Lisa Emberson

Professor Lisa Emberson is a leading environmental pollution biologist at the University of York's Department of Environment and Geography with over 25 years of research experience. Her work bridges atmospheric science, ecology, and socio-economic analysis to address air pollution and climate change impacts on ecosystems and food security.

Her research focuses on air pollution impacts, particularly tropospheric ozone effects on agricultural yields and forest productivity. She developed the globally used DO3SE (Deposition of Ozone and Stomatal Exchange) model for assessing pollutant-vegetation interactions. Current work integrates air pollution damage modules into crop models through AgMIP to support IPCC assessments, with emphasis on South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Recent publications reveal strong trends in multistress modeling combining ozone, climate extremes, and socio-economic factors. Her work increasingly connects physical science with food security economics, examining how pollution-driven crop losses affect food prices and farmer livelihoods.

Professor Emberson has supervised 8 PhD students on topics ranging from West African air quality to ozone impacts in South Asia. She has secured over £2 million in research funding including projects like Double Punch (Norwegian Research Council) and Affordable Air Quality Monitoring for West Africa (GCRF).

Her leadership extends to directing the Stockholm Environment Institute at York (2012-2019) and serving as lead author for the influential UNEP/WMO global assessment on short-lived climate pollutants.