AirUCI faculty John Hemminger has been awarded the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary’s Appreciation Award. The text of the presentation read in part:
"in recognition of your visionary leadership over 15 years of the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee. Through your skilled guidance as chairman, the committee has produced compelling strategies for cutting-edge fundamental science and world-leading scientific user facilities that are central to the United States competitiveness and the Department’s mission. This exacting work, punctuated by several highly acclaimed committee reports, continues to inform critical federal investments with a profound impact on the Nation’s science and technology enterprise. We are grateful for your dedicated service to the people of the United States of America." Signed: Ernest J. Moniz, Secretary of Energy, January, 2017.
News
Here's the latest news from AirUCI — our events, our people, our science.
2017
The 2017 winners of James N. Pitts award are Derek DuBois and Mary Villareal. This award is given annually in honor of the late Jim Pitts, chemistry legend and husband and research partner of AirUCI co-Director Barbara Finlayson-Pitts. Congratulations to both winners!
Derek followed a roundabout path to chemistry research, taking several years off from school in his 20s and working in various careers. When he returned to UCI as a Chemistry major, he joined the research team of Prof. James Nowick whose group works to gain understanding of protein and peptide assembly. His enthusiasm for research and his drive to succeed stood out among the applicants for the Pitts award.
Mary is the first in her family to pursue a college education and discovered her love for chemistry while exploring other career options, including nursing and biology. She overcame a number of obstacles and persisted in her studies, often with very little support. Her goal after graduation is to attend graduate school for an advanced degree with an eye toward developing natural medical products.
AirUCI faculty Michael Prather was quoted in an article in the Fiji Sun about the landing at Nadi International Airport of NASA's DC-8 Airborne Science Laboratory. The aircraft is used by NASA in partnership with research insitutions to collect data in support of projects serving the world's scientific community. It is currently on a mission to study the impact of human-produced pollution on greenhouse gases and chemically reactive gases in the atmosphere. Prof. Prather commented on how the data they are collecting will be used by the ATom science team. Read the article
AirUCI faculty Michael Prather was interviewed on KCRW on January 17, 2017 in a segment entitled, "What Would You Tell Trump" and he exhorted the incoming president to acknowledge and work to alleviate climate change, saying he could still play a significant role in the effort. Read the article
2016
AirUCI faculty Jack Brouwer has been working on development of the hydrogen battery for several years and is closing in on an operational model. His work has attracted attention around the world and is noted in an article in the Orange County Register. Read the article
AirUCI's partner institute, the National Fuel Cell Research Center, is cited in an article about hydrogen fuel cells in the 11/25/2016 edition of the Orange County Register. Read the article
AirUCI faculty Steven Davis is quoted in the OC Register about his recent article in the journal Nature Geoscience on the effects that cement has on climate change. The material’s carbon footprint might not be as bad as once thought and, over time, cement even soaks up some of the harmful gases emitted into the atmosphere. Read the article
AirUCI faculty Steven Davis is quoted in a New York Times article on the challenges of meeting carbon dioxide reduction goals as agreed in last year's Paris emissions pact. Read the article
It is with profound sadness that we report the passing of Ralph Cicerone, brilliant scientist and close friend of many within the AirUCI family. He died November 5th at the age of 73 after a short illness. His innovative research projects in atmospheric chemistry, climate change, and energy helped shape science and environmental policy at the highest levels, in the U.S. and around the world.
Ralph came to UCI in 1989 as a renowned scientist and expert in atmospheric chemistry who went on to found UCI’s Department of Earth System Science and serve as dean of the School of Physical Sciences. In 1998, Ralph was appointed chancellor of the UCI campus. He left in 2005 when he was elected president of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, though he remained an active supporter of UCI.
For more about Ralph's life and legacy, please visit the Ralph Cicerone Memorial Page.
Danielle Draper, graduate student in AirUCI's Smith Research Group, was awarded a best poster award at the annual meeting of the American Association for Aerosol Research for her poster entitled “Observations of Particle-phase NOy and SOx Species during Nanoparticle Growth Events at CLOUD10.” Way to go, Danielle!
