CARB seeks nominations for premier clean air and climate award
SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board is accepting applications through September 30th for the 2019 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards, California’s premier award recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving air quality.
Considered the “Nobel Prize” in air quality achievement, the Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards are bestowed each year upon scientists, policy makers, community leaders and educators who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of clean air and climate change science, technology, advocacy, and policy.
In light of the global connection between air quality and climate change, the scope of the Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards program is now international, with an added focus on climate change science and mitigation.
“The Haagen-Smit Award is our way of honoring individuals who have championed public health with innovative and far-reaching contributions to air pollution research, science and clean air technology,” CARB Research Division Chief Elizabeth Scheehle said. “Their work saves lives around the world.”
California’s premier air quality award is named for the late Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, known as the “father” of air pollution science and control. Originally from the Netherlands, Dr. Haagen-Smit was a biochemistry professor at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena for 16 years before beginning air pollution research in 1948. Through a series of innovative experiments he demonstrated that most of California’s smog is the result of motor vehicle exhaust and industrial smokestack pollution reacting with sunlight to create ground-level ozone. This breakthrough provided the foundation for the development of air pollution control programs in California that later influenced regulations and cleaner vehicle technology worldwide.
CARB is accepting 2019 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award nominations through September 30th, 2019. New nominations, as well as nominations for outstanding individuals nominated in prior years, but who have not yet won, are welcome and encouraged. The awardee selection committee is comprised of past award winners.