60 Seconds with...Professor Eloise Marais

28 October 2024

As Professor Marais prepares for her Inaugural Lecture on 15 January 2025, we spoke with her about atmospheric science and the impact of her research on environmental policy.

Tell us a little about your research

I lead the UCL Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality research group. The group currently includes four PhD students (Nana, Bex, Eleanor, and Huilin) and one postdoc (Connor).

The group’s alumni community comprise three PhD students, five postdocs, and a software engineer.

A core research tool we all use is a very versatile numerical model that has enabled us to investigate a wide variety of topics, from the health effects of air pollution produced by the fossil fuel industry to gauging how little is known about chemistry in the upper layers of the troposphere to assess the impact of cruising altitude aircraft on climate.

We also monitor air pollution over London with instruments on a rooftop in UCL and use data from NASA research aircraft and develop new datasets from space-based instruments.

Why is your research important?

All the research I do has a direct link to environmental regulation, whether it’s identifying new sources of air pollution, or assessing the influence of these sources on the quality of the air we breathe and the impact this has on our health, or determining what environmental factors affect the chemistry of the urban environment.

What inspires you in your work?

My work motivates me to get up in the morning, because I know I’m going to learn something new, make an important contribution to knowledge, and collaborate with amazingly smart people based all over the world. My career path has also given me many opportunities to pivot to new challenges. I majored in Chemistry in Undergraduate despite not having done science at school.

I pursued a PhD in atmospheric chemistry transport modelling, even though I’d never coded in my life. And, in my career, I pursue research projects that focus on aspects new to me, like air pollution from rocket launches and from agriculture, managing and maintaining an instrument on a UCL rooftop, and developing new ways to represent lightning emissions in models.

And it’s working with PhD students and postdocs who are also keen to develop new skills that adds an exciting dimension to this learning experience!

What has been your most memorable career moment so far?

This is challenging to answer, as there are many highlights, like PhD students graduating, postdocs securing jobs, research papers getting overwhelming media attention.

A most recent highlight is working with legal entities in South Africa and non-profit organisations in the US to successfully appeal against environmental authorisation for a fossil fuel extraction company wanting to expand natural gas production at a globally geological important UNESCO Heritage site in South Africa. This is the first time that my expertise was used directly to prevent environmental damage.

What passions/hobbies do you have outside of work?

I’m obsessed with hiking. The addiction started during COVID when the lockdowns ended, but we were still working from home. My husband and I would make our way to the Peak District every Saturday. Since then we’ve been heading to the Lake District twice a year to make our way through the 200-odd Wainwrights. We’ve so far bagged 59.