IAS / Division of Environment and Sustainability Joint Lecture - Unlocking the Secrets of Urban Haze: The Role of Organic Aerosols in China's Air Pollution

Abstract

As air quality continues to be a pressing issue in urban areas, the study of organic aerosols has emerged as crucial for understanding air pollution in China. Improved understanding of the chemical and optical nature of organic aerosol is the key for constraining the impacts of organic aerosol on air quality, climate and human health, and for developing effective mitigation measures. This talk will explore the fascinating chemistry and optical characteristics of organic aerosols, which now represent a significant portion of fine particulate matter in urban areas. Leveraging state-of-the-art analytical approaches and algorithms, this presentation will provide a molecular-level understanding of organic aerosol, and will delve into the origins, formation processes, and atmospheric transformations of these particles. The speaker will reveal how the chemical makeup of organic aerosols influences their behavior and interaction with radiation, impacting both climate and public health. Join this lecture for an engaging discussion on how these tiny particles play a big role in shaping the environment and what this means for effective air quality management and mitigation strategies.


About the Speaker

Prof. HUANG Ru-Jin received his BS in Chemistry (2002) and MS in Analytical Chemistry (2005) from Xiamen University. He earned his PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of Mainz in 2009. He then held positions at the University of Frankfurt, the University of Galway, and the Paul Scherrer Institute before returning to China in 2015. He is currently a Professor at the Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics of the Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and an Adjunct Professor at the Xi’an Jiaotong University.

Prof. Huang's research group focuses on the micro-scale analysis of chemical, physical and optical properties, along with macro-scale impacts of atmospheric aerosols, from polluted urban air to clean marine air. He has authored/coauthored over 260 peer-reviewed publications in journals including Science, Nature, Nature Geoscience, Nature Sustainability, PNAS, with citations of about 20,000 and an h-index of 70. His research has been recognized through multiple international and national honors and awards, including the elected Member of Academia Europaea, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the 2022 Xplorer Prize and the 2018 Schmauss Award.


For Attendees' Attention

Seating is on a first come, first served basis.