Professor Zongbo Shi PhD

Professor Zongbo Shi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Professor of Atmospheric Biogeochemistry

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 9128
Email
z.shi@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

The atmosphere and atmospheric processes interact with the biogeochemistry of the earth system. This in turn affects human and environmental health, air quality and climate. His group addresses three areas of research central to these impacts:

  • Sources and emissions of chemical substances to the atmosphere
  • Physical and chemical transformation of aerosol particles and their constituents in the atmosphere
  • Interaction of atmospheric chemistry with biogeochemistry of ecosystems

Their work combines field measurement, laboratory analyses, chamber simulation, and numerical modelling approaches.  Our research delivers fundamental understanding of the air pollution and biogeochemical cycling processes, providing knowledge to underpin sustainable developments.

Qualifications

  • PhD Environmental Sciences- China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)
  • BA Geology – Anhui University of Science and Technology, China

Teaching

BSc Environmental Sciences / Geography / Earth Sciences

  • EVS229 Environmental Pollution

MSc Air Pollution Management and Control (as Programme lead)

  • Air pollution chemistry
  • Air pollution control technology and management
  • Causes and effects of air Pollutants

Postgraduate supervision

Zongbo Shi has research interests in atmospheric chemistry, machine learning, Net Zero, indoor air quality, health and mineral dust

Professor Shi welcomes enquiries from prospective doctoral researchers in the above areas.

PhD opportunities

Doctoral research

PhD title
Physicochemical properties and bioreactivities of PM10 and PM2.5 in Beijing air

Other activities

  • Fellow of High Education Academy
  • Member of Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Member of European Association of Geochemistry: 
  • Member of NERC peer review college
  • Reviewer of US Natural Science Foundation (NSF), French ANR and Czech Science Foundation
  • Reviewer of Environmental Science & Technology; Natural Geosciences; Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere; Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics; Chemosphere; Atmospheric Environment; Tellus-B; Environmental Chemistry etc.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Li, W, Ito, A, Wang, G, Zhi, M, Xu, L, Yuan, Q, Zhang, J, Liu, L, Wu, F, Laskin, A, Zhang, D, Zhang, X, Zhu, T, Chen, J, Mihalopoulos, N, Bougiatioti, A, Kanakidou, M, Wang, G, Hu, H, Zhao, Y & Shi, Z 2025, 'Aqueous-phase secondary organic aerosol formation on mineral dust', National Science Review, vol. 12, no. 7, nwaf221. https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaf221

Liu, H, Yi, W, Jalkanen, JP, Luo, Z, Majamäki, E, Matthias, V, Moldanová, J, Shi, Z & He, K 2025, 'Atmospheric impacts and regulation framework of shipping emissions: achievements, challenges and frontiers', Fundamental Research, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 1073-1076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmre.2024.02.013

Chen, X, Dai, Y, Wei, R, Du, B, Lu, C, MacKenzie, AR, Tang, N, Shi, Z & Yan, H 2025, 'Benefits of clean air for school children's vision health', PNAS nexus, vol. 4, no. 9, pgaf279. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf279

Srivastava, D, Saksakulkrai, S, Acton, WJF, Rooney, DJ, Hall, J, Hou, S, Wolstencroft, M, Bartington, S, Harrison, RM, Shi, Z & Bloss, WJ 2025, 'Comparative receptor modelling for the sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at urban sites in the UK', Atmospheric Environment, vol. 343, 120963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2024.120963

Guo, J, Xu, R, Liu, B, Kong, M, Yang, Y, Shi, Z, Zhang, R & Dai, Y 2025, 'Evaluating policy interventions for air quality during a national sports event with machine learning and causal framework', Atmosphere, vol. 16, no. 5, 557. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16050557

Tong, C, Dai, Y, Cole, M, Elliott, RJR, Bartington, SE, Liu, B & Shi, Z 2025, 'Further improvement in London’s air quality demands more than the Ultra Low Emission Zone policy', npj Clean Air, vol. 1, no. 1, 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44407-025-00030-9

Han, Y, Wang, C, Zhu, Y, Wu, R, Xue, Y, Zhang, X, Wang, W, Cui, Y, Han, J, Shi, Z, Wang, X & Jin, T 2025, 'Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks on Highways in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei: Constant Challenge in Pollution Control', Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, vol. 236, no. 6, 368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08026-7

Zhi, M, Wang, G, Xu, L, Li, K, Nie, W, Niu, H, Shao, L, Liu, Z, Yi, Z, Wang, Y, Shi, Z, Ito, A, Zhai, S & Li, W 2025, 'How Acid Iron Dissolution in Aged Dust Particles Responds to the Buffering Capacity of Carbonate Minerals during Asian Dust Storms', Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 59, no. 12, pp. 6167–6178. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c12370

Hodgson, JR, Bartington, S, Shi, Z & Bloss, WJ 2025, 'Impact of air quality policy scenarios on pollution inequalities in a UK metropolitan area', Frontiers, vol. 13, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1690825

Chen, X, Ching, J, Wu, F, Matsui, H, Jacobson, MZ, Zhang, F, Wang, Y, Zhang, Z, Liu, D, Zhu, S, Rudich, Y, Shi, Z, Yoo, H, Jeon, K-J & Li, W 2025, 'Locating the missing absorption enhancement due to multi‒core black carbon aerosols', Nature Communications, vol. 16, 10187. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65079-2

Liu, X, Zhang, X, Dufresne, M, Wang, T, Wu, L, Lara, R, Seco, R, Monge, M, Yáñez-Serrano, AM, Gohy, M, Petit, P, Chevalier, A, Vagnot, MP, Fortier, Y, Baudic, A, Ghersi, V, Gille, G, Lanzi, L, Gros, V, Simon, L, Héllen, H, Reimann, S, Le Bras, Z, Müller, MJ, Beddows, D, Hou, S, Shi, Z, Harrison, RM, Bloss, W, Dernie, J, Sauvage, S, Hopke, PK, Duan, X, An, T, Lewis, AC, Hopkins, JR, Liakakou, E, Mihalopoulos, N, Zhang, X, Alastuey, A, Querol, X & Salameh, T 2025, 'Measurement report: Exploring the variations in ambient BTEX in urban Europe and their environmental health implications', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 625-638. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-625-2025

Kizhakkethil, JP, Shi, Z, Bogush, A & Kourtchev, I 2025, 'Measurement report: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in particulate matter (PM10) from activated sludge aeration', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 25, no. 11, pp. 5947-5958. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5947-2025

Kourmouli, A, Hamilton, RL, Pihlblad, J, Bartlett, R, MacKenzie, AR, Hartley, IP, Ullah, S & Shi, Z 2025, 'Rapid Increase in Soil Respiration and Reduction in Soil Nitrate Availability Following CO2 Enrichment in a Mature Oak Forest', ACS Omega, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1624-1634. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c09495

Comment/debate

Liu, K, Shi, Z, Zhang, Y & Li, D 2025, 'Don’t overlook the plastic footprint of fireworks', Nature, vol. 646, no. 8087, pp. 1060-1060. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03500-y

Review article

Duan, L, Jia, S, Li, X, Wang, Y, Zhang, Y, Fu, S, Wang, Y, Ye, C, Liu, P, Shi, Z & Mu, Y 2025, 'Recent advancements in observations, sources, and environmental effects of atmospheric hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)', Atmospheric Environment, vol. 352, 121230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2025.121230

View all publications in research portal