About Francis

Francis Pope is an expert on the causes and effects of climate change, air pollution and resilient cities. He draws together insights from multiple disciplines, including chemistry, biology, physics and the social sciences, to understand how climate change and air pollution affect human health and how they relate to urban development.  He is a Professor of Atmospheric Science in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

Before gaining his full Professorship in Atmospheric Science in 2018, he held a Birmingham Fellowship (2012-2017), which allow outstanding, high potential researchers to establish world-leading research groups. Previously he held positions at the University of Cambridge, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab as a Caltech postdoctoral scholar. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Bristol in physical chemistry investigating atmospheric processes.

His work is global in scope with active projects in the UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Of particular note, is his work in India and East Africa, where he has led multiple interdisciplinary grants, through which he works with various stakeholders providing policy directed research. Stakeholders include international, government and city authorities, charities, and UN bodies.

He has provided policy directed research for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Department for Transport (DfT), and Transport Scotland. He publishes widely (over 100 peer reviewed papers, 4 book chapters and many government reports). He is an editor for the prominent open access journal ‘Atmospheric Measurement Techniques’.