Scientific Outreach & Impact Officer
Biological and Environmental Sciences Stirling
I am an interdisciplinary social, environmental and public health researcher concentrating on reducing public emissions of and exposure to air pollution. My work centres around collaborating with various stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to air quality-related problems using creative citizen science-based approaches and participatory methods to collect, interpret and present air quality data.
Education PhD in air quality, health and behaviour change (2019 - 2024; University of Stirling) MSc Environmental Management (Distinction; 2017 - 2018; University of Stirling) BSc (with hons) Environmental Geography (1st class; 2013 - 2017; University of Stirling)
Professional memberships Member of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) (2023 – now) Member of the UK Indoor Environments Group (UKIEG) (2024 – now)
Funding obtained 2023 | ISEE Wartenberg Travel Award ($2,000) Awarded to attend and present at the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology Conference hosted in Taiwan in 2023.
2023 | The Aerosol Society Early Career Scientist Travel Award (£500) Awarded to attend and present at the International Society of Exposure Science Conference hosted in Chicago, USA in 2023.
2023 | Clean Air Programme Baverstock Bursary (£300) Awarded to attend and present at the International Society of Exposure Science Conference hosted in Chicago, USA in 2023.
2022-2023 | Scottish Government (£11,323) Raising awareness of air quality and co-designing community-led solutions in Stirlingshire
2022 & 2023 | Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences (£4,570 2022; £2,500 2023; funding obtained as part of ESHH Research Group) Bridging the Divide: Using participatory methods for interdisciplinary research
PhD | Co-developing strategies to reduce exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Scotland.
Research Assistant | Let’s Breathe: Exploring household air pollution through the experiences of African women and children.
Article
McCarron A, Semple S, Swanson V, Gillespie C, Braban C & Price HD (2024) Piloting co-developed behaviour change interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution and improve self-reported asthma-related health. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-024-00661-2
Article
“I have to stay inside …”: Experiences of air pollution for people with asthma
McCarron A, Semple S, Swanson V, Braban CF, Gillespie C & Price HD (2024) “I have to stay inside …”: Experiences of air pollution for people with asthma. Health & Place, 85, Art. No.: 103150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103150
Article
Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and self-reported asthma-related health
McCarron A, Semple S, Braban CF, Gillespie C, Swanson V & Price HD (2023) Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and self-reported asthma-related health. Social Science & Medicine, 337, Art. No.: 116293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116293
Article
McCarron A, Semple S, Braban CF, Swanson V, Gillespie C & Price HD (2022) Public engagement with air quality data: using health behaviour change theory to support exposure-minimising behaviours. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-022-00449-2
Article
McCarron A, Uny I, Caes L, Lucas S, Semple S, Ardrey J & Price H (2020) Solid fuel users' perceptions of household solid fuel use in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. Environment International, 143, Art. No.: 105991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105991
Article
Colonisation of plastic pellets (nurdles) by E. coli at public bathing beaches
Rodrigues A, Oliver D, McCarron A & Quilliam R (2019) Colonisation of plastic pellets (nurdles) by E. coli at public bathing beaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 139, pp. 376-380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.011
I have had numerous teaching and tutoring roles across both undergraduate and postgraduate modules including:
• GEOU2EI (Global Environmental Issues) • GEOU6GI (Sustainable Development) - lecturing maternity cover • GEOU9SE (Energy & Society) • ENVU5EP (Environmental Policy & Management) • ENMPG22 (Environmental Impact Assessment) • ENMPG18 & ENMPG30 (MSc Research Dissertation)
I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
