World-leading air quality expert Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska of QUT has received the prestigious 2023 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Laureate for Asia and the Pacific.
Professor Morawska is one of five laureates in the International Awards in Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, one from each region of the world.
It is the latest accolade to recognise Professor Morawska who spearheaded the warning from 240 international experts to the World Health Organisation about the risk of the COVID-19 virus’ airborne transmission which led to global acknowledgement of the importance of indoor air quality,
Her scientific work led to the recognition of ultrafine particles in the latest WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines 2021.
In 2021, Professor Morawska was named in the 2021 TIME100 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for her leadership role in alerting the global community to the aerosolization of the COVID-19 virus as a means of indoor spread. She recently led an international group of scientists who published four key steps needed to avoid similar critical mistakes in the future.
Professor Morawska an Australian Laureate Fellow, Australian Academy of Science Fellow, Director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH) is also leading Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Advanced Building Systems Against Airborne Infection Transmission.
Professor Morawska is also leading the research program THRIVE which is designing and developing the next generation of building systems, including ventilation systems and sensors, to reduce indoor airborne infection transmission by improving indoor air quality (IAQ) while maintaining comfort and energy efficiency.
As part of the research program, Professor Morawska will develop and recommend IAQ Standards to the Australian Government which can easily be adopted by other governments and other authorities.
The research aims to ensure the spread of pathogens and pollutants are strategically controlled in indoor spaces.
“This work has the potential to touch billions of lives in the next decade, by enhancing safety from airborne transmission of infections in indoor spaces,” Professor Morawska said.
Professor Morawska will donate the entire prize money of 100,000 Euro (A$162,000) to establish a perpetual scholarship named the “Lidia Morawska science and engineering that helps us thrive” scholarship at QUT.
QUT has contributed $90,000 to the scholarship which will provide $10,000 annually to students whose work in science and engineering helps us thrive in the future.
About L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards
The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards honours five distinguished women scientists each year for the excellence of their work and their outstanding careers – one for each of the following five regions: Africa and the Arab States; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; and North America. Each woman scientist has followed a unique journey combining an exceptional talent, a profound commitment to their profession and remarkable courage in a field still largely dominated by men.
The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program has worked to empower more women scientists to overcome barriers to progression and participate in solving the great challenges of our time for the benefit of all. Since 1998, it has supported more than 4,100 women researchers from more than 110 countries, rewarding scientific excellence and inspiring younger generations of women to pursue science as a career.
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