Prof Giles Wiggs is a desert geomorphologist at University of Oxford, UK, specialising in the physical processes controlling how dust is transported by the wind (aeolian sediment transport), including using modelling to determine the role of vegetation, moisture, topography and human activity in the mobilisation of dust. His projects span Africa, Central Asia, Middle East and Australia and he has led international research teams funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (UK), South African National Science Foundation, Medecins sans Frontieres and the British Council. He has made great effort to determine the relative importance of atmospheric and terrestrial controls on dust and the impact of dust on respiratory health. Prof Wiggs will bring considerable experience and expertise to the network on several research areas, including source identification, monitoring and measurement, practices of dust control and mitigation and impacts on community health.