Lucy Carpenter facts for kids

Lucy Jane Carpenter, born on October 21, 1969, is a British chemist. She is a professor of physical chemistry at the University of York. She also leads the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory.

Becoming a Scientist

Lucy Carpenter started her science journey at the University of Bristol. She earned her first degree in chemistry there in 1991. After that, she went on to get her PhD. This higher degree was in atmospheric chemistry, which is the study of the air around us. She completed her PhD in 1996 at the University of East Anglia.

Studying Our Air and Oceans

Professor Carpenter's team studies how the oceans and the air interact. They look closely at chemicals called halogens. These chemicals are important for understanding the air. Her work has shown that halogens play a big role in how tropospheric ozone forms. Ozone is a gas in the lower atmosphere. Her team uses special tools like gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to study these chemicals.

She also helped set up the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory. This is a special station that monitors the air. It is one of many stations around the world. These stations help scientists track climate and air quality. Professor Carpenter also helped write a big report in 2014. This report was about how the ozone layer is changing.

Awards and Recognition

Professor Carpenter has received many awards for her important research. In 2006, she won the Philip Leverhulme Prize. This award was for her work in Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

In 2015, she received the Rosalind Franklin Award from the Royal Society. This award recognized her scientific achievements. It also noted her as a great role model for women in STEM. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

She was also given the Tilden Prize in 2017. In 2019, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. In 2024, she received the Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal. This medal was for showing how gases from the oceans affect our atmosphere and climate.

In 2022, Professor Carpenter was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This honor was for her contributions to atmospheric chemistry.