Professor James Longhurst directs the Air Quality Research Group at UWE, specialising in research into the process and practice of local air quality management. He is UWE`s Associate Dean of Research and External Affairs, Faculty of Applied Sciences; Chair of the UK Institution of Environmental Sciences; Deputy Chair of the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences and a member of the Board Of The Science Council. He has advised the UK government on the development and implementation of the local air quality management process. He has written official guidance documentation and recently cooperated on an evaluation for the UK government of the review and assessment process. Professor Longhurst is also retained by DEFRA to appraise the reviews of local authority air quality assessments.