DRI
Air Quality Scientist Judith Chow Wins
2001 Regents Researcher Award
The University
and Community College System of Nevada Board of Regents
has awarded the 2001 Regents Researcher Award to Dr. Judith
Chow, a senior scientist in the Desert Research Institute's
internationally recognized air quality program. Chow has
directed a worldwide program of research focusing on detecting
and analyzing extremely small airborne particles that cause
health problems and lessen visibility.
A member of DRI's
research faculty since 1985, Chow is a research professor
in DRI's Division of Atmospheric Sciences. She has been
the chief scientific investigator or a major collaborator
on more than 40 large air quality studies and many smaller
projects with a total contract value exceeding $15 million.
She joined DRI after receiving her doctorate in environmental
sciences from Harvard University.
Last fall she
was awarded a five-year, $3.3 million contract from the
National Park Service's IMPROVE program for the "Use
of thermal optical reflectance as a method to measure organic
and elemental carbon in the atmosphere." This contract
directly recognizes Chow's innovations in developing technology
for air quality research. Wells
noted that Chow is a member of the National Academy of Sciences/National
Research Council's Committee on Research Priorities for
Airborne Particulate Matter, which was formed at the request
of Congress. The committee is charged with identifying research
priorities toward establishing particulate matter standards,
developing a conceptual plan for particulate matter research,
and monitoring research progress on the relationship between
particulate matter and public health.
"Given her
broad and deep record of research accomplishment, it is
not surprising that she was asked to play a role in guiding
research policy that leads to the setting of national air
quality standards," Wells said.
Chow has been
asked to prepare and revise sections of the Environmental
Protection Agency's air quality document on chemical analysis
and pollutant source emissions. EPA also asked for her assistance
in evaluating its aerosol measurement methods, sampling
strategies, and databases for the agency's guidance document
on network design and aerosol measurement methods. These
documents are intended for use by scientists and air quality
managers across the country.
Chow has published
more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and 50 book
chapters about aerosol measurement, chemical composition,
and determining of pollutant sources through laboratory
and field analysis. Her more than 200 scientific presentations
and training courses have influenced scientists, regulators,
and industry worldwide.
Shortly after
joining DRI, Chow founded the Institute's internationally
regarded Environmental Analysis Facility, where she supervises
a team of scientists and technicians designing and implementing
studies to quantify the state of air quality on local, regional,
national, and international levels. The facility supports
DRI's internal air quality work while also analyzing ambient
samples from researchers around the world.
The Regents Researcher
Award, which includes a $5,000 stipend and a medal, is bestowed
each year upon a faculty member from the University of Nevada,
Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or DRI with a
substantial record of accomplishment that includes significant
research and scholarly work and a successful record in winning
competitive research grants and contracts.
