Kimberly Prather Wins 2024 NAS Award for Aerosol Impact Research
Kimberly Prather, a renowned atmospheric chemist at the University of California San Diego, has been recognised for her exceptional contributions to science. She has been awarded the 2024 NAS Award in Chemical Sciences for her groundbreaking research on atmospheric aerosols and their impact on air quality, climate, and human health. The National Academy of Sciences will honour her at their 161st annual meeting in April 2024.
Prather's distinguished career spans over two decades, marked by numerous achievements. She is an elected member of several prestigious organisations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. Currently, she holds the distinguished chair in atmospheric chemistry and serves as the founding director of the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE).
Her research focuses on both natural and human-made aerosol particles and their influence on the atmosphere, climate, and human health. Prather developed a novel technique called aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS) to provide real-time information on aerosol particles. She also led a study in 2023 that linked bacteria and chemical compounds in coastal aerosols to sewage-polluted water, leading to the creation of The Airborne Institute at UC San Diego.
Prather's leadership and communication skills were evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was an active leader and communicator on the role of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Earlier in her career, she served as co-principal investigator for the Scripps Ocean-Atmosphere Research Simulator (SOARS), a laboratory instrument to study ocean/atmosphere exchange processes.
Kimberly Prather's pioneering work on atmospheric aerosols has significantly advanced our understanding of their impact on air quality, climate, and human health. Her numerous accolades, including the 2024 NAS Award in Chemical Sciences, are a testament to her extraordinary scientific achievements. The National Academy of Sciences will honour her at their upcoming annual meeting, celebrating her significant contributions to the field.
