Joint Seminar by NERI, CEE and TSI on 8 Nov 2024
(New Measurement Needs for Ultrafine Particles)

On 8 November 2024, NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) together with NUS Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) and TSI jointly organized a seminar on "New Measurement Needs for Ultrafine Particles" by Dr. Oliver Bischof, Senior Director at TSI. The seminar was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Yu Liya, the lead of Air Quality Programme at NERI.

Dr. Bischof began the seminar with a thought-provoking question: What if air quality regulations did not exist? This set the stage for an engaging discussion on the importance of accurate particle measurement and the impact of UFPs on public health and environmental policy.

Participants were actively engaged throughout the seminar. Many were seen taking notes of the information shared by Dr. Bischof during his presentation. This high level of attentiveness underscored the relevance and importance of the topic, as well as Dr. Bischof's expertise in addressing both the scientific and regulatory aspects of air quality monitoring.

Key Highlights from the Seminar

📏 Metrics Matter: Dr. Bischof emphasized particle number concentration (PNC) and particle size distributions (PSD) of airborne particles as essential metrics for accurate air quality assessments and associated health implications.

🧭 New EU Directives: EN 16976:2024 and CEN/TS 17434 are now setting guidelines for UFP measurements across the EU, encouraging harmonized, reliable data collection.

⚙️ Compliance Detection Systems: A monitoring system with careful design based on the principles of aerosol science & technology is required to comply with the EU guidelines, detecting aerosols from 10 nm and up.

The seminar concluded with a Q&A session and great networking over refreshments.

As air quality monitoring evolves, NERI is dedicated to advancing environmental research and sharing knowledge with relevant stakeholders.