The Aerosol Science Group within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex. is recognised as one of the foremost centres of its kind in the UK. Its laboratories are well equipped with instrumentation for chemical analysis, aerosol characterisation and continuous monitoring of atmospheric trace gases. They can provide a broad scale of modern analysis methods.

The principle scientist heads the Aerosol Science Group within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex. Dr Colbeck has amassed over 20 years considerable research achievements and experience over a wide gamut of research interests but predominantly in the field of aerosol science and environmental chemistry. The research has encompassed the use of a wide variety of techniques and has also entailed extensive theoretical analyses of both experimental and computational data. He is author or co-author of more than 150 papers, » 80 of which have been published in peer reviewed journals. He has participated in EUROTRAC and is currently collaborating in several other projects in Europe. His research is funded through grants, contracts and studentships from Research Councils, industry and government departments. Current research is centred in three main areas: