Gregory Carmichael

Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa
Gregory R. Carmichael has a BS, MS and Ph.D. in chemical engineering and has done extensive research related to air quality and its environmental impacts. He is currently the Karl Kammermeyer professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa. He also serves as the co-director of the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (a large interdisciplinary center with 80+ faculty).

Carmichael’s research is focused on air pollution and climate change, for which he uses comprehensive computer models and big data to simulate the interactions of air pollutants with weather and climate, to estimate resulting environmental impacts, and to evaluate effectiveness of various air pollution and climate change mitigation strategies. He has over 400 journal publications. The majority of his recent papers deal with the development and application of chemical transport models (CTM) to studies in regional atmospheric chemistry, air quality and climate. These research activities include the development of comprehensive air quality models and their application to regional and international air pollution problems. His studies have led to a greater appreciation and understanding of the importance of long-range transport of pollutants within Asia and across the Pacific. His work has also explored the importance of dust on atmospheric chemistry, and this work has helped to stimulate laboratory as well as large-scale field experiments.

Professor Carmichael is an active instructor and advisor, having supervised 35 MS and 45 PhD students. He has received numerous awards, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineer’s Lawrence K. Cecil Award for outstanding chemical engineering contributions and achievement in the preservation or improvement of the environment; University of Kentucky’s Hall of Distinction; Iowa Board of Regents Faculty Excellence Award; International Atmospheric Science and Application to Air Quality Research Recognition Award; Iowa State University Professional Progress Award; and Iowa State University Outstanding Young Alumni Award. He is also a Fellow of three different organizations: the American Institute of Chemical Engineers; the American Geophysical Union; and the American Meteorological Society.

Professor Carmichael serves on numerous international advisory boards related to climate and atmospheric science, including NASA’s Earth Science Subcommittee and the American Institute of Chemical Engineering’s Public Affairs and Advisory Committee, which he chairs. He also chairs UN World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry Scientific Steering Committee. This committee oversee the UN’s Global Atmospheric Watch program, which is responsible for monitoring of the health of the global atmosphere. Currently he co-chairs the implementation the WMO Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W). This new service is similar in scope to worldwide weather forecasts and is designed to provide timely, authoritative, quantitative, transparent observation-based data on greenhouse gas levels in the air and emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide on a regular basis. The new wealth of relevant information provided by G3W will enable decision makers in governments and the private sectors to create new mitigation strategies. The G3W will ensure that developing nations will have access to adequate observational and scientific resources, and that all nations report their data accurately. In short, the G3W could save the Paris Agreement from failing, and turn back global warming by increasing cooperation and accountability among nations.