Sophie HaslettResearcher

About me

I research the composition and impacts of aerosol particles: tiny particles that fill the air around us. Although they can't be seen, their impacts on the world around us are enormous. They can influence climate change and alter the structure of clouds. In addition, breathing in aerosol pollution kills millions of people across the globe each year, so it is vital to understand where this pollution is coming from and how to reduce it. 

In my research, I use mass spectrometry to identify the molecules that make up aerosol particles and traces gases in the air around them, then apply this information to understand where the particles are coming from, what changes happen to them in the atmosphere, and what impact they are having on climate and human health. I explore these questions across a broad range of environments - from the Indo-Gangetic Plain in northern India, the most polluted region in the world, to Svalbard in the Arctic, one of the most remote.

In addition to my research, I develop and teach on the TRACEE master's programme: Transdisciplinary Studies of Climate, Environment and Energy. This is a pioneering master's programme, jointly run by the CIVIS alliance of universities, which has been designed to train future leaders with the goal of building a sustainable future.