Anne C. Steinemann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne C. Steinemann
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Professor Anne C. Steinemann
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| Nationality | American |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Civil engineering, environmental engineering |
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Anne C. Steinemann is an American professor who studies civil and environmental engineering. She focuses on making our living spaces healthier, improving air quality inside buildings, and understanding how products we use affect us. She also works on managing droughts and dealing with climate-related dangers. Professor Steinemann is currently a professor at the University of Melbourne and James Cook University in Australia. She has also given advice to governments and businesses in the United States and Australia. You might have seen her on TV, heard her on the radio, or read about her work online, as she often shares her discoveries with everyone.
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Early Life and Education Journey
Anne Steinemann started her amazing journey in engineering by studying at different universities. In 1984, she earned her first degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of California, Irvine. She did so well that she graduated with "magna cum laude" honors, which means "with great praise."
The next year, in 1985, she received her master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She continued her studies and, in 1993, earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University. All her degrees were in civil and environmental engineering, showing her dedication to this field.
Professor Steinemann's Career
Professor Steinemann has had a long and impressive career teaching and researching at many top universities.
Teaching and Research Roles
She began her teaching career in 1995 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She worked there as a professor until 2004. From 2004 to 2013, she was a professor at the University of Washington. She taught civil and environmental engineering and also public affairs.
Later, from 2012 to 2015, she worked as a program manager at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She also spent time as a visiting professor at other universities. These included Linköping University (1988–89), Florida Institute of Technology (2001-12), and Stanford University (2010–11).
Current University Positions
Since 2015, Professor Steinemann has been a professor of civil engineering at the University of Melbourne in Australia. In 2018, she also became a professor of engineering at James Cook University, also in Australia.
Her hard work and important discoveries have been recognized. Since 2019, she has been named one of the top 2% of scientists and engineers in the world by Stanford University. This is a huge honor!
Understanding Products and Air Quality
Since 2007, Professor Steinemann has focused a lot of her research on how different products affect our health. She looks at how pollutants get into the air and what health problems they might cause.
Research on Fragranced Products
Her studies often look at things like indoor air quality. She tests and evaluates many common products we use every day. These include perfumes, household cleaners, laundry detergents, and air fresheners.
She has found that many fragranced products can actually make the air quality inside our homes worse. They can also cause various health and economic problems.
Hidden Chemicals in Products
Professor Steinemann's research shows that even "green" or "all-natural" fragranced products can release harmful chemicals. These chemicals are often similar to those found in regular fragranced products.
She also discovered that companies don't always list all the ingredients in fragranced products. Her studies found that these products can release many different volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that can easily become gases. Many of these VOCs are considered toxic or hazardous under US laws. Each product she tested released at least one of these harmful chemicals.
Health Effects from Fragrances
Her studies have shown that many people experience health problems from fragranced products. For example, about one-third of adults in the US, Australia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom report issues. These problems can include:
- Asthma attacks
- Trouble breathing
- Migraine headaches
- Dizziness
- Rashes
- Stomach problems
These effects can even impact people's daily lives and work. Some people have had to leave stores quickly because of strong smells. Others have missed workdays or even lost jobs due to illness from fragranced products in their workplace. In 2016, the cost of these lost workdays and jobs in the US was estimated to be very high.
For some people, the health effects can be so serious that they are considered disabling. This means the effects are severe enough to limit their major life activities.
Why Fragrance-Free is Preferred
Professor Steinemann's studies also found that most people prefer places to be fragrance-free. For example, many more people would rather have workplaces, hospitals, hotels, and airplanes without added scents. This shows that creating fragrance-free environments can benefit many people's health and comfort.
Awards and Recognition
Professor Steinemann has received several important awards for her work:
- 2014 - Science Service Award: This award was given by the Department of Water Resources in California. It recognized her for creating "useful science" that helps connect academic research with real-world solutions.
- 2011 - Engineer of the New Millennium: She received this award from the National Science Foundation.
- 1998 - CAREER Award: This award also came from the National Science Foundation.
