Public Research Seminar by Sustainable Energy and Environment Thrust, HKUST(GZ) - Climate Change, Air Quality, and Human Health: Air Pollution Exposure in a Changing Climate
Climate change leads to higher temperatures and more intense wildfires, which increase air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) and microbial infectious agents. These pollutants are well-known contributors to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. While air pollution poses a threat to all, socially and economically disadvantaged groups bear greater risks. In this talk, I will present my research on (1) geographical variations in the toxicity and microbial content of PM on a global scale, and (2) inequalities and disparities in wildfire PM2.5 exposure, particularly indoors, across the contiguous U.S. Additionally, I will introduce a rapid, portable, in situ detection method I developed for quantifying environmental viral and bacterial pathogens in the field, aimed at combating the spread of respiratory diseases. My research aims to provide scientific insights and engineering solutions to inform policymakers in designing effective policies that reduce environmental risks and improve public health, especially in the context of climate change.
Dr. Jing Li is an Associate Project Scientist in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. Before joining UCLA, she was a postdoc in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech, after earning her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Peking University.
Dr. Li’s current research focuses on the exposure risks, health effects, and mitigation strategies of indoor air pollution, while also examining the broader impacts of climate change on public health. Her expertise also extends to bioaerosols, with a particular emphasis on exposure risks, airborne transmission, and rapid analysis of pathogens.
She has authored 25 peer-reviewed journal articles with a total of over 1400 citations, including 10 as first author, co-first author, or corresponding author, in journals such as Environmental Science & Technology and Clinical Infectious Diseases. Dr. Li was also recognized with the prestigious Sheldon K. Friedlander Award from the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) for her outstanding doctoral dissertation.
For inquiries, please contact Miss Suggi WU (+86-20-88332966, suggilswu@hkust-gz.edu.cn)