The Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC) currently comprises 4 academic staff who act as research team leaders: Professor John Wenger, Professor Andy Ruth, Dr Dean Venables and Dr Stig Hellebust. All staff members are committed to the concept of research-led teaching and have supervised over 40 postgraduate students in front-line techniques related to atmospheric chemistry since 1999. Each student has been partnered with a postdoctoral fellow or late-stage Ph.D student to guide them in their first steps in scientific research.

The CRAC facility was set up in late 1999 shortly after Professor John Sodeau was appointed to the Chair of Physical Chemistry. It is sited in the Basement (B1) of the Kane Building and also on the top-floor of the ERI. We use a combination of laboratory, field and modeling studies to investigate three main areas of research:

• Laboratory simulations of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemistry relevant to the atmosphere.

• Linking urban field measurements of particulate matter (PM) and bioaerosols to their chemical analysis and effects on health and climate change.

• Development of new instrumental approaches for atmospheric analysis.

The CRAC research laboratories include extensive research equipment and facilities and are located in the Kane Building and the Environmental Research Institute. Since its inception, CRAC staff have won funding from many sources, including Science Foundation Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), the Irish Research Council, and European funding (including FP7, Horizon 2020, and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships), Cork City Council and local industry. The research performed is described in more detail on other web-pages on this site. CRAC staff and group members are actively involved in public outreach activities.

If you need further information then please contact Professor John Wenger