QED announced as partner for QUT study into IAQ

by Graeme McLeish, Senior Consultant

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has announed distinguished Professor, Lidia Morawska, will lead a new $5 million training centre to reduce airborne infections through improved indoor air quality (IAQ) for better public health in new building systems.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Advanced Building Systems Against Airborne Infection Transmission aims to reduce airborne infection transmission by improving indoor air quality while maintaining comfort and efficiency.

The QED team will be working under the leadership of Professor Morawska and other industry partners towards a public health revolution in relation to indoor air quality (IAQ) within the built environment, relevant to new buildings as well as existing building stock, in the form of retrofits and upgrades where necessary.

Professor Morawska is well-known in the industry for leading the fight for better indoor air quality and alerting the world to the airborne transmission of respiratory infections including COVID-19, where she called for a ventilation revolution.

“Respiratory infectious diseases spread mainly by airborne transmission, which is the inhalation from the air of virus or bacteria-laden particles generated during breathing, speaking and all other human respiratory activities.

“Protecting building occupants from airborne infection in all shared interior spaces must be strategically controlled.

“This has never previously been envisioned outside specialised sections of health care facilities," said Professor Morawska.

QED are very proud to be associated with such a prestigious and ambitious project and look forward to helping train Australia’s next generation of research professionals and increase collaboration with industries vital to Australia’s social and economic future.