K Sharp MD, Barry Kirby, will unveil research into air pollution and behavioural change at this year’s Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors Conference.
It goes without saying that we all need air to breathe. But how often do we stop and think about the quality of the air around us? And what can we do about it?
That’s exactly what K Sharp’s Managing Director, Barry Kirby – along with Vindico’s Professor Paul Lewis and Sam Lewis – reveals in his new, peer-reviewed paper, Do You Think Air? Public Interest in Air Pollution.
The paper reveals the current levels of public interest on the topic of air pollution. It also offers meaningful data and insights which can be used to develop longer term behavioural change methods for local governments, policy makers, businesses, and communities.
And that’s what K Sharp will be looking to achieve next.
K Sharp will apply their science-backed techniques – which they have already implemented for several clients in the public and defence sectors – to encourage positive behaviour change.
As Barry puts it:
“Understanding public knowledge of air quality is fundamental to the success of Government policy and communications around air pollution. It’s also key for driving positive change.
“The choices we make, such as how we heat our homes and what car we opt to drive, and the way we behave, including how frequently we use transport, how long our engines are left idling and how often we burn materials, all have a significant impact on air quality.
“It’s our job as Human Factors practitioners to raise awareness of the impact of these everyday choices, which we so often carry out on autopilot, and to implement systems that will influence behaviour for the better.
“It’s one thing to obtain valuable information on air pollution, but our role is to communicate it in a way that’s easy to interpret, enticing to engage with, relatable to everyday living, and simple to act on.
“The sheer scope of the topic means that it’s hard to see how a single person making a small change can have an impact. And that’s where we come in.”
The paper will officially launch at the annual Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors Conference, which takes place on 19 – 21 April 2021. It’s one of the largest gatherings of ergonomists and human factors professionals in the world, and it showcases the very best in the field.
You can find out more about this year's event here.
