Our research community addresses two urgent global grand challenges: climate change and air pollution. We are involved in studying fundamental questions at the heart of the coupled air quality-climate change problem. These include natural and anthropogenic emissions, natural feedback mechanisms, mitigation policies and actions, including their legal and technical aspects, as well as human health effects of these environmental problems.
Together our research groups that represent different disciplines aim to quantify various direct and indirect health effects of climate change and mitigation measures, and to increase understanding on effect pathways. Our research focus related to the natural feedback mechanisms is on biosphere-atmosphere interactions, biological responses to management and climate change, and aerosol forcing in the changing ecosystems. We also focus on CO2 recirculation (renewable fuels and chemicals) and overall emission reduction technologies in small scale energy production, transportation (catalysts and battery technology), and further the interplay between new technologies, air pollutants, human health and climate. Our research also covers the functioning of climate law and policy at the international, European, national and sub-national levels, as well as gaps, linkages and synergies in the regulation of climate change and air quality.
Overall, the research community conducts scientifically significant, internationally recognized multidisciplinary research of wide societal relevance and impact.
Researchers' knowledge of atmospheric fine particles, aerosols, remains incomplete. However, in order to explain global climate change, an increasingly accurate understanding of the life cycle of nanoparticles and their interaction with clouds are necessary.
Annele Virtanen
Professor, Head of the Aerosol Physics Research Group

News and events
News on research topics
Upcoming events
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12
May
2025
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14
May
2025
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15
May
2025
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15
May
2025
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15
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2025
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16
May
2025
Research groups
Master's degree and doctoral programmes
Partners
Further information
- Professor , Aerosol Physics (APG)
- Professor , Aerosol Physics (APG)
- Associate Professor (tenure track) , Inverse Problems (IPG)
- Professor , Environmental Catalysis (EC)
- Professor , Biogeochemistry (BGC)
- Associate Professor , Environmental Ecology (EERG)
- Professor , Environmental Epidemiology (EPI)
- Associate Professor , Fine particle laboratory (FINE)
- Research Director , Indoor Environment and Occupational Health (IEH)
- Associate Professor , Inhalation Toxicology (INTOLA)
- Professor , Plant Ecology (PEG)
- Professor , Peatland and Soil Ecology (PSE)
- Professor , Climate Law (CL)