Catherine Noakes facts for kids

Catherine Jane Noakes is a British engineer. She is a professor at the University of Leeds. Professor Noakes studies how germs spread through the air. She focuses on how air moves inside buildings. This helps us understand how to stop infections.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was part of a special group. This group advised the UK government on important science issues.

Early Life and Education

Catherine Noakes grew up with parents who worked in science. Her mother was in computer science. Her father worked in aerospace engineering.

In 1996, she earned a degree in mathematical engineering. She studied at the University of Leeds. She became very interested in how liquids and gases move. This is called fluid dynamics.

In 2000, she earned her PhD from the same university. Her research looked at how coatings are applied. This was for things like photographic paper.

How She Helps People

After her studies, Professor Noakes worked for a printing company. She helped develop a machine for coating Euro banknotes.

In 2002, she returned to the University of Leeds. She started studying how air flows in buildings. She also looked at how UV light can help prevent diseases.

Stopping Germs in the Air

Professor Noakes studies how air moves inside buildings. She focuses on how this affects the air quality. Her work helps us understand how germs spread. She creates mathematical models to predict infection risks.

She has worked with the National Health Service (NHS). She also worked with Public Health England. Their goal is to stop airborne viruses from spreading in hospitals. Diseases like tuberculosis and influenza can spread this way.

Professor Noakes has created computer tools. These tools help monitor patient areas. They help control infections better. She once shared that about 1 in 50 people get an infection in the hospital. Preventing these infections saves a lot of money and helps people stay healthy.

Leading Research and Teams

In 2010, Professor Noakes became the Director of the Pathogen Control Research Institute. This group studies how to control germs. She also joined a special training center. It focuses on aerosol science. Aerosols are tiny particles floating in the air.

She became a full Professor in 2014. She helps guide important science journals. From 2014 to 2017, she led a program at the University of Leeds. This program helped support women in engineering.

In 2016, she started a group called the Low-Energy Ventilation Network. This team studies how buildings work. They want to know if indoor environments affect how well people think. She also helps lead the Leeds Institute of Fluid Dynamics.

Helping During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Noakes focused on how the virus spread. She studied how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) travels through the air. She showed how good ventilation can reduce the risk. It helps by reducing tiny virus particles in the air.

In April 2020, she joined the UK government's science advisory board. This board gave advice during the pandemic. For her important work, she received a special award. It was from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

In January 2021, she was featured on a BBC Radio 4 show. It was called The Life Scientific.

Awards and Recognitions

Professor Noakes has received many awards for her work:

• 2013: Became a Fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management.
• 2014: Became a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
• 2016: Received a Women of Achievement Award from the University of Leeds.
• 2018: Joined the Academy of Fellows for Indoor Air Quality.
• 2020: Was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for her help during the COVID-19 response.
• 2021: Was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
• 2022: Became an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
• 2023: Was given the Gabor Medal by the Royal Society. This award recognized her important work. It was for her models on infection risk. It also honored her leadership in this field.