Our purpose
SHAPE+ is a Scottish research network focused on the connections between air pollution, health and inequalities.
Air pollution crosses disciplinary and organisational boundaries. Understanding its effects and identifying effective responses requires expertise in environmental science, health, social science, urban planning and economics, alongside knowledge from policy and practice.
We bring these perspectives together to develop shared research priorities and evidence that can support meaningful improvements in Scotland’s air quality.
Our aims
Build connections: Develop a lasting network of researchers and stakeholders able to respond to emerging air quality challenges and collaborate on future research.
Make sense of the evidence: Work together to review existing research, identify gaps and develop recommendations relevant to Scotland.
Support research exchange: Create opportunities to share projects, findings and practical experience across disciplines and sectors.
Inform decisions: Communicate findings through workshops, evidence briefs and publications that support research, policy and practice.
Support the next generation: Enable early career researchers to build relationships, contribute to shared outputs and develop research that responds to stakeholder needs.
How we work
Collaboration will shape both the questions we ask and the outputs we produce.
An initial stakeholder workshop helped identify and prioritise topics for evidence review. The network will then work together through regular online meetings to develop its findings and publications. A second stakeholder event will share the findings and explore their implications for policy, practice and future research.
Health equity at the centre
SHAPE+ will consider who is exposed to air pollution, who is most affected and how action can reduce inequalities. Our ambition is to support improvements in air quality that benefit people across Scotland, including those facing the greatest risks.
