John H. Seinfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John H. Seinfeld
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| Born | August 3, 1942 |
| Alma mater | University of Rochester Princeton University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Atmospheric Science/Chemical Engineering |
| Institutions | California Institute of Technology |
| Doctoral advisor | Leon Lapidus |
| Doctoral students | Sonia Kreidenweis, Lynn M. Russell |
John Hersh Seinfeld, born on August 3, 1942, is an American chemical engineer and a leading expert in atmospheric science. This means he studies how chemicals behave in the air and how they affect our planet.
His work on air pollution has helped shape important rules and laws. He even created the very first computer model to understand air quality, which is now used all over the United States to track pollution. He has spent his whole career at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he is a special professor of Chemical Engineering.
Contents
Early Life and School
Seinfeld grew up in Elmira, New York. He went to the University of Rochester and earned a degree in chemical engineering in 1964.
After that, he went to Princeton University. There, he earned his Ph.D. (a very advanced degree) in chemical engineering in 1967. His Ph.D. project was about controlling complex systems using math, especially those described by special math equations called partial differential equations.
Career and Research
Seinfeld started working at Caltech in 1967 as a chemical engineering professor. At first, he continued his math research.
Studying Smog in Los Angeles
Soon, he became very interested in the high levels of smog in Los Angeles. Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like a hazy fog. He decided to change his research to study air pollution instead.
At that time, scientists used simpler ways to study air pollution. Seinfeld realized his strong math skills could help understand the chemical reactions happening in the air.
Creating Air Pollution Models
He formed a research team that figured out how ozone forms in the air. Ozone is a gas that can be harmful when it's near the ground.
In 1973, his team created the first big computer model for urban air pollution. They used this model to study the air in the Los Angeles area. This important work helped start a new field of science focused on modeling pollution in the lower atmosphere. This model also became the basis for how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now models air pollution across the country.
Focusing on Aerosols
After this, Seinfeld realized he needed more information to fully understand pollution. He started to focus on tiny particles in the air called aerosols.
To study aerosols, he and his Caltech colleague Richard Flagan built a "smog chamber" at the university. This was a special room where they could control gases and particles in the air. This chamber was the first of its kind and is now a standard tool in atmospheric science. Seinfeld's research on aerosols is now considered very important for understanding air quality and how it affects Earth's climate.
From 1990 to 2000, Seinfeld led the Chemical Engineering and Applied Science division at Caltech. He has written hundreds of scientific papers and many books. One of his books, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change, is a key textbook in his field.
Awards and Recognition
John H. Seinfeld has received many awards for his important work in science:
- Curtis W. McGraw Research Award (1976)
- Allan P. Colburn Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1976)
- NASA Public Service Medal (1980)
- Elected Member of the National Academy of Engineering (1982)
- William H. Walker Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1986)
- Elected Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (1986)
- George Westinghouse Award (1987)
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Rochester (1989)
- Elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1991)
- American Chemical Society Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology (1993)
- Fuchs Memorial Award (1998)
- Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1999)
- Warren K. Lewis Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2000)
- Nevada Medal (2001)
- Honorary Doctorate, Carnegie Mellon University (2002)
- Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award of the California Air Resources Board (2003)
- Aurel Stodola Medal (2008)
- Honorary Doctorate, Clarkson University (2009)
- Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (2012)
- Elected Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2013)
