People Feature: Sarath K. Guttikunda
Sarath K. Guttikunda is a true trailblazer in the field of urban emissions research and now, his hard work and dedication have been recognized with the prestigious 2022 American Geophysical Union (AGU) International Award.
As a 1999 IIASA YSSP alumnus in the former Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Program (AIR), he spent his career tirelessly working to understand and address the issue of air pollution in developing nations.
His journey to becoming a global leader in air quality analysis began when he was pursuing his PhD in chemical engineering and environmental policy at the University of Iowa under the guidance of Greg Carmichael, a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering and director of the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER).
Sarath is not just a scientist and a chemical engineer, but also an atmospheric scientist, TED fellow, and the founder of Urban Emissions (India) with a focus on bridging the gap between science and policy. His two programs, air quality forecasting and the Air Pollution knowledge Assessments (APnA) program for cities with applications in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, have been extremely impactful. The organization’s research team has covered 60 cities in India and plans to release reports for all 132 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities by the end of 2023, which is no small feat. His work has since expanded from India to bordering nations and has applications all over the world.
Sarath's receipt of the AGU International Award is a testament to his exceptional work and dedication to understanding and addressing the critical issue of urban emissions in developing nations. He is truly an inspiration and an example of how one person can make a real difference in the world. Congratulations, Sarath, on this well-deserved recognition of your valuable contributions.
Follow Sarath on Twitter: @UrbanEmissions
