Professor John Wenger is Professor of Physical Chemistry at University College Cork (UCC) and Director of the Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry. He completed his BSc and PhD at the University of East Anglia, followed by fellowships at the University of Nottingham and University College Dublin, before joining UCC in 1999.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and author of over 130 peer-reviewed articles. His research specializes in the role of atmospheric chemistry in governing air quality and climate. A pioneer in experimental simulations of the atmosphere, Prof Wenger spearheaded the development of the Irish Atmospheric Simulation Chamber (IASC) facility at UCC, integrating Ireland into prestigious pan-European research projects and serving as the national contact point for ACTRIS.

His research on the sources of particulate matter has directly informed national policy, contributing to Ireland’s Clean Air Strategy and the 2022 Solid Fuel Regulations. Prof Wenger is currently playing a leading role in the €6.5 million PEACE-Air initiative, addressing shared air quality challenges across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Prof Wenger served on Ireland’s 8th EPA Advisory Committee and chaired the government’s Expert Advisory Group on Ventilation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also championed equality, diversity, and inclusion, leading efforts to secure a Departmental Athena SWAN Bronze Award for the School of Chemistry in UCC.

Deeply committed to public engagement, Wenger regularly attends school visits and public events and contributes to national media to highlight the importance of clean air for public health and the environment.

Prof John Wenger leads a research group in the Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC Lab) at University College Cork. The group is well established within the global atmospheric chemistry community and collaborates extensively with international colleagues.

Current research focuses on: 

• The atmospheric chemistry of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA).
• The chemical composition and sources of atmospheric aerosols.
• Application of low-cost sensor networks for monitoring air quality.

Chemistry of VOCs and SOA

Laboratory experiments on the atmospheric chemistry of VOCs and SOAs are performed under controlled conditions in the custom-built Irish Atmospheric Simulation Chamber (IASC) facility. Prof Wenger’s research has advanced this field by improving our understanding of atmospheric degradation processes. His work identifies reaction pathways for SOA formation and develops new methods to detect atmospheric oxidation products. This research provides vital parameters for air quality and climate modelling. 

Source Apportionment of Particulate Matter

The composition and sources of atmospheric aerosols are investigated through field measurements of ambient particulate matter coupled with source apportionment techniques. Field-based research using online and offline instrumentation quantifies the various sources of air pollution in different environments. Key examples include residential areas (the SAPPHIRE project), Dublin Port (PortAIR), and Irish towns (TownAir). The results help shape policies and strategies for improving air quality.

Air Quality Monitoring with Low-Cost Sensor Networks

Low-cost sensors enable continuous monitoring of air quality variations on a local and hyperlocal scale. In partnership with Cork City Council, the CRAC Lab established the first air sensor monitoring network in Ireland. The lab also contributed critical local data to the national LIFE Emerald project to improve Ireland's primary air forecasting systems. Advanced calibration and data analysis procedures are used to determine the strength of local pollution sources. This work turns low-cost tools into high-quality data sources to support local decisions on improving air quality and protecting public health.

Prof Wenger has developed numerous modules for the BSc programmes in Chemistry and Environmental Science at UCC. His current contributions span foundational courses on Physical Chemistry and specialized modules directly linked to my research on Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry.

•                     The Environment (EV1002)

•                     Energetics and Kinetics (CM2003)

•                     Reaction Kinetics, Photochemistry & Electrochemistry (CM3017)

•                     Environmental Chemistry and Analysis (CM3104)

•                     Scientific Communication and Literacy Skills (CM3028)

•                     Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution (CM4112)

•                     Chemistry Research Projects (CM4206)

•                     Chemical Physics Research Projects (CY4002)

•                     Sustainable Materials and the Environment (CM6033)

Previous:

·       Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry (CM1200 and CM1201)

·       Lasers, Photochemistry & Spectroscopy (CM4019)

Funding secured in the last 10 years

Emma Galloway

Amir Ben Brik

Shona O'Sullivan

Shogo Saito