

Several studies have investigated the impact of neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing, yet there are limited reviews investigating the quality of the evidence and the most effective interventions at a population level. This systematic review a... Read More about Designing healthier neighbourhoods: A systematic review of the impact of the neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing.

The legacy of COVID-19: Lessons and challenges for city-scale air quality management in the UK (2020)
Journal Article
De Vito, L., Barnes, J., Longhurst, J., Williams, B., & Hayes, E. (2022). The legacy of COVID-19: Lessons and challenges for city-scale air quality management in the UK. Cities and Health, 5(1), S170-S173. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2020.1796422

The lockdown enforced by the UK Government to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to an unparalleled reduction in traffic volumes and significant drop in nitrogen dioxide concentrations in most cities, although the picture emerging fro... Read More about The legacy of COVID-19: Lessons and challenges for city-scale air quality management in the UK.