John N. Seinfeld
Tyler Prize Laureate 2012
Pioneering expert in atmospheric science
Quick Facts
Born: August 3, 1942, Elmira, New York, United States
Affiliation at the time of the award: California Institute of Technology
Environmental achievement recognized: Recognized for his pioneering research leading to understanding of the origin, chemistry, and evolution of aerosols in the atmosphere that provided a basis for actions to control the effect of air pollution upon public health.
Get to know John N. Seinfeld
Meet the
John Seinfeld’s revolutionary mathematical models redefined our understanding of air pollution. A leader in his field, he defined aerosol thermodynamics and revealed how organic aerosols, even ultrafine particles, negatively impact human health. He went on to study how aerosols affect climate, particularly in regards to cloud transformations, and helped establish Caltech "smog chamber." The author of an important textbook and beloved mentor to 80 PhD students, Seinfeld's work left a legacy in both human health and atmospheric science.
