Researcher wins world’s top award in his field

04 Sep 2013 A young researcher who launched his academic career at The University of Manchester has bagged one of the word's top awards in his field. James Allan, now a Senior Research Fellow in SEAES and a member of the National Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, has been awarded the 2013 Smoluchowski Prize by the German Aerosol Society GAeF at the European Aerosol Conference in Prague. After James studied for his undergraduate degree in Physics at The University of Manchester, he took a PhD in atmospheric aerosol measurement in the University's Centre for Atmospheric Science, graduating in 2004. He joins an illustrious group of past winners, who are world leading research scientists in all applications of aerosol science, not just the atmosphere. The award, named after the physicist Marian Smoluchowski (1872-1917), recognizes significant research contribution to aerosol science and is given to a young researcher, under 40 years of age, who has made the greatest impact on their chosen research field. Professor Hugh Coe, Head of the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, said: "Having been an undergraduate, postgraduate and research scientist here, he is truly a product of The University of Manchester and has developed into a world leader. "Aerosol particles in the atmosphere are extremely important as they affect climate and harm human health through decreasing air quality.